Health Canada is promoting the greatest absorption of its public dental insurance program, but the data shows that almost half of the 5.2 million eligible patients have not yet seen a dentist.
Of the Canadians approved for coverage, 2.8 million have been in a dental clinic.
The new data occurs six months after the Canadian dental care plan expanded to cover young people aged 18 to 64. Until now, 1.8 million people in this new cohort are approved for the plan. A quarter of them have used the program so far.
Health Canada now also says that about 100 percent of active dentists, denturists and independent dental hygienists are treating patients through the program. It is a significant milestone to consider that the initial absorption of the dentists was low.
The National Insurance Program subsidizes the cost of dental care for Canadian residents with a family net income below $ 90,000, if they do not have access to a private insurance plan.
The Plan helps pay a variety of dental works, including cleaning, fillings and postpage. Health Canada says that, on average, each patient has had $ 800 in expenses covered per year.
Dental clinics can also “balance the invoice”, which means that they can charge more than the federal government covers, which requires the patient to pay the difference.
The Canadian dental care plan began in May 2024 for older people, then children and Canadians who received the tax credit for disability. In May 2025, all eligible Canadians expanded.
The massive multi -million dollar insurance program was presented as a result of the NDP, which supported the previous Liberal Minorities of Trudeau for two years in the Commons Chamber in exchange for important social programs such as Dental Care.
