Insurance companies/benefits plans dictate how much they will pay and for what but almost every dentist accepts those. When I actually had benefits, my dentist asked me to bring a copy of my policy so they could figure out how to service my needs and still get paid what they wanted to make. If I remember correctly, this plan is being administered by Sun Life, so most dentists will already be set up to accept payment under this program.
hmmm....not really. The Gov't will tell Sunlife the administration required. You're thinking of the electronic submission process. I agree, that will be breeze. Also, how close to the Fee Guide that the government will (and in the future) pay will be more important. For example, NO ONE will see ODSP or OW patients as the Ontario Government only pays 20% of what a Dentist normally gets. In Kitchener, there is one Dentist that will accept this 'insurance' plan. Guelph, one. Waterloo, two.
From the ODA; "the federal government has not released enough detail about the CDCP to help dentists make informed decisions."
From a Canada-wide survey of Dentists, as it stands now, "Over half said they were neither likely nor unlikely to enroll given what they know at this stage", "The key motivator to enrolling is a
seamless connection to the Suggested Fee Guide, both in terms of procedures and fee coverage" and "If the CDCP Benefit Grid does not meet the Suggested Fee Guide, almost half indicate they would likely balance-bill the patient to make up the difference." I suspect the next few months will be "interesting" as patients will be surprised that Dentists will want to be paid for what the gov't doesn't cover.
In addition, AFIK, the government has not given any indication of what the yearly caps will be. Unlike healthcare, I DOUBT it will be unlimited. Talking to a Dentist, they did the math and the gov't is assuming $500 per person. Really? That's a new patient exam, a few x-rays and a cleaning...
Also, those with existing Dental benefits are not eligible for this program. You know minimum wage Tim Horton workers get Dental Insurance right? How long do you think all these companies will offer Dental insurance now that the Government offers it? This will be a budgetary smozzle in a few years.
It remains to be seen how this will play out.
