Health Canada says tens of thousands of Canadians were mistakenly approved for coverage under the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) because of a technical error in how applicants’ income was calculated.
In a statement Tuesday, the department said about 70,000 people were approved for the program but were later found to be ineligible or had been assigned an incorrect copayment level.
Of those, roughly 28,000 Canadians already received dental care under the plan.
“An error was recently discovered with respect to how income was calculated for some applicants at the time their eligibility was being determined,” Health Canada said. “A system fix has already been implemented to correct this error.”
No Repayment Required
The department confirmed that no one will be required to repay the cost of dental services already covered.
The CDCP, launched in May 2024, provides subsidized dental care for Canadians with a family net income below $90,000 who do not have private insurance. It helps pay for cleanings, fillings, dentures, and other essential dental work, with the government covering an average of $800 per patient per year.
Health Canada says more than five million Canadians have been approved for the plan so far, though only about three million have actually used the coverage.
Expanding Access
The national dental plan — a multi-billion-dollar program — was introduced through a deal between the NDP and the former Trudeau Liberal minority government, which pledged expanded access to social programs in exchange for parliamentary support.
Initially rolled out for seniors, children, and Canadians with disabilities, the program expanded in May 2025 to include all eligible adults.
Health Canada says the eligibility system has now been corrected and reassessed applicants will be notified of any changes. The department added it continues to review other applications “to ensure accuracy and integrity across the program.”
