Update: COVID-19 temporary administrative measures: Public Service Dental Care Plan (PSDCP) and Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan (PDSP)

Date: March 11, 2022

Update: The COVID-19 temporary administrative measures for the Public Service Dental Care Plan and the Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan, issued June 25, 2020, will end March 31, 2023.

The purpose of this notice is to inform you that the COVID-19 temporary administrative measures for the Public Service Dental Care Plan (PSDCP) and the Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan (PDSP), which extended coverage to dependant children who no longer met certain conditions of eligibility during the suspension of non-emergency dental services, will end March 31, 2023. This means that dental services for rescheduled appointments for such children will only be considered for reimbursement if the dental services are received on or before March 31, 2023.

See below for information on how to submit your claim.

Background

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, on June 25, 2020, the Government of Canada implemented temporary measures for the administration of the PSDCP and the PDSP. These measures were designed to help lessen the impact of the suspension of non-emergency dental services and support the recommendations of public health authorities for physical distancing.

Temporary extension of dependant children’s eligibility

The Government of Canada recognized that coverage for some dependant children expired during the suspension of non-emergency dental services preventing them from receiving required dental services or treatments.

Specifically, a dependant child may have:

1. reached the age of 21
2. still been between the ages of 21 and 25 years, but no longer attending an accredited school, college or university full time
3. reached the age of 15, when they are no longer eligible for coverage for sealants
4. reached the age of 21 for PSDCP participants or 19 for PDSP participants, when they are no longer eligible for coverage for the treatment of congenital or developmental malformations

The government therefore implemented the following temporary measures for the PSDCP and the PDSP.

A child who was a plan member’s eligible dependant under the plan before March 15, 2020, will have their coverage as an eligible dependant extended if:

1. the child’s age or educational status changed on or after March 15, 2020, such that they no longer meet the eligibility requirements under the plan
2. the child attends a new appointment(s) for dental treatment within one year from a date non-emergency dental services are again available, as determined by the Government of Canada.

The Government of Canada has determined that as of March 31, 2022, non-emergency dental services are officially available again. This means that if a dependant child meets the above criteria and they attend a new appointment(s) before March 31, 2023, their coverage as an eligible dependant will be extended.

For a dependant to be eligible for the temporary extension, the following must be provided to the appropriate plan administrator:

Paper claim form

Once the dental services are rendered, a paper claim form must be completed and submitted to the appropriate plan administrator within 15 months of the date the services were rendered.

This form must include:

• an explanatory letter that the claim is for dental treatment or services for a dependant under this temporary eligibility extension
• the plan member’s full name and address, including their postal code
• the plan member’s plan and certificate numbers
• the dental plan and certificate number of the plan member’s spouse or common‑law partner, if applicable
• the dependant’s name and date of birth
• the plan member’s signature
• the appropriate section of the claim form completed and signed by the plan member’s dentist or dental practitioner stating the work performed during the appointment

How to submit your claim

PSDCP members

Canada Life (formerly Great-West Life) will accept paper claims for treatments or services under this temporary extension mailed to the address indicated on the PSDCP claim form.

Canada Life will also accept a scanned copy of the completed paper claim form and accompanying documents uploaded electronically through the member website.

PDSP members

Sun Life will only accept paper claims for treatments or services under this temporary extension mailed to the address indicated on the PDSP claim form.

Additional information

For any questions regarding this notice, contact the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, Employee Relations and Total Compensation Sector.

Marie-Chantal Girard
Senior Assistant Deputy Minister
Employee Relations and Total Compensation Sector
Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat