Maintaining good oral health is essential for both children and adults with regular cleaning and checkups. Cavities and gum disease can develop, affect the growth of adult teeth, and lead to more serious health issues. In addition to private dental plans, there are government dental plans that make dental care affordable and accessible dental care for those who might not have access to it to maintain healthy oral care. The right dental coverage is essential in managing dental care costs. Lisgar Park Dental accepts a wide range of dental insurance plans and government programs so that dental care is available to as many people as possible.

Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP)

Launched by the Canadian government in December 2023, the CDCP is a federal program that provides affordable dental care to eligible Canadian residents. This plan covers preventative care, diagnostic services, instrument treatments, and more.

To qualify, you must:

  • not be covered under a private dental insurance plan
  • have a household net income of $90,000 or less
  • be a Canadian resident
  • have filed your tax return in the previous year

You can still qualify for dental coverage under this dental program even if you already have dental coverage through a provincial, territorial, or federal program. The program is currently accepting applications from seniors aged 65 and above and, beginning June 27, will begin accepting applications for children under 18 and people between 18 and 64 years old with a valid disability tax credit. All other eligible Canadian residents can apply starting in 2025.

Government Dental Plans

In addition to the CDCP, there are other federal and provincial dental programs for specific groups of people.

These include:

Healthy Smiles Ontario (HSO)

This plan provides free dental coverage for eligible children aged 17 and under. The program aims to make dental care available to all children to encourage good oral health. It covers regular checkups, preventative care, and treatment. To be eligible, a child must be under 17, a resident of Ontario, and live in a household that meets the income requirements.

Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB)

This program provides dental benefits for First Nations and Inuit individuals who meet the eligibility requirements. Under the program, the range of dental services covered includes diagnostic services, preventative services, and restorative services. This program provides coverage for services not covered under other federal, provincial, territorial, or private health insurance.

To be eligible, you must be a resident of Canada and one of the following:

  • a First Nations individual registered under the Indian Act 
  • an Inuk recognized by an Inuit land claim organization
  • a child under 2 years old of an eligible parent

Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP)

This program covers medical services for a limited amount of time for new immigrants. Coverage is reserved for refugees, protected persons, refugee claimants, and victims of human trafficking. The amount of time you will continue to be covered depends on your status in Canada. Under this program, urgent dental care services are covered.

Student and University Insurance

International students studying in Canada must have health insurance for the length of their study programs.

Student insurance plans offer some coverage for basic health and dental expenses. These health plans are made available to students through their universities and schools.

List of Accepted Insurance Providers

Finding a dental provider that accepts your dental insurance is key in choosing a provider for you and your family.

Lisgar Park Dental accepts the following insurance providers:

  • Benecaid
  • Blue Cross
  • Canada Life
  • Chambers of Commerce
  • Claimsecure
  • Co-operators
  • Desjardins
  • Empire Life
  • Equitable Life
  • Global Benefit
  • Great West Life
  • Green Shield
  • Group Health
  • Groupsource
  • Healthy Smiles (HSO)
  • IA Financial Group
  • Industrial Alliance
  • Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP)
  • Johnston Group
  • Johnson Group
  • La Capitale
  • LiUna Local
  • Local 183
  • Local 506
  • Local 675
  • MDM
  • Manitoba Blue Cross
  • Manion Wilkens
  • Manulife
  • Nexgen Rx
  • NIHB (Non-Insured Health Benefits)
  • SSQ
  • RWAM
  • Sunlife
  • And many more!

How to Maximize Your Dental Benefits

Lisgar Park Dental is here to help you get the most out of your dental plan.

Here’s what we tell our patients:

Choose the right plan for your needs. If you or your family need specific services, choose a plan that provides the best coverage for those particular services.

Know what procedures are covered under your dental plan to avoid headaches and unexpected costs.

Before making an appointment. Find out whether your dental plan is accepted at Lisgar Park Dental.

Keep up with your regular dentist visits. Preventative care is covered on most plans, but not all restorative care services are covered.

Establish good oral health for your child early. Regular dental appointments should begin when a child is 12 months old.

Lisgar Park Dental is happy to help you navigate private insurance and government dental programs to find the right plan for you. Contact us today for assistance.

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