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Benefits

Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP): Who Qualifies and How to Apply

The Canadian Dental Care Plan helps pay for dental care if you have no access to dental insurance and your adjusted family net income is under $90,000. You must be a Canadian resident for tax purposes and have filed last year's tax return. Under $70,000 there is no co-payment; from $70,000 to $89,999 you pay 40% or 60% of covered costs.

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Co-payment by family income

Adjusted family net incomeYour co-payment
Under $70,000None
$70,000 to $79,99940%
$80,000 to $89,99960%

About 87% of members were in the no-co-payment group in 2024-2025.

Step by step

  1. Check you qualify.

    No access to dental insurance (through a job, pension, or a family member's plan), adjusted family net income under $90,000, a Canadian resident for tax purposes, and last year's tax return filed (and your spouse's or common-law partner's).

  2. Apply through the official CDCP page.

    Since May 2025, all eligible Canadians can apply. Once enrolled, you can manage the plan in My Service Canada Account.

  3. Find a dentist or provider who accepts CDCP patients.
  4. Ask about costs before treatment.

    You may still pay if the provider charges more than CDCP rates, or for services the plan doesn't cover.

Related

T4 Box 45 Dental Codes Explained (Codes 1 to 5) Box 45 on your T4 (box 015 on a T4A) shows the dental coverage your employer offered you on December 31. Code 1 means no access to dental coverage; codes 2 to 5 mean you were offered coverage. It reflects what was offered, even if you declined it. How to Sign In to My Service Canada Account (MSCA) Go to the official My Service Canada Account page, choose the sign-in option you registered with (Interac Sign-In Partner, GCKey, or B.C./Alberta provincial sign-in), then complete multi-factor authentication. First time? Register once using the Interac verification service or a Personal Access Code (PAC). Medical Expenses You Can Claim on Your Tax Return (Dental, Glasses, Therapy) You can claim eligible medical expenses, such as dental services, prescription eyeglasses and contact lenses, and rehabilitative therapy, paid in any 12-month period ending in the tax year. For 2025 you claim the amount above the lesser of $2,834 or 3% of your net income.

Frequently asked questions

Is the CDCP run by the CRA?

No. It is a federal program run by Health Canada with Service Canada. It uses information from your tax return to check eligibility.

What does "access to dental insurance" mean?

Employers report it on your T4 slip in box 45. See T4 box 45 dental codes explained.

Sources

North Help Desk is an independent guide, not a government website. Rules, amounts and phone hours can change; always confirm on the official page before you act. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.