Canadians who participate in the
have until June 1 to renew their coverage if they want to keep it continuous.
Otherwise, there will a coverage gap while a brand new application is reviewed. Dental care received during a gap in coverage gap will not be covered retroactively.
What are the eligibility requirements?
Renewal requires confirming that
you still meet the plan’s requirements
. Foremost is that you do not have access to private dental insurance.
Second, your adjusted family net income must be below $90,000. This is the combined net income of an individual and their spouse or common-law partner, adjusted by the CRA to determine eligibility for benefits. It includes your total income before taxes. But it is minus deductions such as RRSP contributions, union dues, and childcare expenses.
To prove your income eligibility, you and your spouse or partner need to have filed your taxes and received your 2025
from the CRA. To calculate your combined net income, use line 23600 on your tax return plus line 23600 of your spouse’s or common-law partner’s tax return.
You won’t need to upload your Notice of Assessment during the renewal process, but as noted, the numbers from it are used to confirm eligibility.
What is a “My Service Canada Account” and how is it relevant for CDCP renewal?
The way to renew is to sign into your “
” or create one if you do not have one yet.
The MSCA, as it’s known, is a secure online portal that enables Canadians to manage their government benefits and services, such as Employment Insurance, Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security and the Canadian Dental Care Plan.
It provides 24/7 access and enables you to avoid having to line up in an office.
What do I do once I have an MSCA?
Once you sign into your MSCA, go through the following steps:
Go to the Canadian Dental Care Plan section on your dashboard.
Click “Renew your Canadian Dental Care Plan coverage.”
Review or update your personal details, including your name, date of birth, address, and SIN if necessary.
Confirm that you still meet the eligibility requirements and that you and your spouse or partner have filed your tax return and received your Notice of Assessment.
Submit the renewal, then save your confirmation and check MSCA later for letters or status updates.
It should be noted that if you choose to receive “Digital” communication in your MSCA, you’ll generally get notifications faster than waiting for them in the mail.
Can I renew my CDCP coverage by phone?
It’s also possible to renew your CDCP coverage by phone. You can call Service Canada at 1-833-537-4342. If you use TTY, call 1-833-677-6262.
Service Canada’s phone line is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm local time.
Before you call, have your CDCP member ID, Social Insurance Number, current address, contact information, and any details about other government dental coverage handy before you call.
Calling sooner rather than later will help avoid a gap in coverage.
Have there been problems with the CDCP?
There were problems in the early days of CDCP.
about 70,000 active members were found to be ineligible. Or they were assessed at the wrong co-payment level because of an income-calculation error.
Health Canada says affected CDCP members were notified of coverage changes in October 2025.
What concerns do dentists have about it?
Back in May 2024, the Canadian Dental Association
stating dentists across Canada were “hesitant to participate in the CDCP due to the lack of clarity around certain elements of the program” and some dentists reported issues with claim submissions.”
Those issues persist to some extent, according to the latest issue of
, the association’s magazine.
“A key issue is misconceptions about coverage” with many CDCP members assuming all dental procedures would be covered, similar to medical coverage in Canada. A first appointment resulted in “unexpected out-of-pocket coverage or the realization that certain services are only partially covered by the program.”
And while many patients were okay with paying an average of $70, one in four have asked not to be charged the difference in their dentist’s normal fees and the CDCP.
Obtaining preauthorization for coverage still stalls for “a small share of patients … creating uncertainty for patients and dental teams.”
Despite these issues, according to the CDA article, there has been “meaningful progress in Canada’s dental health landscape.”
Of the 33 per cent of Canadians enrolled in the CDCP, says the CDA, 76 per cent rate their experience positively. Satisfaction is even higher “when compared with the general public’s dental experiences.”
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