Canadian Dental Care Plan Renewal: How to Renew Your CDCP Coverage

Many members of the Canadian Dental Care Plan mistakenly believe that their dental coverage renews automatically, similar to some government benefits. This misconception often leads to costly renewal errors. However, the CDCP requires members to renew their coverage each year to confirm they still meet all eligibility criteria. 

Make sure to meet the deadline stated in your Government of Canada CDCP letter, available in your My Service Canada Account. If not, your CDCP coverage will end, and any dental care received during the lapse will not be reimbursed retroactively. The ideal deadline is June 1, 2025.

You can renew your CDCP coverage online through My Service Canada Account at canada.ca/dental, or by calling Service Canada at 1-833-537-4342. 

This guide will guide you through the renewal process, highlight important deadlines, and explain what to do if you have missed the cutoff.

What is the Canadian Dental Care Plan Renewal?

CDCP renewal is the annual required action to confirm your eligibility to keep your coverage active. This is not a formality, for Health Canada has a review process to recheck your confirmations. If you give false information, you could lose your coverage and have to repay any claims made for services.

If your eligibility status has not changed, you do not need to submit new documents. Instead, you only need to confirm that your information is still accurate, reattest to your eligibility, and approve the privacy statement again.

On the other hand, if your circumstances change, such as becoming eligible for private dental insurance through a new job, your income exceeding the threshold, or your spouse not filing taxes, your eligibility might change.

When is the CDCP Renewal Deadline?

CDCP renewal dates depend on your coverage period, with the deadline in your Government of Canada letters in your My Service Canada Account (MSCA). 

However, keep in mind that the Canadian Dental Care Plan operates on a benefit year running from July 1 to June 30. Therefore, to avoid any lapse in coverage, it is recommended that you submit your renewal by June 1. If renewal is not completed by this date, your coverage will expire on June 30.

Here are the projected deadlines for the Canadian Dental Care Plan renewal in 2025 and 2026:

While late renewals will still be accepted, delays could lead to a temporary loss of coverage, and retroactive coverage will not be available.

After Service Canada confirms you are eligible, you will get a letter from the Government of Canada with your CDCP member ID, your coverage start date, and your co-payment level (if needed). Use the coverage start date to book your first appointment.

Important note: Renewal timing may vary from year to year. For specific renewal instructions, access MSCA to view your CDCP letters and follow the steps outlined by Service Canada.

Canadian Dental Care Plan Renewal Timeline

The timeline below outlines important dates for CDCP renewal:

• February to March: File your tax return early to get your Notice of Assessment (NOA) on time.
• March: The renewal window opens once you have received your NOA. Renewals began in March 2025.
• Late April: The tax filing deadline for most Canadians.
• June 1: Recommended deadline for renewal. To prevent any gaps in your dental coverage, ensure that your renewal is completed before June 1, 2025. 
• June 30: Current coverage expires if you have not completed your renewal.
• July 1: The new benefit year begins.

For the upcoming CDCP renewal cycle (2026 to 2027), the process will follow the same steps: file taxes early, receive your Notice of Assessment (NOA), and renew before June 1; your coverage will continue through June 30 of the following year.

How to Easily Renew Your Canadian Dental Care Plan Coverage

You can renew your benefits online through your MSCA or by calling Service Canada. The Service Canada phone line provides an automated status check service, but support from agents is available only during business hours.

During Canadian Dental Care Plan renewal, ensure the following three points are confirmed:

• Your personal and financial information on file is still accurate.
• You continue to meet all eligibility requirements (reattestation).
• You approve the privacy statement.

As mentioned, if your eligibility remains unchanged, no additional documents are required. Service Canada communications may be found in MSCA. So, to avoid missing important updates, sign in regularly and use the ‘View my letters’ option in the CDCP section. Then follow the official steps provided for your situation.

Renewing Canadian Dental Care Plan Online Through MSCA

To use this method, you must visit the MSCA portal and sign in with your existing credentials. A common mistake is forgetting your MSCA password. To prevent delays, be sure to reset your password well before the Canadian Dental Care Plan renewal deadline. If you do not have an account, you will need to register first. After that, follow these 5 steps to renew your CDCP application. 

Step 1: Navigate to the Canadian Dental Care Plan section

The Canadian Dental Care Plan is displayed at the top of your MSCA dashboard. To apply, click on “Apply for the Canadian Dental Care Plan” and follow the provided instructions. After you submit your application, the system will retrieve your information from the CRA.

You need to verify your personal and financial information, such as your address, income details, and contact information. Make sure all your information matches your latest tax filing. 

Forgetting to update your address after a move means you won’t receive your determination letter. Additionally, using an outdated email address leads to the same issue.

Step 2: Re-attest to your Canadian Dental Care Plan eligibility

Next, you must confirm that you still meet all four eligibility requirements. This is an attestation, meaning you are declaring that this information is accurate. Providing false information can lead to removal from the plan and a requirement to repay any benefits received.

