How to use your dental care plan

Before your first appointment, review the steps below to fully understand your dental care plan.

Important: As a CDCP member, you cannot directly submit claims or receive reimbursement from Sun Life. Claims must be submitted by your oral health provider for direct payment to Sun Life. You must not pay upfront for the CDCP covered portion of the claim. You are only responsible for paying any outstanding amounts not covered under the CDCP; this could apply even if you do not have a co-payment or in addition to your co-payment.

Before booking your first appointment:

1. Check your benefit effective date (e.g., coverage start date):
   • Your coverage must be in effect at the time of your appointment.
   • You can find your benefit effective date in your welcome package, on the same document as your member card.
   • Note: Your benefit effective date is not included on your member card.
2. Find an oral health provider:
   • You can see the provider of your choice, but you need to confirm that your provider agrees to bill Sun Life directly and accept payment for CDCP services. As a CDCP member, you cannot seek reimbursement from Sun Life for out-of-pocket expenses.
   • If you need help finding a provider near you, use the CDCP Provider Search tool, call your local provider, or call Sun Life at 1-888-888-8110.
   • Depending on your oral health care needs, remember that you can receive care from a participating dentist, independent dental hygienist, denturists, dental specialist, as well as from dental school clinics.
3. At your first appointment:
   • Bring your CDCP member card, a piece of ID, and your welcome letter that includes your benefit effective date. This will be very helpful to your provider, more so during your first visit so they can create or update your patient profile.
   • Talk about care, treatment, and costs with your provider. You can decide what services you choose to accept.
   • Your provider can submit an estimate to Sun Life to confirm what services are covered and how much they will cost.
4. Cost and claim payment:
   • Remember, you shouldn’t pay the full cost of your oral health services upfront. There is no option for you, as a CDCP member, to get reimbursed from Sun Life.
   • Make sure that your provider agrees to bill Sun Life directly and accepts payment for CDCP covered services.
   • Ask your provider to inform you of any additional charges that aren’t covered by the CDCP that you may be required to pay.
   • The CDCP fees may not be the same as what providers charge. You may have to pay fees in addition to the potential co-payment if:
     • the cost of your oral health care services are more than what the CDCP will pay for these services;
     • You agree to receive a treatment that is not covered by the plan. 
   • Make sure you understand what is covered and any additional costs not covered by the plan. If you have any questions about your plan, please call Sun Life at 1-888-888-8110.