The new Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) launched today, May 1, 2024, covering dental services for 1.9 million low and middle-income older adults. Eventually, the plan will cover one-quarter of our residents who do not have private dental insurance at an estimated cost of $13 billion over the next five years.
However, information about covered services as well as fee reimbursement schedules is still being developed, and many dental providers have hesitated to join the plan on the recommendation of their provincial dental associations. It is also unclear how many eligible taxpayers will receive information about how to enroll in the plan as information has been provided in mailings to those 70 and older, in contrast to enrollment information provided for younger qualified individuals who can sign up online.
Guidance from the government on enrollment and benefits has been extremely limited.
Has anyone even seen a PSA on the CBC yet?
We worry about public perception. Many believe that the CDCP will provide free dental care like other services provided under our Canada Health Act but will require (additional?) contributions from higher income seniors. Can make below image shades of red/white like Can. Flag? Ovals don't match pie slices.
To combat this, our group of dental care patient advocates, employers, insurers, providers, the Canadian Dental Association, and other stakeholders are calling on the Honorable Mark Holland and our Ministry of Health to overhaul communication on the CDCP rollout.
We believe that a social marketing strategy must be implemented immediately. The 4 Ps provide a great
framework to communicate with senior citizens. The ministry needs to identify what benefits are in the plan (Product); what beneficiaries will pay for benefits (Price); how benefits can be accessed (Place) and encourage all providers to participate in the plan (Promotion).
Without immediate action now. . . what? Seniors won't get what they worked so hard for? Providers?
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