Why Some Federal Retirees Feel Overlooked by New Dental Benefits
Imagine dedicating your career to serving your country, only to feel overlooked and underappreciated when it comes to your dental health coverage. Some federal retirees are expressing their frustration over a dental plan that they contribute to but pales in comparison to the benefits enjoyed by their working counterparts. One retiree has gone so far as to label the disparities as “atrocious.”
While all federal employees, retirees, and their families participate in the same Public Service Health Care Plan for medical and vision needs, there are two vastly different dental plans at play. Current employees benefit from the Public Service Dental Care Plan (PSDCP), while retirees find themselves stuck under the outdated Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan (PDSP).
As of January 1, employees saw significant improvements in their benefits, including an increase in the annual cap from $2,500 to an impressive $3,000, with another bump to $3,250 anticipated by 2027. In stark contrast, the retirees’ plan has been stagnant since 2005, with a meager annual maximum of just $1,500.
“Where do we fit in? Why were we left out?” questions Debbie Myers, voicing concerns about the widening gap in benefits. “I don’t see why older retirees have been completely overlooked. It’s absolutely atrocious.”
The retirees’ plan currently serves around 325,000 members, who pay a monthly fee for just half the annual coverage that current employees receive.
Myers has had to undergo about $13,000 worth of dental work over the past two years, and beyond the meager $3,000 covered over that time, she’s had to rely on her savings to make ends meet. “I’ve had two root canals this year alone, along with several other procedures. It’s a lot of money. I can’t keep waiting for next year for my $1,500. It’s beyond a joke; it’s just unbelievable,” she expressed.
Adding insult to injury, the retirees’ plan lacks coverage for essential services like dental implants, which are crucial for aging mouths. “Our teeth get fragile, and just recently, I bit into something that wasn’t even hard, and half my tooth broke off,” lamented Dorothy Cushway, a retired public service employee and active volunteer.
Cushway has witnessed countless retirees facing tough choices about their dental health. “I’ve heard of people just not going to the dentist or stretching out their procedures over a year. Some even opt for extraction instead of a crown because it’s cheaper,” she said.
In a statement, the Treasury Board defended the PDSP, asserting that it’s a voluntary plan for retirees and their dependents, providing coverage for services and supplies not covered elsewhere. They stated, “The benefits under the PDSP are on par with similar retiree plans,” and added that there are no plans to alter the PDSP benefits.
Some Consider Switching to National Plan
Meanwhile, the recently launched Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP), a taxpayer-funded initiative, aims to cover dental procedures like cleanings, fillings, and dentures for low- to middle-income Canadians without private dental insurance. Seniors over 65 can join the plan if they meet income criteria and lack private coverage.
Several federal retirees have approached the media with concerns about the PDSP, with some even contemplating dropping their private coverage in favor of the national plan. However, both Cushway and Myers have been informed they wouldn’t qualify for the CDCP due to their existing private dental plans, despite the national plan offering potentially better benefits.
Advocates for seniors across Canada are echoing these sentiments. “The dental care plan has been a long-standing demand from seniors,” remarked a representative from a national seniors advocacy group. “It fills a critical gap in dental health coverage.” However, he acknowledged that the rollout of this massive program might face challenges, especially regarding qualifications for those with private plans.
Ultimately, both Myers and Cushway are calling on the Treasury Board to review and revamp the plans they’ve been paying into for years. “It absolutely needs to change, and it needs to happen sooner rather than later. This is affecting so many people,” Myers asserted passionately.
