Alberta dentists are concerned about a new federal program aimed at offering dental care to millions of Canadians.
The Alberta Dental Association says the program misinforms patients who may still need to pay out of pocket and will limit patient choice.
As of Thursday, more people will be able to sign up for a federal plan to provide oral health care to millions of Canadians previously unable to afford it.
“This is an opportunity to help the health of Canadians and to fill in the gaps and that’s how this program has been designed,” Canada Health Minister Mark Holland said last December.
That’s when Ottawa promised to spend $13 billion over the next five years on the plan.
Canadians who filed a tax return last year with no access to dental insurance and earning less than $90,000 are eligible.
The program already covers kids under 12 and seniors over 65. Now it will also include all children under 18 and anyone with a valid disability tax credit certificate.
“It does create a lot more paperwork. On top of that, though, there is just such an unknown. We don’t quite know who is even covered,” Alberta Dental Association president-elect Dr. Hans Herchen said.
He makes up the roughly 60 to 70 per cent of Alberta dentists not currently signed up for the program. He cites concerns of misinformation and argues patients are being promised “free care” when they may still be expected to pay out of pocket.
“This is not a free program,” he said. “That’s a very real concern. So many Canadians have been told their dental will now be free.”
Dr. Joel Antel, president of the Canadian Dental Association, said: “Dental offices [are] reporting they have to spend up to an hour a day taking people away from clinical and admin time to explain the program.”
He also says the plan will limit patient choice.
“You are also going to have people left in a very sad situation of having to go to dental office to dental office asking, ‘Are you taking part?'”
Canada’s health minister insists dentists were consulted in the plan’s creation, promising work is underway to get more on board.
“We expect very soon to see most provinces, over half of oral health professionals, participating,” Holland said.
Health Canada says more than two million Canadians have enrolled in the program, with more than 200,000 people already receiving care.