Did you lose your dental benefits in the past year or two? If your (or your family’s) income is less than $90,000, you can apply for the Canada Dental Care Plan (CDCP).
Starting June 2 2026, you can apply for the Canada Dental Care Plan if you qualify.
You can apply for the CDCP by submitting your application online via your My Service Canada Account (MSCA); or search: Canada Dental Care Plan and apply online without signing in to MSCA;or by calling Service Canada at 1-833-537-4342.
You must have filed your 2025 taxes and CRA has assessed them: either you have received your Notice of Assessment in the mail, or if you have CRA online access, you can confirm it has been issued by CRA. Or if you filed using the services of a tax professional like us, you can call us to confirm your taxes have been assessed by CRA.
Document Your Loss of Coverage
You will need to attest that you do not have private insurance. To avoid delays or issues, get a letter from your former employer or pension plan administrator confirming the date your benefits ended.
If you are unable to get a letter from your former employer, gather other documents: letter of termination or Record of Employment so you can prove you no longer work there and no longer have those dental benefits.
Keep this information on hand in case you are asked for proof you no longer have coverage.
Remember your T4 (employment) and/or T4A (pension) have indicators that show whether you have access to a dental plan or not.
Current applications for the period starting July 1 2026 are based on your 2025 tax slips. So if one of your tax slips indicates you are eligible for dental benefits, you need to prove that you no longer have it.
Submit Your Application:
Online: Log in or register for the My Service Canada Account (MSCA)
Online: if you do not have a MSCA, you can apply via canada.ca
By Phone: If you are unable to use the online system, you can call Service Canada at 1-833-537-4342 to apply with the help of a representative.
In-Person Help: If you need assistance scanning, filling out forms, or understanding your eligibility, you can visit the nearest Service Canada Centre or Outreach Site.
Do you qualify? Eligibility requirements
To apply for the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP), you must meet the requirements:
You do not have access to dental insurance or coverage through any of the following:
- your employer benefits or a family member’s employer benefits, including health and wellness accounts and health spending accounts
- your pension plan or a family member’s pension plan
- a professional or student organization, or
- insurance purchased by you, a family member or through a group plan from an insurance or benefits company
This applies even if you decide not to take it, have to pay a premium for it, or do not use it.
The other requirements include: you (and your spouse) have filed your 2025 taxes and they have been assessed by CRA plus your family income is less than 90,000 in 2025.
How employers and pension plan administrators report access to dental insurance
If you receive a pension, look at box 015 on your T4A tax slip.If you are working, employers use box 45 of the T4 tax slip.
- 1 in this box means you do not have access to dental insurance through your pension or employer
- 2, 3, 4, or 5 means you do have access to dental insurance.
- You are considered to have access if you have to pay for it, do not use it, or previously opted out but can opt back in.
Before you attest in your CDCP application that you do not have access to dental insurance, you should always check the code shown on your tax forms.
There have been some situations where the employer has used an incorrect code and has reissued amended tax slips. If you believe your tax slip is coded incorrectly, contact the employer or issuer.
Confirm you are enrolled in the CDCP
After you have applied for the CDCP online or by phone, you will receive a letter by mail or an email (based on your preferred method of communication) from CDCP that will confirm if you are enrolled.
If you are enrolled, this letter will include:
- your CDCP member ID (will also be on your CDCP plastic wallet card)
- your benefit coverage start date
- your co-payment level
You will need this information to book your first appointment with an oral health provider. You should not book an appointment before your start date, and you should always confirm that your coverage is active before receiving any treatment and for all appointments.
You can also view your letter through your My Service Canada Account (MSCA).
Your benefit coverage start date depends onthe date the application is received andthe date the enrolment is completed.
Welcome package from Sun Life
Once it is determined you are eligible, your information will be shared with Sun Life, who will mail you a welcome package that will contain your physical member card and information about the CDCP.
You do not need to wait for your welcome package from Sun Life to get care, as long as you provide your CDCP member ID, a piece of identification, your benefit coverage start date, and co-payment level at your first appointment. Only care received after your start date will be covered. Always confirm that your coverage is active before receiving care and at every appointment.
Your provider can confirm that your coverage is active under the plan. Ask your provider if there are other costs you must pay in addition to your co-payment (not covered by the plan). You may still have to pay a portion of the cost even if the plan pays 100% of the CDCP established fees (or you do not have a co-payment).
Treatment costs will be paid at your co-payment level and according to plan rules and fees in effect at the time you receive the service. The amount covered may differ from what was shown on the estimate or preauthorization.
What if you were not eligible?
If your attestation is not accurate and it is determined that you have access to dental insurance, you will be removed from the plan and will have to repay any amounts claimed for services provided to you under the plan during the time you were not eligible.
Did you miss the renewal date of June 1 2026?
If you were already enrolled in the CDCP but did not renew by the deadline June 1 2026, you do not have coverage after Jun 30 2026. The new plan year starts July 1 2026, but since you did not renew in time, you will not have coverage until you re-apply again. If you re-apply during the month of June, your coverage should be reinstated starting August 1 2026.
If you need help, give us a call.
Anni Markmann is a Personal Income Tax Professional; living, working, and volunteering in our community. Contact Ste Anne Tax Service at 204.422.6631 or 36 Dawson Road in Ste Anne (near Clearview Co-op gas bar) or Info@SteAnneTaxService.ca