What counts as "access" (disqualifies you)

  • Employer or a family member's employer benefits, including health/wellness spending accounts.
  • Pension benefits (including government employer pensions) — with one narrow exception below.
  • Insurance you, a family member, or a group/professional/student plan purchased.

Declining available coverage still counts as having access. The one carve-out: if you're retired, opted out of your pension's dental coverage before December 11, 2023, and can't opt back in, that pension coverage doesn't disqualify you.

What if your spouse or partner has insurance through work?

Their employer plan makes them ineligible. For you, it depends on whether their plan could cover you:

  • The plan offers spousal or family coverage (most do): you have "access" too, so neither of you qualifies — even if you were never added to the plan.
  • The plan covers employees only (no option to add you): you don't have access through it, so you may still qualify on your own. Your income test still uses your combined family net income.

Not sure? Ask their HR or plan booklet one question: "Can this plan cover a spouse?" If yes, it counts.

What does not count

Dental coverage provided through a federal, provincial, or territorial government social program is not "private insurance" for this test, so people on those programs can still qualify, and the CDCP coordinates with them.

If you do have insurance

You already have coverage to use, so we can still connect you with a dentist who accepts your plan. And if that coverage ends (e.g., a job change), come back and re-check, because eligibility is reviewed each year.