Major improvements to Dental Care Plan awarded

General Updates

Jul 31, 2024

We are excited to announce significant updates to the National Joint Council Public Service Dental Plan (NJC PSDP) following a recent decision by the Appeal Committee. These updates benefiting all public service ACFO-ACAF members, containing several proposals put forward by NJC bargaining agents, include:

A gradual increase in the maximum annual benefit and the lifetime orthodontic benefit to $3,250 from $2,500;
An increase in coinsurance for approved major restorations (crowns, bridges, etc.) to 65 percent from 50;
Coverage for Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ), bruxism, and tomography when clinically appropriate;
More flexible coverage when major restoration is required, particularly as a preventative measure or when an existing appliance is failing;
Automatic coverage for members on leave without pay;
Employer-paid coverage for members on extended parental leave;
Sedation dentistry for plan members who require it for safety reasons, such as those with developmental disorders which make receiving dental care challenging; and
Various housekeeping and administrative changes to improve the plan member experience.

While these changes are expected to take effect on January 1, 2025, the change in provider from Sun Life to Canada Life is happening Nov 1, 2024. Members will hear from Canada Life to set up their new enrollment between now and Jan 2025.

ACFO-ACAF and NJC partners are also working with TBS on additional minor changes, such as adding cancer dentistry provisions, to further support members with serious health challenges. Our goal is to prioritize preventive care and support for those with difficult dental health issues.

Currently, PSAC has a separate plan, while other bargaining agents are part of the NJC plan. The Treasury Board aims to keep both plans identical for efficiency, so ACFO-ACAF and other NJC unions collaborate with PSAC to ensure the overall PSDP meets everyone’s needs. PSAC has access to an arbitration-like board that can make binding recommendations on plan changes under their governance model, which led to the proposed amendments mentioned above.

We look forward to these improvements enhancing the dental care experience for ACFO-ACAF members. In the meantime, we will share more information once the review process is complete.