Dental Article
Coordination of Benefits 101.
How to stack CDCP and Alberta Seniors Dental Plans.
In Alberta and British Columbia, the short answer is yes, you can have both — but you cannot always 'stack' them to cover 100% of your bill. The rules for coordinating the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) with provincial programs like the Alberta Dental Assistance for Seniors Program (DASP) or BC's Healthy Kids/Seniors programs are specific and often vary by province.
Book a Free Consultation
Eligibility
1. You Don't Have to Choose
One of the biggest misconceptions is that having provincial coverage disqualifies you from the CDCP.
Government Programs are the Exception: While having private insurance (like a plan from a former employer) makes you ineligible for the CDCP, having a government social program does not.
Dual Enrollment: You can be enrolled in both the Alberta Seniors Benefit and the CDCP at the same time.
How They Work Together
2. Coordination of Benefits (How they work together)
When you have two plans, insurance companies usually 'coordinate' them so that the second plan covers what the first one didn't. However, as of 2026, the CDCP and Alberta's provincial plans have specific (and sometimes frustrating) rules:
In Alberta (The 'One or the Other' Choice)
Currently, Alberta has been one of the more complex provinces for coordination.
- Lack of Seamless Stacking: For many services, the government of Alberta and the federal government have not fully synchronized their systems. In many cases, a dental office must choose which plan to bill as the 'Primary.'
- Patient Choice: You (and your dentist) can choose which plan to use for a specific visit based on which one offers better coverage for that specific procedure. For example, if the CDCP fee for a filling is higher than the Alberta Seniors fee, your dentist might choose to bill the CDCP.
- Secondary Billing: If the CDCP is billed first and there is a remaining balance, some clinics may be able to submit the remainder to Alberta Blue Cross (for the Seniors Benefit), but this is not always supported for every procedure code.
In British Columbia
- Coordinated Efforts: BC has generally moved toward a more integrated model where the CDCP acts as the primary payer, and the provincial program may act as a 'wrap-around' to cover remaining costs, provided the total doesn't exceed the provincial fee guide.
Comparison
3. Which Plan is Better?
Since you can't always use both for the same procedure, the typical comparison looks like this:
- CDCP is best when its established fee is higher than the provincial schedule for a given procedure — common for major prosthodontic work like complete dentures, partials, and implant-related (though most implant work is excluded from CDCP).
- Alberta Dental Assistance for Seniors Program (DASP) is often the better primary for routine examinations, cleanings, and simple restorative work where the provincial fee is in line with the ADA Guide.
- Your denturist or treatment coordinator at MyBite can run a 'dual estimate' to find which plan minimizes your out-of-pocket cost for each specific service in your treatment plan.
Practical Steps
Summary for Your Next Visit
Because coordination is still a 'work in progress' between the federal and provincial governments, you should:
- Bring both cards: Ensure your dental office has your CDCP ID (Sun Life) and your Alberta/BC personal health number on file.
- Ask for a 'Dual Estimate': Ask the receptionist, 'Which plan will give me the lowest out-of-pocket cost for this treatment?'
- Check for 'Balance Billing': Remember that even with two plans, you may still owe a small amount if your dentist charges the standard Provincial Fee Guide, as both CDCP and Seniors Benefits often pay below those rates.
References
Government of Canada: CDCP Dental Benefits Guide. Sun Life: CDCP Benefit Grids for Alberta & BC. Alberta Blue Cross: CDCP Information for Albertans. BC Dental Association: Understanding CDCP Costs.