A new report called From Coverage to Care looked at how the Canadian Dental Care Plan is actually working for the people enrolled in it, and the results are mixed. Even with coverage, 37 percent of enrollees reported still facing financial barriers to getting care, and half of all pre-authorization requests submitted by dentists were denied.
Pre-authorization is when your dentist has to get approval from the plan before certain treatments are covered. If a request is denied, you could be left paying out of pocket for work you expected to be covered, or needing to find another way to get the same care approved.
If you’re enrolled in the plan, it’s worth asking your dentist directly whether a treatment needs pre-authorization before you agree to it, and what happens if it’s turned down. A short conversation before treatment starts can save a surprise bill later.