[mikemhg]

You guys aren't too versed on the Canadian Dental Plan, I'll give you some inside details.

The advent of the plan was HEAVILY lobbied by insurers in Canada to ensure strict mitigation of access.

This is why there is strict low family income thresholds as a means test, along with restricting your ability to be covered under the plan if your employer offers any type of employer provided insurance (even if that insurance carries expensive cost sharing). Meaning that if your employer offers dental coverage, even if that coverage carries expensive cost sharing premiums, you cannot waive that coverage and simply be covered under the Canadian Dental Plan.

The Canadian Dental Plan was never designed to be offered to all Canadians, or even a large population of them. The Federal government wasn't looking to replace the private insurance system, nor abdicate the burden of cost off of employers.

Insurers made sure of that.