OTTAWA — A technical error in the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) has affected about 70,000 applicants, some of whom were mistakenly approved or assessed at the wrong co-payment level, Health Canada confirmed this week.
The department said the problem, caused by an income-calculation glitch during eligibility checks, has now been corrected.
“An error was recently discovered with respect to how income was calculated for some applicants at the time their eligibility for the plan was being determined,” Health Canada said in an Oct. 21 statement. “A system fix has already been implemented to correct this error.”
No repayment required
Of those impacted, about 28,000 Canadians had already accessed subsidized dental care through the CDCP before the issue was found. Health Canada emphasized that affected individuals will not be required to repay any portion of their treatment costs or differences in co-payment amounts.
“Starting Oct. 17, the Government of Canada began notifying impacted individuals of changes affecting their coverage, effective Oct. 24,” the statement said.
About the program
Launched in 2023, the $13-billion federal dental plan is the largest new social program in Canada since the adoption of universal health care in 1961. It currently covers over 5.5 million Canadians, with more than 3 million having already received care.
The CDCP covers Canadians with an adjusted family net income under $90,000 who do not have private dental insurance. Services include exams, fillings, root canals, cleanings, extractions, dentures, and some crowns. Orthodontic care is expected to be added in 2025 for medically necessary cases.
Improving access to care
A study in the Journal of the Canadian Dental Association found the plan is helping reduce oral health inequities by making care accessible to low-income families and people with disabilities who previously skipped treatment due to cost.
Ontario has the highest share of CDCP applicants, with 52 per cent of approvals coming from the province, where most registered dental providers are based.
What affected members should do
Health Canada encourages impacted individuals to create a My Service Canada Account to receive updates and future communications. For assistance, members can call the CDCP information line at 1-833-537-4342 or visit a local Service Canada Centre.
Despite the temporary error, officials reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining integrity and transparency in administering the nationwide plan.