The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) has put oral health in the spotlight, but Dr. Hans Herchen, president of the Alberta Dental Association (ADA), says both federal and provincial dental programs have major shortcomings that need to be addressed.
“We want to draw attention to the fact that both federal and provincial dental programs have a lot of administrative challenges, and we need to resolve that red tape. We can provide better care on budget for patients in Alberta,” he said, noting that April is National Oral Health Month.
This is why the ADA is calling for a made-in-Alberta provincial dental plan that builds on the strengths of the current system, addresses its gaps, and integrates CDCP funding.
Here are the top reasons the ADA is advocating for a new dental plan:
1. Concerns about CDCP undermining employer-based insurance
Many Canadians receive dental insurance through their employers. However, about a third of people in Canada lack coverage, and a recent Statistics Canada poll found that one in four Canadians aged 12 and older avoided oral health care services due to cost. The federal and provincial plans aim to assist those without coverage who pay out of pocket for dental care and are low-income.
However, Herchen is concerned the CDCP could lead some employers to drop dental benefits.
“We’ve definitely heard that employers are reviewing their options and seeing this as a possible pathway to conserve costs,” he said. “The biggest risk factor with CDCP is the damage to the existing dental insurance plans, the employer-based plans… we’re very concerned that the well-served population will be losing their excellent dental plans, replaced with a less sufficient provincial or federal plan.”
He added that employers with workers earning under $90,000 annually are considering this shift, which worries the ADA.
2. CDCP’s sustainability amid political and financial challenges
Herchen questioned the long-term sustainability of the CDCP, citing political influences and funding uncertainties.
“There is a lot of politics,” he said, referring to the impact of federal elections on policy decisions. “But the long-term funding of the CDCP is at risk because of the dollar amounts required to give dental services.”
He said the CDCP’s 10-year outlook is concerning due to potential underfunding, which could lead to insufficient coverage over time. “We’ve certainly seen similar trends in health care,” he added.
3. Strengths and limitations of Alberta’s provincial dental plan
Herchen said Alberta’s provincial dental plans need to be “modernized,” calling them outdated and limiting for both patients and dentists.
“We have a large number of Alberta dental patients that are currently underserved by the provincial dental plans, and this plan has not been modernized in years,” he said. According to Statistics Canada, in 2023, 35% of dental offices in Alberta reported difficulty recruiting dental assistants, and nearly 29% struggled to hire hygienists. The ADA also says that the situation has not improved over the past two years. For Herchen, a better-structured provincial dental plan could help attract oral health care workers to rural Alberta while also addressing the shortage of dentists in some areas.
He also pointed out that the CDCP covers about 440 codes, while the ADA fee guide includes 1,800 codes typically covered by employer-based plans. He also noted that employer-based coverage tends to expand over time, as fee guides are adjusted annually.
Herchen expressed concern that the CDCP’s fee increase for 2025 has not kept up with inflation.
“Most people’s experience with government programs is that they become increasingly restrictive over time,” he said.
4. Streamlining services and reducing costs through an opt-out plan
Herchen discussed the potential benefits of Alberta opting out of the federal CDCP to create a more efficient provincial program.
“With the opt-out system, the Alberta government would be eligible to receive the federal monies that had been allocated to the CDCP,” he said. “We could allocate that money to our most in-need provincial programs.”
He added, “It would offer better cost containment for taxpayers while providing better coverage for Albertans.”
This decision follows the official launch of the CDCP in phases by the federal government, starting with the first phase on May 1, 2024. The initial budget for the program, allocated in 2022, included $5.3 billion over five years and $1.7 billion annually. However, in the 2023 budget, this amount was significantly increased, with a commitment of $13 billion over five years and $4.4 billion annually.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith had already announced that the province will opt out of the CDCP in 2026, arguing that the federal plan was implemented without provincial consultation and duplicates existing Alberta coverage.
5. Addressing administrative burdens and overlaps
Herchen emphasized that administrative issues in provincial and federal plans, such as slow response times and complex authorization procedures, are significant challenges.
“We can provide more care when there’s less administrative burden,” he said.
“The response times for determining whether a procedure is covered can be very slow, which is a concern,” he added. “Another issue is the limits on individual procedures—it can take an inordinate amount of time to establish coverage. That’s the biggest challenge in Alberta.”
6. Tailoring solutions to Alberta’s unique demographics
In our data report published last year, comparing public and private dental coverage across Canadian provinces, we found that Alberta had the highest rate of public dental insurance coverage, with 7.8 per cent of its population aged 12 and older benefiting from provincial programs as well as the highest private coverage in the nation.
When asked about this, Herchen explained that Alberta’s younger population drives a higher demand for dental services.
“Alberta has a large young population, and young people are often drawn to the province because of the work opportunities. So, our high percentage of a young population has driven up demand,” he said.
Indeed, Statistics Canada reported that Alberta has the youngest average age in Canada at 39.1 years and the lowest proportion of people aged 65 and older at just 15.1%—a demographic highly targeted by the CDCP.
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