To our family of patients,
We hope this letter finds you and your loved ones well. As your trusted dental care provider, we are connecting with you because we are getting lots of questions regarding the new federal government Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP). So, we thought we would share some information and concerns, as you consider your options.
While the intention behind the proposed plan to expand access to dental care is commendable, there are several aspects of the proposal that raise concerns within the dental community.
To be clear:
This program is intended to provide dental coverage to Canadians who do not have dental benefits and have a combined household income of less than $90,000/ yr. If you are eligible and currently have a dental benefit, you will need to choose your current plan OR the CDCP. You can't have both.
This program is “phasing” applicants in, so check to see when you may be eligible. Please don’t put off treatment that has been recommended for you to deal with. It may be some time before this plan applies to you, or the treatment you need may not be covered under this plan.
There are a proposed 9 million individuals that will qualify for the CDCP. That influx of patients to offices, that are already struggling with staff shortages, has the potential to increase wait times for your care, as we look to fit these patients into our schedules. So, please don't put off your preventative care until later!
This plan is not a free dental program, as has been previously publicized by the government. Depending on your family net income and eligibility, there may be co-payments of up to 60%. There may be costs the CDCP does not cover, as not all services are covered under the CDCP. Know your dental care needs and costs before making any changes in your benefits.
There are a lot of moving parts to this new endeavour that still need to be worked out before and after this program begins this spring/ summer. We encourage you to stay informed and please consider all the information, as it becomes available, before making any decisions. We would hate to see you make decisions for yourself, your family or your employees that could compromise the dental care that is needed and is appropriate.
We will continue to monitor developments related to the proposed plan and keep you informed of any updates that may impact your dental care experience. We will do our best to help you navigate these uncharted waters.
Thank you for entrusting us with your dental health.
Sincerely,
Dr. Buschel and the team at Springfield Dental Centre
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