Tens of thousands of Canadians were mistakenly approved for the national dental insurance program, according to Health Canada.
The department said about 70,000 people were granted coverage despite being ineligible or assigned incorrect copayment levels. Of those, roughly 28,000 individuals went on to receive dental care under the program before the error was discovered.
Health Canada attributed the mistake to a miscalculation of applicants’ income during the eligibility process. The department confirmed that the issue has since been corrected with a system update and emphasized that no one will be required to repay funds for dental work already covered.
The federal dental insurance plan now covers around five million Canadians, though only about three million have accessed benefits so far. The program supports individuals and families with annual net incomes under $90,000 who lack private dental insurance, covering common procedures such as cleanings, fillings, and dentures. On average, each participant has received about $800 in covered care per year.
Launched in May 2024 for seniors, children, and Canadians eligible for the disability tax credit, the plan expanded in May 2025 to include all qualifying residents. The initiative is one of the key social programs that emerged from the supply-and-confidence agreement between the New Democratic Party and the former Liberal minority government.
