More than 1 million Canadians have now received dental care under new national insurance plan

More than amillion Canadians have now received dental care under the new national public insurance plan, with each patient receiving an average of $730 toward oral health-care services.

"We can't get there overnight, but person by person, we got to a million," Health Minister Mark Holland said at acommunity centre in Scarborough, Ont., on Thursday.

The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) helps cover the cost of dental visits for peoplewho don't have access to private insurance and have a household income below $90,000.

The plan haspaid$732 million in dental expenses so far, Health Canada said. The program is expected to cost$13 billion over the next five years.

The CDCPis currently available toseniors, children under 18 years of ageand people with a valid disability tax credit. So far, 2.7 million Canadian residents have been approved for the plan.

Plan may not expand to remaining Canadians byJanuary, minister says

Two-thirds of Canadians who will becovered by the program currently aren't eligible. The CDCP is set toexpand massively in 2025 to cover the remaining eligible Canadians beyond those specific groups some six million additional people.

When asked whether plans wereon track to begin coveringthem injust a few months' time, Holland said the "exact date isstill being figured out."

"We didn't say January.We said 2025," Holland said.

But in a press conference with Holland in June,Canada's Minister of Citizens' Services Terry Beechsaidpeopleaged 18 to 64 would be able to apply as of January 2025.

Holland said Thursday that "early in 2025iswhen we are looking to expand to additional cohorts."

WATCH |Feds will expand dental program in 2025 but exact timing not finalized, Holland says:

Feds will expand dental program in 2025 but exact timing not finalized, Holland says

12 days ago

Duration 2:09

Minister of Health Mark Holland says the federal government is absolutely committed to greatly expanding the new national dental insurance program in 2025 as fast as possible. He says more than one million Canadians have now received dental care under the plan.

Until now, the federal governmenthas not identified specific groups to receive CDCP in the new year. It currently says "allremaining eligible Canadian residents"would be covered "starting 2025."

"We're in a process of constant evaluation to make sure that as we bring new people online ... we're listening, we're incorporating that feedback fromoral health providers," Holland said.

The CDCP currently covers oral health-care servicesincluding cleanings, filings and dentures. As of Nov. 1, it will expand to cover more complex and expensive procedures that require pre-approval, like crowns and the initial placement of partial dentures.

"We've got to make sure that we we nail this," Holland said in reference to the expansion of services starting tomorrow.

"We're going to be evaluating that, and that's going to put us in a position to make a determination and exactly when we roll out those next cohorts," he said.

"But we are absolutely committed in 2025, as fast as possible, to expanding this to all Canadians."

After low uptake initiallyfrom dentists, Health Canada said89 per cent of oral health-care providers or 22,340 in total across the country are now accepting patients through the program.

Insurance claims submitted onpaper will also be allowedstarting tomorrow. Until now,only providers who had the ability tosubmit the claimsonline could participate.

Participationin the program for dentists, denturistsand dental hygienists is voluntary.