Canadian Dental Care Plan: eligibility check
You may qualify for the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) if you have no access to private dental insurance, your adjusted family net income is under $90,000, and you and your spouse or partner filed last year's tax return in Canada and are Canadian residents for tax purposes. Under $70,000 there is no co-payment.
CDCP eligibility checker
Answer the four questions to see your result
Your result updates as you answer.
This checker reads your answers only. Service Canada decides eligibility when you apply, and your co-payment level is in the letter you get after you enrol.
Finvo is not part of the Government of Canada. Service Canada decides eligibility. This is general information based on canada.ca, checked 27 Oct 2026. There is no fee to apply for the CDCP.
Who qualifies for the CDCP
You must meet all four requirements. Applications for the 2026–2027 benefit period are open, and canada.ca lists no age limits: anyone who meets the four requirements can apply, for themselves and their dependants.
No access to private dental insurance
Not through your work or pension plan, a family member's work or pension plan, a professional or student organization, or coverage you or a family member bought, including health spending accounts that cover dental.
A filed tax return
You filed your tax return in Canada for the previous year. Your spouse or common-law partner (if you have one) must have filed too.
Income under $90,000
Your adjusted family net income is less than $90,000. It's based on your return and your spouse's or partner's.
Canadian resident for tax
You are a Canadian resident for tax purposes. This also applies to your spouse or common-law partner.
You still count as having access if…
- you have never used the coverage
- you decided not to enrol in it
- you have to pay a premium for it
- it doesn't cover the full cost of your dental care
- you opted out of pension dental coverage after December 11, 2023, whether or not you can opt back in
- a family member works in a dental office and gets free dental care, or you get a payment to buy private dental coverage
Exceptions and checks
- Retired, opted out early: you may be eligible if you opted out of your pension plan's dental coverage before December 11, 2023 and can't opt back in.
- Government programs are fine: dental coverage through a provincial, territorial or federal government social program doesn't stop you qualifying. The plans may coordinate so nothing is paid twice.
- Check your tax slips: box 45 on a T4, or box 015 on a T4A. A 1 means no dental coverage was offered; 2, 3, 4 or 5 means some was offered. Check your spouse's or partner's slips too.
It's checked after you join. The CDCP accepts your word (an attestation) when you apply, then compares it with T4 and T4A slips. If you're selected for a review, you get a letter and 45 days to send proof. If you're found ineligible, coverage ends and you may have to repay what the plan paid.
What you pay depends on family income
A co-payment is the share of the CDCP fee that the plan doesn't pay. You pay it directly to your dental provider.
| Adjusted family net income | CDCP pays | You pay (co-payment) |
|---|---|---|
| Under $70,000 | 100%of CDCP fees | 0%no co-payment |
| $70,000 to $79,999 | 60%of CDCP fees | 40%of CDCP fees |
| $80,000 to $89,999 | 40%of CDCP fees | 60%of CDCP fees |
| $90,000 or more | Not eligible for the CDCP | |
Extra charges are possible at any income. CDCP fees may not match what your provider charges. You pay the difference if your provider charges more than the CDCP fee, and the full cost of anything the plan doesn't cover that you agree to. Ask your provider before treatment.
How adjusted family net income is worked out
- StartFamily net income: line 23600 on your return plus line 23600 on your spouse's or partner's
- MinusUCCB and RDSP income received (lines 11700 and 12500)
- PlusUCCB and RDSP amounts repaid (lines 21300 and 23200)
- EqualsAdjusted family net income
What the CDCP covers
The plan helps pay for a wide range of oral health care when a provider recommends it. Canada.ca groups covered services like this.
Diagnostic and preventive
Dental exams (complete, routine, specific and emergency), X-rays, cleaning (scaling), fluoride and sealants.
Basic services
Permanent and temporary fillings, root canal treatment, pain control for diseased teeth, and gum treatment such as cleaning under the gumline.
Major services
Crowns, posts and cores (preauthorization needed), crown repairs, complete dentures and denture repairs, relines and rebases, and oral surgery such as removing teeth.
Anesthesia or sedation
Nitrous oxide and oral sedation. Conscious sedation, deep sedation and general anesthesia need preauthorization.
Orthodontic services
Listed as a CDCP category, but canada.ca says orthodontic services are currently not available.
Who can treat you
Dentists, dental specialists, denturists, independent dental hygienists and dental school clinics that take CDCP patients.
Preauthorization and billing
Some services, including those beyond set frequency limits, need approval from the CDCP before you get them, and not every request is approved. Claims are handled by Sun Life: your provider bills Sun Life directly, and Sun Life only pays providers. If you pay the full cost yourself, you won't be reimbursed. The full list is in the CDCP Dental Benefits Guide on canada.ca.
Apply through the Government of Canada
There's no fee to apply. Be wary of calls, texts or ads that ask for your banking or card details.
Check you meet all four requirements
Use the checker above, and look at box 45 on your T4 (or box 015 on a T4A) and your spouse's or partner's slips.
Make sure both returns are filed
Your return and your spouse's or partner's for the previous year must be filed in Canada. If one is missing, file it first. We can help with that.
Gather the details for each person
Social Insurance Number (if a child has one), date of birth, full name, home and mailing address, and any dental coverage through a government program. You'll also need your spouse's or partner's details.