Step 3: Submit and save confirmation

After submitting, save a copy or take a screenshot of your confirmation. You can check your CDCP renewal status and letters through MSCA or by calling 1-833-537-4342 before booking any dental appointments.

Tips: Choose "digital" for your communication preference when renewing. This way, you will receive email notifications and can access letters through MSCA, which is quicker than waiting for postal mail.

Renewing Canadian Dental Care Plan by Phone

To proceed with the Canadian Dental Care Plan renewal by phone, you can call 1-833-537-4342 (or TTY 1-833-677-6262). Representatives are available to answer your questions from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM local time, Monday to Friday.

If you need assistance, a trusted person, such as a family member, friend, or interpreter, can help you over the phone with your consent. In addition, a legally authorized representative (for example, someone with power of attorney) can renew on your behalf by submitting certified documents by mail or in person at a Service Canada office.

Once you qualify, you will receive a letter from the Government of Canada that includes your CDCP member ID, your coverage start date, and your co-payment level. Your information will be shared with Sun Life, which will enroll you and send you a welcome package that includes your member card. 

Note: The benefit start date will be listed on your welcome letter, not on your member card.

Will Your Co-Payment Level Change After Renewal?

Your co-payment percentage may vary if your AFNI has changed brackets since your last tax filing. If your income changes enough to affect your tier, your co-payment responsibility will also change.

The program uses the three income brackets below to determine coverage levels in its fee schedule:

Even if you have “100%” coverage, it is limited to the fees set by CDCP. Your provider may charge more than the CDCP fee, and you may need to pay the difference. Accordingly, make sure to ask about any costs before receiving treatment.

It’s important to inform your oral health provider if your co-payment level changes after your renewal. This information is crucial for treatment planning and payment expectations.

Moreover, any treatments approved before your renewal will be paid at the co-payment level in effect at the time the treatment is performed, not the level when it was initially approved.

Do You Still Qualify for the CDCP Renewal?

To renew your eligibility, you must continue to meet all four original criteria:  

Requirement 1: No access to private dental insurance

To maintain your eligibility, you must confirm each year that you do not have access to private dental insurance. Typically, you will renew your eligibility by verifying your information. 

However, you may be selected for an eligibility review. If this occurs, you will receive a letter outlining the next steps and may be required to submit documents (such as a letter from your employer or pension administrator) to demonstrate that you do not have access to private coverage.

Your T4 and T4A forms may be part of the review process, but be sure to follow the instructions in the letter regarding which documents are accepted for your specific situation. That said, if you recently lost your job and your private coverage has just ended, you may now qualify. 

CDCP Eligibility Exception

You may still be able to renew your CDCP if you have any dental coverage through a provincial/territorial/federal government social program, such as RAMQ Dental Coverage in Quebec. Provided you meet all eligibility criteria, your coverage will be coordinated across the plans to ensure no duplications or gaps.

Note that if you choose to opt out of dental benefits that you are offered through your employer, school, or other sources, the federal government still considers you to have access to a dental plan. 

This means that if you decline dental coverage available to you through your own or your spouse’s employment benefits, you will not be eligible for the CDCP. If it happens, you can contact Service Canada to discuss the official end date of your previous coverage.

Retired exception: You may still qualify if you are retired and opted out of pension dental benefits before December 11, 2023, and cannot re-enroll under the pension rules.

Requirement 2: Canadian resident for tax purposes

You must be considered a resident of Canada for tax purposes. Canadians working abroad may still qualify for residency status if they maintain connections to Canada. If your residency determination is denied, it is recommended to consult with the CRA for clarification.

Requirement 3: Filed your tax return

Both you and your spouse or common-law partner are required to complete the tax return for the previous year and wait for your NOA from the CRA. You cannot proceed with the renewal until the NOA has been processed. The CRA calculates your adjusted family net income (AFNI) based on your tax returns. 

If your spouse or common-law partner resides outside of Canada and does not file their tax return in Canada, contact Service Canada to determine the next steps for your situation. They can guide you on whether a tax filing is necessary or if an alternative process applies.

If your application is denied because your spouse did not file, they must complete their filing immediately so you can reapply.

Note: One common mistake is using last year's tax assessment instead of the current year's. A quick fix is to file early in February or March to ensure your NOA arrives well before June.

Requirement 4: Income below $90,000

Your AFNI is calculated by adding line 23600 from both your tax return and your spouse’s return, along with adjustments for the Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB) and Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) amounts. 

It’s important to note that separation or divorce may affect your AFNI calculation for the following year. If you have been denied based on income, consider reviewing your RRSP contributions or other deductions that could help lower your net income before you file your return.

Disclaimer: This guide provides a summary of the Government of Canada CDCP rules. Always verify current requirements on canada.ca before taking any action.

FAQs about Canadian Dental Care Plan Renewal