Remission for CDCP Eligibility Issues

Summary#

The Remission Order in Respect of Canadian Dental Care Plan Eligibility Issues (SOR/2026-204) forgives debts that some people were told to repay after they were found ineligible for the Canadian Dental Care Plan. It covers services received in the benefit periods May 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025, June 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026, and July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027, and the government estimates the cost at up to $434.8 million.

What it does#

• Forgives (remits) the amounts that would have been required to be repaid by people who:
  • were enrolled in the Canadian Dental Care Plan during the listed benefit periods, and
  • later were found ineligible because they incorrectly said they did not have private dental insurance or coverage.
• The amount forgiven is the sum of:
  • what was paid (or will be paid) under the Plan to dental care professionals for those services, and
  • any interest that accrued on unpaid invoices for those services.
• Reimburses people who already repaid those amounts, including any applicable interest, and also remits their debt.
• The Order was made on the recommendation of the Treasury Board and the Minister of Health under a power in the Financial Administration Act.
• The government says this action will let it focus resources on stronger eligibility checks going forward.

Who's affected#

• People who enrolled in the Canadian Dental Care Plan and attested they had no private dental coverage, but who were later found to have private coverage during the covered benefit periods. The government says many of these people have low or modest incomes.
• Dental care providers who were paid for those services. Payments made to providers are the basis of the amounts being remitted; affected individuals will not be required to repay those sums to the Crown (and people who already repaid will be reimbursed).
• Health Canada and Employment and Social Development Canada/Service Canada, which will handle the communications and the changes to eligibility checks.
• Employers and pension plan administrators are indirectly involved because reporting of private dental coverage on T4/T4A slips is now being used to confirm eligibility.

Why it matters#

• It removes repayment bills that could be a financial hardship for people who may have misunderstood the Plan’s eligibility rules or who cannot afford to repay small but significant debts.
• The government expects the measure to cost up to $434.8 million, so it is a public spending decision that affects taxpayers and program budgets.
• It aims to be fair where people relied on self-attestation during the Plan’s early rollout, and to simplify administration by avoiding costly recovery actions for relatively small amounts.
• The Order is intended to free up resources to improve eligibility verification so similar problems are less likely in future benefit periods.