Apply online or by phone
Apply online through My Service Canada Account (or the canada.ca application if you can't use it), or call Service Canada at 1-833-537-4342 (TTY 1-833-677-6262), Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm local time. Your spouse or partner submits their own application.
Wait for your enrolment letter
It confirms your CDCP plan number, member ID, coverage start date and co-payment level. Sun Life then sends a welcome package.
Book care on or after your start date
Choose a provider who accepts CDCP patients and bills Sun Life directly. Before treatment, ask what you'll pay beyond your co-payment.
Renewing, and what you need
Renew every year
- Each benefit period ends on June 30. You renew every year to confirm you still meet the requirements.
- The renewal period for 2026–2027 closed on June 1, 2026. Renewals for 2027–2028 open in spring 2027.
- To renew, you and your spouse or partner must have filed last year's return and received your notice of assessment.
- Missed it? You can apply again, but care during the gap isn't covered or paid back later.
- Your co-payment level can change when you renew, if your income changes.
Documents and information
- Social Insurance Number for each applicant (for children, if they have one)
- Full name and date of birth for each person
- Home and mailing address
- Your spouse's or common-law partner's details
- Any dental coverage through a government program
- Filed returns for you and your spouse or partner, and your notice of assessment
- Your T4 or T4A slips, to check box 45 or box 015
Provincial dental programs and the CDCP
Coverage through a government program doesn't count as private insurance, so you can have both.
British Columbia: Healthy Kids
Healthy Kids covers basic dental, optical and hearing care for children in low-income families. B.C. says the CDCP may be combined with Healthy Kids coverage.
Alberta: Adult and Child Health Benefits
Albertans with dental coverage through the Alberta Adult Health Benefit or Alberta Child Health Benefit may also be eligible for the CDCP. For services both plans cover, claims go to the CDCP first, and the Alberta plan covers remaining eligible costs.
No return, no CDCP
The CDCP uses your tax return, and your spouse's or partner's, to work out your family income. If either is missing or late, we can prepare and file it, including catch-up years, so you can apply.
- Personal returns for you and your spouse or partner
- Help finding line 23600 and your notice of assessment
- Offices in Surrey, Edmonton and Courtenay
Which office?
Book a free 15-minute call15-minute calls every weekday at 10 am and 2 pm Pacific (11 am and 3 pm Mountain), except holidays.
Typical next slots, confirmed when you book:
Call (236) 300-3322Email contact@finvo.caMon–Fri, 9 am – 5 pm PT/MT5.0 on Google · 92 reviews
The CDCP, answered
What is the income limit for the Canadian Dental Care Plan?
Your adjusted family net income must be less than $90,000. That's your net income (line 23600) plus your spouse's or common-law partner's, minus any UCCB and RDSP income received, plus any UCCB and RDSP amounts repaid. Below $70,000 there is no co-payment.
Can I get CDCP if I have insurance through my spouse's job?
Usually not. If your spouse's or partner's work or pension plan offers dental coverage that would include you or your children, you count as having access, even if you never enrolled or never used it. Check box 45 on their T4: a 1 means no dental coverage was offered, and 2 to 5 means some was offered.
Do I need to file taxes to get CDCP?
Yes. You and your spouse or common-law partner must have filed your tax returns in Canada for the previous year, so your family income can be assessed. To renew, you also need your notice of assessment. If a return is missing, file it first, then apply.
How much is the CDCP co-payment?
It depends on adjusted family net income: under $70,000 you pay 0% of the CDCP fees, from $70,000 to $79,999 you pay 40%, and from $80,000 to $89,999 you pay 60%. You may also pay extra if your provider charges more than the CDCP fee.
How do I apply for the Canadian Dental Care Plan?
Apply online through My Service Canada Account or the canada.ca application, or call 1-833-537-4342 (TTY 1-833-677-6262), Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm local time. There is no fee. Your spouse or partner submits their own application.
Can I get CDCP if my child has BC Healthy Kids or I have the Alberta Adult Health Benefit?
You could. Government programs don't count as private insurance. B.C. says the CDCP may be combined with Healthy Kids coverage. In Alberta, claims for services both plans cover go to the CDCP first, and the Alberta Adult or Child Health Benefit covers remaining eligible costs.
Do I have to renew the CDCP every year?
Yes. Each benefit period ends on June 30. Renewal for 2026–2027 closed on June 1, 2026, and renewals for 2027–2028 open in spring 2027. If you miss the renewal, you can apply again, but care during the gap isn't covered.
Is what I enter in the checker stored?
No. The checker runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you enter is stored or sent to Finvo or anyone else, and it is gone when you close the page or press Start again.
Sources, checked 27 Oct 2026
- Canada.ca: CDCP, do you qualify
- Canada.ca: CDCP services covered and co-payments
- Canada.ca: apply for the CDCP
- Canada.ca: after you apply
- Canada.ca: renew your CDCP coverage
- Canada.ca: CDCP member eligibility review
- Canada.ca: contact the CDCP
- B.C.: Healthy Kids Program
- Alberta: Alberta Adult Health Benefit
- Alberta: Alberta Child Health Benefit
Finvo is not part of the Government of Canada. Service Canada decides eligibility. This page is general information, not advice, and programs can change. Check canada.ca before you apply.