Tens of thousands of individuals were mistakenly granted approval for enrollment in the public dental insurance scheme, according to an announcement from Health Canada on Tuesday. Approximately 70,000 people were initially approved for coverage but were later found to be ineligible or had their copayment levels incorrectly assessed. Out of those individuals, around 28,000 actually received dental care under the program.
The discovery of an error related to income calculation during the eligibility assessment process prompted Health Canada to implement a system fix. Despite the mistake, those who received treatment under the plan will not be required to reimburse the amount covered by the public insurance.
While Health Canada has highlighted that over five million Canadians are now covered by the dental care plan, only about three million have utilized the coverage. The national insurance initiative subsidizes dental expenses for Canadian residents with a family net income below $90,000 if they lack access to private insurance.
The program supports various dental procedures such as cleanings, fillings, and dentures. On average, each patient has had $800 in costs covered per year. Launched in May 2024 for seniors, children, and individuals receiving the disability tax credit, the Canadian Dental Care Plan expanded to all eligible Canadians in May 2025.
This substantial public insurance program, valued in the billions, was introduced as a result of the NDP’s support for the previous Trudeau Liberal minority government in exchange for significant social programs like dental care.