Canada Dental Care Plan (CDCP) Eligibility & Income Guide 2026
Check the current CDCP eligibility rules, calculate adjusted family net income, understand the private-insurance test, estimate your co-payment and avoid unexpected dental charges.
CDCP does not automatically pay the full amount charged by a dentist
CDCP reimbursement is based on the CDCP fee schedule and your applicable co-payment level. Even when the plan covers 100% of the applicable CDCP-established fee, you may still have to pay amounts that the provider charges above the CDCP fee or charges for services that are not covered by the plan.
1. Who Can Qualify for the CDCP in 2026?
The Canadian Dental Care Plan is a federal dental-benefit program for eligible Canadian residents who do not have access to private dental insurance or coverage. To qualify for the current program, all four eligibility requirements must be satisfied.
You cannot have access to dental insurance or coverage through your work, a family member's work, a pension plan, a professional or student organization, a private policy or certain health-spending accounts.
You and your spouse or common-law partner, where applicable, must have filed tax returns in Canada so family income can be assessed.
Your adjusted family net income must be less than $90,000.
You and your spouse or common-law partner, where applicable, must be Canadian residents for tax purposes.
2. How to Calculate Adjusted Family Net Income
CDCP uses adjusted family net income rather than simply taking the headline amount on one person's tax return. The calculation incorporates the applicant's and spouse/common-law partner's family net income and specific adjustments.
| Adjusted Family Net Income | CDCP Portion of CDCP-Established Fees | Patient Co-payment |
|---|---|---|
| Under $70,000 | 100% | 0% |
| $70,000–$79,999 | 60% | 40% |
| $80,000–$89,999 | 40% | 60% |
| $90,000 or more | Not eligible | Not applicable |
3. CDCP Private Dental Insurance Rule
The private-insurance test is an access test, not simply a question of whether you currently use insurance. You can be ineligible if you have access to dental coverage even when you choose not to enrol, do not use the benefit or must pay a premium for the coverage.
Access to dental insurance through your employer can make you ineligible.
Access through a spouse, common-law partner or other family member's employer or pension plan can make you ineligible.
Dental coverage available through a professional or student organization can affect eligibility.
A dental policy purchased privately by you or a family member can make you ineligible.
A health spending account that provides dental coverage is considered access to private dental coverage.
Choosing not to enrol or declining available coverage generally does not remove the fact that you have access to it.
4. Current 2026–2027 Application and Renewal Status
Applications for the 2026–2027 CDCP benefit year are currently open. The 2025–2026 renewal period closed on June 1, 2026. Someone who had 2025–2026 coverage but did not renew on time can submit a new application for 2026–2027, but there may be a gap in coverage and dental services received during that gap are not covered retroactively.
Key Guidelines & Action Items
- New application: Sign in or create a My Service Canada Account (MSCA), open the Canadian Dental Care Plan section and select the application option.
- Tax information: Make sure the required Canadian tax returns have been filed so family income can be assessed.
- Eligibility attestation: Confirm that you meet the current requirements, including the absence of access to private dental coverage.
- After application: Service Canada reviews the application and, when eligible, provides the information required for enrolment and CDCP coverage.
- Renewal: CDCP coverage must be renewed every benefit year. The renewal period for the next benefit year is scheduled to open in spring 2027.
5. How Sun Life and Dental Providers Work With CDCP
Service Canada handles application and eligibility functions, while Sun Life is the contracted benefits administrator responsible for enrolment and claims processing. Participating oral-health providers bill the CDCP directly for covered services rather than requiring members to submit their own reimbursement claims for those covered services.
Key Guidelines & Action Items
- Before treatment, confirm that the provider accepts CDCP clients and will bill Sun Life directly.
- Confirm that your CDCP coverage is active before the appointment.
- Ask the provider about your applicable co-payment.
- Ask whether there will be additional charges beyond the CDCP-covered amount.
- Do not assume every dentist in Canada participates in the CDCP.
- Use Sun Life's CDCP Provider Search when looking for a participating provider.
6. Co-payments Versus Additional Dental Charges
A CDCP member can face two different types of patient costs. The first is the applicable co-payment based on adjusted family net income. The second is an additional amount where the dental provider's charge is higher than the CDCP established fee or where a service is not covered under the plan.
There is no CDCP co-payment, but additional charges can still apply if the provider charges more than the applicable CDCP-established fee or for services that are not covered.
The member generally pays a 40% co-payment of the applicable CDCP fee, plus any additional charge that is not covered.
The member generally pays a 60% co-payment of the applicable CDCP fee, plus any additional charge that is not covered.
The patient may be responsible for the full amount of a service that the plan does not cover.
7. What Dental Services Can Be Covered?
The CDCP covers a range of oral-health services, subject to the plan's eligibility rules, frequency limitations, preauthorization requirements and applicable CDCP fees. Coverage is broader than only cleanings and fillings.
Services can include examinations, cleanings and fluoride-related preventive services where covered under the plan.
Covered services can include certain dental X-rays and examinations.
The plan can cover services such as fillings subject to its rules.
Certain root-canal treatments can be covered.
Certain gum-treatment services can be covered.
Certain dentures and related services can be covered, subject to plan rules and preauthorization where required.
8. Annual Eligibility Review and Losing Eligibility
CDCP eligibility is attestation-based and can be reviewed after enrollment. The government may compare the information provided with tax records and T4/T4A information. If a member is found ineligible, coverage can be terminated and the person may have to repay amounts that the plan paid while the person was ineligible.
Key Guidelines & Action Items
- Employer or pension records indicate access to dental coverage.
- The member's tax or family-income information conflicts with the application.
- The member no longer meets the Canadian tax-residency requirement.
- The member's circumstances change and they obtain access to private dental insurance.
- The member provides inaccurate information during application or renewal.
Official Government & Health Authority References
- Government of Canada — Canadian Dental Care Plan
- Government of Canada — CDCP Eligibility
- Government of Canada — CDCP Application
- Government of Canada — CDCP Co-payments and Additional Charges
- Government of Canada — CDCP Member Eligibility Review
- Government of Canada — CDCP 2026 Renewal and Application Information
Frequently Asked Questions (6 Verified Answers)
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