With extra seniors accessing the federal Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP), the native company facilitating Ontario’s program for this demographic has determined to finish its service settlement in Haliburton County in January.
The Haliburton Echo reported Wednesday that Dr. Natalie Bocking, medical officer of well being and CEO of the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Well being Unit, informed a well being board assembly that the CDCP has led to fewer seniors counting on the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program (OSDCP).
“The shoppers they’re seeing are actually accessing that service by different dental care suppliers by the federal program,” Bocking mentioned. “So, it doesn’t lead to any recipients or shoppers shedding service.”
Ontario launched the OSDCP in 2019 to offer low-income seniors with free routine dental care by public well being models and group well being centres. At its inception, this system lined Ontarians aged 65 and older with annual incomes of as much as $22,200 for people and $37,100 for {couples}—a virtually $5,000 improve from the earlier earnings thresholds.
CDCP gives broader protection
The federal CDCP gives broader protection, requiring an adjusted household internet earnings of lower than $90,000 to qualify. Seniors aged 70 and older grew to become eligible for this system on Could 1, whereas these aged 65 to 69 had been in a position to apply earlier within the yr. In July, protection expanded to incorporate different eligible seniors, youngsters below 18, and adults with a legitimate Incapacity Tax Credit score certificates. This system will proceed to roll out extra protection by 2025.
Haliburton County’s inhabitants is considerably older than the provincial common. In 2022, the median age in Ontario was 41.8, whereas the typical Haliburton County resident was 52.8 years outdated, in line with Statistics Canada. Moreover, the proportion of seniors within the county is rising. In 2022, 35.2 per cent of the inhabitants—roughly 7,250 individuals—had been aged 65 or older, in comparison with 32.9 per cent, or 5,940 individuals, in 2016.