---

The new Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) is here, and many people are interested in it. It offers dental coverage to Canadians who need it. But to know if you can get this coverage, you need to understand a key rule: you must have "no access" to dental insurance.

This might sound simple, but "no access" has a very specific meaning for the CDCP. Let's break it down so you can see if you might qualify.

What "No Access" Really Means: It's About Your Options

The CDCP is for Canadians who don't have other ways to get dental insurance. So, the plan looks at whether you could get dental insurance, not just whether you're currently signed up for a plan.

You are considered to have access to dental insurance if you could get dental coverage in any of the following ways, even if you chose not to sign up or never use the benefits:

• Through Your Job (or a Family Member's Job): This includes regular dental plans and also Health Spending Accounts (HSAs) that can be used for dental care.
• Through a Professional or Student Group: Many groups offer dental plans to their members.
• Through Your Pension (or a Family Member's Pension): This includes pension plans from federal, provincial, or territorial governments.
• Through a Plan You Bought Yourself: This means any dental insurance you pay for directly from an insurance company or through another group not related to an employer.

Key Point: If you could get dental insurance through any of these ways, you likely do not qualify for the CDCP. It doesn't matter if you said no to the coverage, don't pay for it, or never use it. If the option was available to you, that's what counts.

Common Questions and Examples:

"I said no to my dental plan at work." If your job offers dental insurance (even if it's a Health Spending Account that could cover dental costs), you are seen as having access. Choosing not to take it doesn't make you eligible for the CDCP. You still had the option.

"My Health Spending Account (HSA) is small, or I don't use it for dental." If your HSA could be used for dental care, it means you have access. The amount in your HSA or how you use it doesn't change this for CDCP purposes.

"I'm retired and have a pension." If your pension plan (yours or a family member's) offers a way to get dental coverage, you are considered to have access.

Important Exception: There's a specific rule for retirees. If you chose to opt out of dental benefits from your pension before December 11, 2023, AND you cannot choose to join again under the pension rules, you might be eligible for the CDCP.

"My spouse or I bought our own dental plan." If you or a family member has dental coverage bought directly from an insurance company or through another group, you have access and do not qualify for the CDCP.

So, Who Could Qualify Based on "Access"?

If you look at all the points above and can say, "No, I don't have any of those ways to get dental insurance," then you might meet this part of the CDCP requirements.

Remember, there are other rules too, like your family's net income (adjusted for taxes) and being a Canadian resident for tax purposes.

Why Is the "No Access" Rule So Strict?

The CDCP is meant to help Canadians who have no other way to get dental coverage. This strict rule helps make sure the program supports those who truly need it and might not get dental care otherwise.

Other Important Things to Know:

• T4 Slips Are Changing: The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) now requires employers to report on T4 and T4A slips if employees and their families had access to any dental insurance, including Health Spending Accounts.
• Cancelling an Existing Plan Won't Make You Eligible: If you had access to dental coverage and cancel it now, this doesn't mean you'll qualify for the CDCP. The government looks at whether you had access.
• You Might Still Pay Some Costs: Even if you qualify for the CDCP, it might not cover 100% of your dental bills. You might have to pay a portion (a co-payment) depending on your income and the dental service.

Quick Check: Do You Have "Access" to Dental Insurance?

If you could get dental coverage from...	Does this count as "Access"?	Likely Eligible for CDCP?
Your employer's dental plan (even if you said no)	Yes	No
A Health Spending Account (HSA) from an employer	Yes	No
Pension or retiree dental benefits	Yes	No*
A professional or student group plan	Yes	No
A dental plan you or your family bought directly	Yes	No
None of the sources listed above	No	Yes (if other CDCP rules are met)

*Exception: Retirees who opted out of pension dental benefits before December 11, 2023, and cannot opt back in might be eligible.

In Short:

For the CDCP, "no access" means you have no option to get dental coverage through a job (yours or a family member's), a pension, a professional group, or a plan you could buy yourself. If any of these options are available to you—even if you don't use them—you are generally not eligible for the Canadian Dental Care Plan.

If you're not sure about your situation, check your benefits information or talk to your HR department or pension provider.

---

Dentist St. Albert