Canadian Dental Care Plan Renewal Deadline Approaches

Geoff Currier

Know Your Client!   It’s a daily commitment and requirement, especially in the work that financial advisors do with their clients.   It’s imperative that you ask about any significant changes in their lives. Has there been a significant new event:   a move to take a new job or go to university, a marriage or divorce, a new birth, a disability or a death? And, in the case of income tested benefits such as the Canadian Dental Care Plan, (CDCP) do they qualify?  Did they file their tax return on time to get it?  Do you know the deadlines for doing so?  Do you know when coverage ends if your client now longer qualifies?

The Basic Criteria.  For the answer to be “yes” your client must not have any dental coverage, must be a Canadian resident for tax filing purposes, must have filed a tax return and have a net family income of less than $90,000 as per line 23600 on the family tax returns. 

CDCP Eligibility: They may not be aware that the program has been expanded and now those aged 18-64 will be eligible to apply on May 29. 18-34 year olds can apply as of the 15th. Ask your clients if they know of anyone who might be eligible for this benefit. If they do and those people are unable to apply online there’s a toll-free number at the end of this article which they can use. 

The government will be sending letters to those who qualify based on their 2024 tax returns. However, getting information into the hands of some people at the lower end of the income spectrum can be a challenge and some people could be missing out on this coverage. They may not know about it. 

One application form for the household is usually sufficient when applying online. If the application is for children under 18, one application will suffice for multiple children.

The Renewal Deadline is Soon: If your client is already covered under this program, here’s another critical piece of information: they must renew their application by June 1st and that date is fast approaching. If your client doesn’t re-apply by June 1st or is no longer eligible because of a higher family income, coverage will end June 30th. 

Your client and spouse will need to have received their 2024 tax assessment to apply. They’ll receive a letter and a card with an ID number once the application has been processed. For those renewing, no new card will be issued.

Timeline Issues: The June 1^st renewal deadline is potentially problematic for two groups. Those tax filers with capital gains to report are not required to file until June 2^nd, a day after the CDCP renewal deadline.  Those who fall under the proprietorship label have until June 15^th to file.  Filers in either of those two groups may not have sufficient time or information to determine if they will qualify for the CDCP as their final calculations may not have been completed by June 1.

A Word of Caution: While coverage under the CDCP is extensive, it does not cover 100% of all dental services and your clients will need to have a conversation with their oral health care provider. This is a piece of advice you can pass along but what’s covered and what’s not is not your area. 

For example, if the adjusted family income is between $70,000 and $89,999, the patient can expect to have to pay a portion of the cost of any dental services. Again, it’s best to advise your clients to have that conversation with their provider.

The Bottom Line: Because this benefit is income tested it’s a reminder of the importance of quizzing your clients every year on the changes in their life circumstances. They may have suffered a significant drop in income and would now qualify for a program such as the CDCP. Remember, you’re not just in the tax business, you’re in the people business. Getting to know your clients and their needs will keep them coming back to you each year at tax time.

For those unable to apply online, here is the toll-free number they can use.

 1-833-537-4342

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