The federal health minister has confirmed that millions of Canadians who currently do not qualify for the national dental insurance plan will soon be able to apply, but refused to specify exactly when or who will be eligible.
Health Minister Mark Holland addressed the issue during a press conference at a dental assistant school in Ottawa on Wednesday, stating that the program will expand “as soon as possible in the new year,” but did not provide a timeline.
“I know people are anxious and I’m asked this question everywhere,” Holland remarked. “We want this to expand to every Canadian, everywhere in the country, as soon as possible in the new year.”
While the federal government previously stated that all remaining Canadians aged 18 to 64 would be eligible starting January 2025, Holland retracted that claim in October. “We didn’t say January. We said 2025,” he clarified.
The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) is a taxpayer-funded initiative designed to cover dental procedures such as cleanings, fillings, and dentures for low- to middle-income Canadians who lack private dental insurance. The program is currently available to an estimated 9 million Canadians.
So far, only 3 million people—seniors, children, and those with valid disability tax credits—are eligible for coverage. This leaves 6 million Canadians aged 18 to 64 still waiting to qualify, though it remains unclear whether they will be added all at once in 2025 or in phases. Holland hinted in October that the expansion might be rolled out gradually.
Holland’s office declined to clarify the exact rollout plan when asked on Wednesday, though the minister emphasized the need for careful implementation. “We want to make sure every step is working smoothly before we expand,” Holland said, citing the introduction of pre-authorizations in November for complex dental procedures such as crowns and dentures.
“We want to make sure we get pre-authorization right before we expand to other cohorts,” he added.
The program, which is projected to cost taxpayers $13 billion over five years, has already seen significant uptake. Since its launch in May, more than 1.2 million Canadians have received dental care under the plan. On average, each participant has had $791 in dental costs covered. Health Canada also reported that more than 90% of oral health care providers are now participating in the program.
Holland reiterated that the government is “100% committed” to expanding the program at the earliest possible opportunity, emphasizing that the rollout will be done with care and attention to detail.
