Page 8 - Jul-Aug 2024 - Reporter

INSURANCE UPDATE

THINK TWICE BEFORE

DROPPING YOUR DENTAL PLAN

HUB INTERNATIONAL LIMITED

n a recent article in Benefits Canada, authored by Lauren root canals; Periodontal services to treat areas around the teeth,
IBailey, employers dropping dental from benefits plan should including gums and bone; cleanings, x-rays, fluoride treatments
think twice before considering dropping dental coverage from and more.
their benefits plan. With the rollout and coming expansion of The cost of the plan administered by Health Canada provides
the national dental care program, Graham Young, director of coverage with no co-pay for families with incomes under
employee benefits at Capcorp Financial Corp., feels that there $70,000, 40% co-pay for families between $70,00 and $79,000
is a risk in removing this coverage because employers will know and 60% co-pay for families between $80,000 and $89,999, all
their employees’ total adjusted household income. based on the CDCP fee guide.
Currently, the plan covers seniors over age 65, children under In the Benefits Canada article cited above, the author noted
18 and adults with a valid Disability Tax Credit. To be eligible that the first phase of the plan, which was launched in December
for the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP), you must not have 2022, included coverage of up to $650 per year for children
access to dental insurance, have an adjusted family net income aged 12 and younger, as well as eligible seniors aged 87 and up.
of less than $90,000, be a Canadian resident for tax purposes In 2024, the program opened to children aged 18 and younger,
and have filed your tax return in the previous year. According people with disabilities and eligible seniors aged 65 to 69. The
their program’s website: (https://www.canada.ca/en/services/ program will be open to all eligible Canadians starting in 2025.
benefits/dental/dental-care-plan/qualify.html), the adjusted As the program nears its full rollout in 2025, the federal
family net income is line 23600 of your tax return plus line program continues to refine its fee guide and list of service
23600 of your spouse’s or common-law partner’s tax return, and providers to help those Canadians who are impacted by not
any world income not reported in a tax return to the CRA, such as having sufficient income or coverage. The application process is
by a new resident), minus any universal child care benefit (UCCB) managed by Service Canada and they can be reached at 1-833-
and registered disability savings plan (RDSP) income received 537-4342 or https://eservices.canada.ca/en/service.
(line 11700 and line 12500 of your or your spouse’s or common-
law partner’s tax return), plus any UCCB and RDSP amounts
repaid (line 21300 and line 23200 of your or your spouse’s or
common-law partner’s tax return).
On the CDCP website: (https://www.canada.ca/en/services/
benefits/dental/dental-care-plan/coverage.html) services
covered as: Diagnostic and Preventative services including
dental exams, including complete, routine, specific and
emergency exams; Basic Services to treat cavities and broken
teeth such as permanent and temporary fillings, pain control
for diseased teeth, other treatments for cavities; Endodontic
services for teeth that are severely decayed, infected or broken;

8 LBMAO Reporter - July-August 2024 www.lbmao.on.ca