Alberta has announced plans to pull out of the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) by 2026. The decision is raising many questions among dentists, patients, and health experts about what this means for families who depend on affordable dental care. While the province promises to create its own system, people are worried about who will be covered and how soon changes will take place.
In June 2024, Premier Danielle Smith wrote to then prime minister Justin Trudeau, stating that Alberta will leave the national dental care program. She argued that the federal plan is “inferior, wasteful, and infringes on provincial control.”
Smith requested that instead of Ottawa running the program, Alberta should receive its share of federal funding directly. The province says it wants to use that money to expand its own dental programs and help more low-income Albertans.
Health Canada confirmed Alberta formally gave notice in December 2024 that it plans to opt out. That means by 2026, Alberta may have its own system instead of relying on the federal plan.
The Canadian Dental Care Plan was created to help people without insurance. Families with an adjusted net income of less than $90,000 can qualify, with better coverage for those under $70,000.
According to government data, by July 31, more than 4.8 million Canadians were approved for the 2025–26 benefit year. In Alberta alone, 306,000 people were approved and nearly 50,000 have already used the program to get care.
Experts warn that leaving this program could affect many Albertans if the province does not quickly put its own replacement in place.
Alberta already runs several programs that offer dental coverage:
Alberta Child Health Benefit – helps low-income families with children.
Alberta Adult Health Benefit – covers adults in low-income households, pregnant women, or those with ongoing medical needs.
Dental Assistance for Seniors – supports older adults based on income.
AISH (Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped) – includes dental benefits for those with permanent conditions.
However, the income thresholds are low. For example, under the Adult Health Benefit, a couple with four kids must earn under $46,932 a year to qualify. This leaves many families in the middle left out.
The Alberta Dental Association (ADA) says dentists need a clear timeline. President Dr. Hans Herchen explained that clinics see too many patients who can’t get dental coverage and end up in hospital emergency rooms.
Herchen said the province must update its programs to meet current needs. “Government needs to recognize that we can no longer kick this can down the road. Otherwise, the problems will get bigger and bigger.”
Dentists are watching closely to see if Alberta’s new plan will match or exceed what the federal program offers.
Health experts warn that many Albertans could lose access to care during the transition. Dr. Fiona Clement, a professor at the University of Calgary, said her main concern is that people might fall through the cracks.
“I hope the provincial and federal governments are working together so that before access to the federal plan is stopped, a new Alberta plan is ready,” she said.
She added that navigating benefits in Alberta is already confusing, and thousands are relying on the federal program. The fact that so many signed up shows it was filling a gap.
The Alberta government says details will be shared in the coming months. It insists it already provides the “most extensive dental coverage in Canada,” serving about 500,000 low-income people. But health advocates and patients want to know how the new system will compare with the federal plan, especially for those earning between $50,000 and $90,000 who currently qualify for CDCP.
The clock is ticking toward 2026. For now, Albertans can still use the federal dental program. But the uncertainty around what comes next leaves many wondering if they will continue to afford the care they need.
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