“Can you help me?” my friend emailed. “I’m trying to renew my dental plan.”
She was frustrated. Not terribly well organized when it comes to official business, Marie had panicked at the request for a password and the warning that information from her latest notice of assessment from the Revenue Canada (Income Tax) Agency would be requested in the process.
“It’s so complicated, and I can’t find my password. Or my Notice of Assessment.” I could just hear my friend in Quebec sighing heavily as she typed this message.
For people whose family income is $70,000 or less, the plan will cover the cost of dental care according to plan-specified rates. Your dentist may charge more, in which case, you have to make up the difference.
Still, in the last year, under the auspices of the Canadian Dental Care Plan, Marie had saved over a thousand dollars on her dental work. And even though my dentist’s receptionist had told me the government plan wouldn’t cover much, I also saved nearly a thousand dollars on my dental bill. So renewal was important for both of us.
Especially since Marie was having ongoing work done on her teeth.
Since I had to renew my coverage also, I went to the site to see exactly what was needed.
I saw her dilemma. It looked like a My Services Canada account was the key to renewal. I had never had such an account so I couldn’t help her with that. My one attempt to open such an account (years ago) had frustrated me to the point that I had given up.
Meanwhile, I also had to renew my application for the dental plan, so I looked for another solution, one both Marie and I could navigate. We had to apply by June 1st so our coverage would continue after June 30th when the prior year’s coverage expired.
Annual renewal is important. The plan is income dependant so you have to file a tax return to qualify.
Even if you have no income, it’s important to file a tax return (a nil return). You will get other benefits as well-such as the GST quarterly cheque. You can file your tax return for free through your bank or through a CRA My Account. But more on that later.
If you are Canadian and you are enrolled in the dental plan, you still qualify, and you haven’t renewed yet, it is important to do so right away.
I googled Canadian Dental Plan Renewal. This took me to a page with an obvious green button that said Renew Your Coverage. Renew online. “This renewal tool is fast and easy.”
Hmmm. Disregarding everything that came before and after, I clicked on the button. And here’s what i learned:
To renew your Canadian Dental Plan First get out your dental plan Care card. Go to this website:
https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/dental/dental-care-plan/renew.html#h2.3
- You will see this green button/box in a long list of items.
- Disregard everything else.
- Click on the Green box that says “Renew your coverage”.
Follow the instructions.
You will need your dental plan or client number, which is the member ID number on your Canadian Dental Care Plan Card. It is 11 digits long, all numbers. It is also the number on the top right hand corner of your renewal reminder from Service Canada.
Your name must be exactly as on the Dental Care Card. For instance, for first name, I had to put “Margaret J.” because on my Dental Care Card, I have Margaret J. Adam. When I tried it with “Margaret” for first name, and “Adam” for last, I got an error message.
You should find the rest quite easy—they just ask if you want to give a phone number or email, or if you have any other federal or provincial or other dental plan coverage. It seems they already have the Notice of Assessment (income) information from Revenue Canada.
That’s pretty much it. My friend found this process simple and stress-free. If you haven’t renewed your dental plan do so. It will save you money at the dentist! And allow you to get a check up and a cleaning and some minor work done.
This is a small part of caring for yourself, my dear friends.
Margaret Jean.
Margaret Jean 