Have you signed up for the Canadian Dental Care Plan? What has your experience been like?

The Canadian Dental Association’s new report, From Coverage to Care, looks at how the program is working for patients and what can make it better. It brings together patient experiences, national trends and recommendations from dentists across Canada.

CARP President, Anthony Quinn joined a breakfast panel on Parliament Hill, as the CDA released their report and recommendations to policymakers in Ottawa.

There is much to build on with a national plan that has responded to CARP’s years of advocacy for an enhanced dental care program for seniors. The CDA reports that 88% of patients rate their experience positively and 75% say their care is more affordable. Most Canadians support the program, which the CDA calls a “generational achievement worth protecting.”

The report also identifies barriers that still need attention: out-of-pocket costs, confusion about what is covered, treatment approval barriers, and dental workforce shortages. Its more than 30 recommendations focus on improving access and helping patients get the care their dentist recommends, when they need it.

For seniors who have gone without dental care because of cost, the CDCP has provided the opportunity to get the help they need. The goal is to keep strengthening a popular program so that coverage leads to timely, affordable care.

Read the report and find out more:
https://www.cda-adc.ca/policy-and-advocacy/government-relations/policy-papers/from-coverage-to-care