Canadian Dental Care Plan: who can apply for 2026–27
Applications for the 2026–27 Canadian Dental Care Plan benefit year are open. The plan is for eligible Canadian residents without access to private dental insurance and with adjusted family net income below C$90,000.
Key facts before you decide
- Applications are open for the benefit year running from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
- You must not have access to private dental insurance, even if you chose not to enrol in it.
- Adjusted family net income must be below C$90,000, and the required tax returns must be filed.
- The plan pays according to CDCP fees; co-payments and extra provider charges may still apply.
Eligibility rules, rates and dates can change. Confirm your circumstances through the official links before submitting documents.
Who the plan is for
The Canadian Dental Care Plan helps cover eligible oral-health services for residents who do not have access to private dental insurance. All eligibility conditions must be met: no access to private coverage, required tax returns filed, adjusted family net income below C$90,000 and Canadian residence for tax purposes.
Access to coverage includes a plan available through an employer, pension, professional association, student organization or a family member. Declining an available plan or choosing not to pay its premium usually does not satisfy the no-access condition.
Income and tax-return requirements
Eligibility uses adjusted family net income from tax information. The applicant and spouse or common-law partner, when applicable, must file the required return and receive a notice of assessment. A family net income of C$90,000 or more is outside the plan.
The income year used can change with each benefit period. Keep the latest notices of assessment and update marital status promptly because a household change can alter eligibility and co-payment.
How much the plan pays
The CDCP reimburses eligible services at fees established by the plan, not necessarily at the amount charged by a provider. Families with adjusted net income below C$70,000 have no income-based co-payment on the CDCP fee; the plan covers 100% of that fee. The coverage share is 60% for income from C$70,000 to C$79,999 and 40% for income from C$80,000 to C$89,999.
You may still pay an amount if the provider charges more than the CDCP fee or performs a service that is not covered. Ask the provider to explain the estimate before treatment and confirm whether prior authorization is required.
What services may be included
The plan can cover a range of preventive, diagnostic, restorative, endodontic, periodontal, prosthodontic and oral-surgery services. Coverage rules, frequency limits and authorization requirements differ by procedure. Enrolment is not a promise that every proposed treatment will be paid.
Before booking, confirm that the oral-health provider is willing to submit claims under the CDCP and ask for a written estimate of any patient portion.
How to apply for 2026–27
Applications for the 2026–27 benefit year are accepted online through My Service Canada Account or by phone. Prepare social insurance numbers, dates of birth, address, tax information and details about any dental coverage. The system checks the four core eligibility requirements.
People who had 2025–26 coverage but missed the renewal deadline can submit a new application for 2026–27, although there may be a gap in coverage. Do not book treatment until the enrolment confirmation states the coverage start date.
After you apply
Service Canada communicates the decision and, once enrolled, provides information needed to access the plan. Applicants can check status and view CDCP information through the official account. Coverage is administered with Sun Life, but the application itself should begin through the Government of Canada.
Bring the requested plan details to the provider and verify that the provider has the correct effective date. Claims for treatment before coverage begins are not automatically reimbursed.
Coordination with public programs
People who receive dental benefits through a provincial, territorial or federal social program may still qualify. The programs can coordinate coverage, and the order of payment depends on the applicable arrangement. Report existing public coverage accurately during the application.
Private insurance is different: access to private coverage generally makes a person ineligible, even when that insurance is not used.
Common mistakes and scam warnings
- Answering “no coverage” after voluntarily declining an employer plan.
- Assuming the CDCP pays the provider’s entire fee.
- Starting treatment before the confirmed coverage date.
- Using a private website that charges to submit an application.
- Sharing a social insurance number in response to an unsolicited message.
Use the government account to check status and contact Service Canada if a request for information is unclear.
This guide was checked against pages published by the responsible agency. Use these links to confirm the application route and any later updates.
Visit the official Canadian Dental Care Plan pageApply through the official service
Check what happens after applying