Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) out-of-pocket cost estimator — your co-pay tier, plus any overage above the CDCP established fee.
This is a self-check only — Sun Life (the plan administrator) and Canada Revenue Agency records determine actual eligibility.
canada.ca's own example: a provider charges $145 for 2 units of scaling, and the CDCP established fee for that service is $134.
| Client | Income | Co-pay | Dentist charges | CDCP fee | Client pays |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jane | $32,000 | 0% | $145 | $134 | $11 |
| Hakeem | $76,000 | 40% | $145 | $134 | $64.60 |
| Kate | $82,000 | 60% | $145 | $134 | $91.40 |
The CDCP covers a share of dental costs for eligible Canadian residents based on adjusted family net income (AFNI): under $70,000 pays 0% co-pay (CDCP covers 100% of its established fee), $70,000-$79,999 pays 40% co-pay, and $80,000-$89,999 pays 60% co-pay; at $90,000 or more you are not eligible. Eligibility also requires no access to private dental insurance, a filed tax return (yourself and any spouse or common-law partner), and Canadian residency for tax purposes.
The key detail most calculators miss: CDCP reimburses based on its own established fee for each procedure — set by the plan administrator, Sun Life — which is usually lower than what your dentist actually charges. Any amount above that established fee is an additional charge you pay yourself, on top of your co-pay percentage, regardless of your income tier. Orthodontic treatment is not yet covered under CDCP.
Your co-pay depends on adjusted family net income: under $70,000 you pay 0% co-pay, $70,000-$79,999 you pay 40%, and $80,000-$89,999 you pay 60% (at $90,000 or more you're not eligible). But CDCP applies that percentage to its own established fee for the procedure — not your dentist's actual charge — so canada.ca's own example shows a client with 0% co-pay still paying $11 out of pocket because the dentist charged $145 against a $134 CDCP fee. At 40% co-pay the same charges cost $64.60, and at 60% co-pay they cost $91.40.
0% x $134 = $0 co-pay, plus $145 - $134 = $11 overage. Total = $11 - this is canada.ca's own official example.
40% x $134 = $53.60 co-pay, plus the same $11 overage = $64.60 total.
60% x $134 = $80.40 co-pay, plus the same $11 overage = $91.40 total.
No - CDCP pays its own established fee only. In canada.ca's example, even at 0% co-pay the client still owes the $11 overage.
Under $70,000, so 0% co-pay - CDCP covers 100% of its established fee.
The $70,000-$79,999 band, so 40% co-pay - CDCP covers 60%.
The $80,000-$89,999 band, so 60% co-pay - CDCP covers 40%.
No - at $90,000 or more, adjusted family net income is not eligible for CDCP.
| Adjusted family net income | CDCP covers | You pay (co-pay) |
|---|---|---|
| Under $70,000 | 100% | 0% |
| $70,000-$79,999 | 60% | 40% |
| $80,000-$89,999 | 40% | 60% |
| $90,000 or more | Not eligible | - |
No - even at the 0% co-pay tier, CDCP only pays up to its own established fee for the procedure. If your dentist charges more than that fee, as in canada.ca's own example ($145 charged vs. a $134 CDCP fee), you owe the difference regardless of your income tier.
There's no single figure - the CDCP established fee and your co-pay both depend on the specific procedure code and your province's fee grid, administered by Sun Life. Enter your dentist's quoted fee and, ideally, the CDCP established fee for that exact procedure to estimate your cost.
Additional charges are amounts a provider bills above the CDCP established fee for a service. CDCP does not reimburse these, so you pay them out of pocket on top of your co-pay, even at the 0% co-pay tier.
Your adjusted family net income (AFNI) - the combined net income of you and your spouse or common-law partner as reported on your tax returns. There is no adjustment for family size or number of children.
Not yet - as of this writing, canada.ca states orthodontic services are not covered under CDCP.
This is an estimate only. CDCP pays based on its own established fee for each procedure, not what your dentist actually charges, so any amount above that fee is your responsibility even at the 0% co-pay tier. Income tiers use adjusted family net income (AFNI) with no adjustment for family size. Final coverage and payment are confirmed by Sun Life (the plan administrator) and your provider. Orthodontic treatment is not yet covered under CDCP.
Sources: canada.ca — CDCP coverage, canada.ca — Who can apply, canada.ca — Examples of co-payments and additional charges, Sun Life — CDCP plan administrator