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Ontario is Investing in Dental Care for Low-Income Seniors
Tuesday, April 23, 2019
The province announced today it will be investing $90 million in dental care for seniors 65 and over.
If you’re a senior earning less than $19,300 per year or a couple earning a combined income of $32,300 or less without dental benefits, you will qualify for the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program.
Services will be offered through community health centres, public health units and Aboriginal Health Access Centres across Ontario. Once the program is launched, seniors will be required to obtain a form from the Ministry of Seniors and Accessibility or public health unit. The application will be assessed for eligibility and then they will be enrolled in the program.
According to government statistics, two-thirds of low-income seniors do not have access to dental insurance.
Untreated oral health issues can lead to chronic diseases and a reduced quality of life, and creates capacity pressures for emergency departments. It is estimated that in 2015 there were almost 61,000 hospital visits for dental problems at a cost to Ontario’s health care system of approximately $31 million.