LATEST STORIES:
New dental care program will exclude 4.4M uninsured Canadians: report
A new report from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives warns that millions of uninsured Canadians will be left out of the new federal dental program because their family income is too high.
The new federal benefits program developed as part of a political pact between the Liberal government and the NDP began enrollment last month.
It will have the federal government offering dental benefits to families without insurance and a household income under $90,000. Rollout first began with seniors, children under the age of 18 and those with disabilities.
By 2025, the government anticipates that the fully implemented coverage will be available to around nine million people. However, the report flags that an additional 4.4 million people without insurance will be excluded because of the income cap.
Extending coverage would entail another $1.45 billion in 2025, on top of the $3.3 billion that has already been budgeted for that year.
— @policyalternatives (@ccpa) January 17, 2024
WATCH MORE: New federal dental insurance plan to be phased in over 2024
The report released Wednesday argues that the current cut-off of $90,000 is not a particularly large income for a family composed of two parents and two children.
“Earning $45,000 for each parent isn’t a tremendous salary in Canada. But making more than that precludes those families from receiving federal dental care coverage.”
The Centre details that a universal program wouldn’t leave anyone out at all.
Don Davies, the NDP health critic who worked closely with the Liberals in developing the new dental care policy said in a statement that his party would like to see the coverage expanded.
“This is a momentous step forward and it will be life-changing for many. However, we have always been clear that this is a first step — a down payment — on universal access and that more must be done,” Davies said in the statement.
READ MORE: Wait times continue to climb in emergency rooms across Hamilton, Niagara
Davies is also actively collaborating with the government on the legislative framework for medical drug coverage for Canadians, which the NDP has insisted must be singer-payer and universal unlike the new dental program.
Expansion of dental care along those same principles will remain a focus for the NDP come the next election, he said.
“New Democrats will not stop until every Canadian can access the dental care they need regardless of their ability to pay.”
The office of Health Minister Mark Holland has yet to address the concerns outlined by the new report, but says the program is intended to ease the financial barrier to accessing dental care.
“The Canadian Dental Care Plan is going to make life better for millions of Canadians, so they won’t have to choose between paying their bills and getting oral health care,” a spokesperson said in a statement.
Ottawa plans to gradually enroll eligible participants over the next 12 months, with the first program members expected to be able to start claiming dental expenses in May.
This report was created with files from The Canadian Press
