Government dental coverage, billed for you in Scarborough

Three federal programs pay for dental care in Canada, and it is not always clear which one is yours. Golden Mile Dental works with all three. Tell us your situation, and we confirm your coverage, send the claim, and show any out-of-pocket amount before we start.

Reviewed by Dr. Reza Barimani, DDS · Current for the 2026–2027 benefit year

Which program is yours?

Stop at the first line that fits.

Refugee, protected person, or claimantIFHP

Registered First Nations or InuitNIHB

No private plan, family income under $90kCDCP

One clinic that bills all three

Each program covers a different group and is run by a different federal agency. Here is what each one is, what it pays for, and how you use it at our Bertrand Avenue office.

Canadian Dental Care Plan

CDCP

Who: Residents with no private dental plan and adjusted family net income below $90,000, at any age.
Pays for: Exams, cleanings, fillings, extractions, root canals and removable dentures. Below $70,000 there is no co-payment.
How to get it: Apply through the Government of Canada, bring your Sun Life member number, and renew each June.

Our full CDCP page →

Interim Federal Health Program

IFHP

Who: Resettled refugees, protected persons and refugee claimants, while their federal status is active.
Pays for: Urgent and essential dental treatment such as pain relief, infection control and extractions.
How to get it: Coverage follows your immigration status, so most people are already enrolled. Bring your IFHP document.

Official IFHP details →

Non-Insured Health Benefits

NIHB

Who: Registered First Nations and recognized Inuit, plus eligible infants under one year old.
Pays for: A broad list from prevention through restorative and denture care. A few items need prior approval.
How to get it: No enrolment step. Show your client number and we bill Express Scripts Canada directly.

Official NIHB details →

Circumstances shift, and so does coverage. A refugee claimant on the IFHP today may move onto the CDCP once their status and income settle. If two programs could apply, call us and we will work out which one to bill first.

From your first call to after treatment

You never front the cost of covered care. Here is the order it runs in.

When you call

Tell us the program. We check that we can bill it and what your plan covers.

Before you arrive

We tell you which documents to bring so nothing holds up the visit.

In the chair

You approve a plan with any co-payment shown up front. No surprise invoice.

After treatment

We file the claim with the program. Covered amounts never reach your pocket.

Your coverage proof: CDCP member number, IFHP document, or NIHB client number.
A piece of photo identification for each patient.
X-rays or records from a previous dentist, if you have them.
Medications and any health conditions we should know about.

What you might still pay

Under the IFHP and NIHB, eligible treatment is billed to the program and you generally pay nothing for covered services. The CDCP works on a sliding share tied to your adjusted family net income.

A charge can also appear if a treatment costs more than the government fee guide allows, or if you choose work the plan does not list. We go through any of that with you before you agree to treatment, so the number you hear is the number you pay.

Your CDCP share by income band

Under $70,000	You pay nothing
$70,000 to $79,999	You pay 40%
$80,000 to $89,999	You pay 60%

Care that fits around your week

People who rely on these programs often need care that works around a job, or care that cannot wait. Our Golden Mile office holds evening hours early in the week and sees walk-ins during opening times. If you are in pain, call the new-patient line and we will find the first opening.

Hours. Monday to Thursday 8:30 AM to 7:00 PM. Friday and Saturday 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM. Closed Sunday.

Good to know

I just arrived in Canada. Which program covers me?

Most new arrivals with refugee or protected status start on the IFHP. Bring your immigration document and we will confirm it at the desk. If your status later changes and your income is under the threshold, you may move onto the CDCP, and we can explain that step when the time comes.

Does Golden Mile decide whether I qualify?

No. Eligibility is set by the Government of Canada, not by a dental office. What we can do is verify the coverage you already hold, tell you what it pays at our clinic, and bill it for you.

What if only part of my treatment is covered?

We split the estimate into the covered portion and anything that falls outside the plan, and we show you both before you book. You decide how to proceed with the full picture in front of you.

Can my children be on a different program than me?

Yes. A family can hold coverage under more than one program at once, for example a parent on the CDCP and a child covered elsewhere. Bring each person’s details and we bill each one correctly.

Do I need a referral to use these plans here?

No referral is needed. You can call the clinic directly, book online, or walk in during opening hours and let us know which program you are on.

I have not filed my taxes yet. Can I still apply for the CDCP?

Filing last year’s return is one of the CDCP requirements, so it is worth sorting out first. Once you and your spouse or partner have filed and received your notice of assessment, you can apply through the Government of Canada.

Bring your coverage. We handle the rest.

Golden Mile Dental, 30 Bertrand Avenue, in the Golden Mile. Free on-site parking and step-free access.

Program rules, income limits and covered services are set by the Government of Canada and can change. Confirm current details on the official CDCP, IFHP and NIHB pages before your visit.