Your Guide to Dental Insurance in BC
Your dental insurance options in BC, from provincial benefits to private plans
You have four dental coverage options in British Columbia, with varying levels of coverage and eligibility criteria:
- Medical Services Plan (MSP): MSP is BC’s provincial health plan. It only covers medically necessary dental services in a hospital, like dental and oral surgery. It does not cover fillings, crowns, root canals, or the removal of impacted wisdom teeth, nor does it cover basic or preventative care.
- Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP): The CDCP is a federal program that offers free dental care to qualifying Canadians. CDCP coverage includes basic, preventative, major, and restorative care.
- Provincial income-assistance dental coverage: If you qualify for income assistance in BC, you and your children may be eligible for some dental coverage (up to $1,000 over two years for adults, and $2,000 for kids).
- Private dental insurance: If you don’t qualify for government-sponsored dental coverage, you can purchase dental health benefits through a private health insurance company.
Nearly 1 in 3 BC residents have no dental insurance, including 55% of seniors aged 65 and older, according to Statistics Canada.
What dental services does MSP cover?
MSP only covers medically necessary dental services that require hospitalization:
Major dental services are not covered by the MSP:
The bottom line: Routine dental work—from cleanings, checkups, and x-rays to fillings, extractions, and root canals—won’t be covered by MSP.
How much does dental insurance cost in BC?
In BC, dental care provided to low-income residents through a federal or provincial health care plan is free. If your age and income qualify you for dental care through CDCP, MSP, or income-assistance programs, you receive your benefits free of charge up to the program limit.
If you do not meet the eligibility requirements for federal or provincial dental insurance, a standalone dental care plan through a private insurance company could cost between $45 and $115/month or more, depending on the insurance provider and plan you select.
To give you a sense of how much you might pay for dental insurance in British Columbia, the table below compares premiums for different age groups in BC under PolicyMe’s Guaranteed Issue Dental Care plan.
* Average monthly premiums as of April 2025
According to Statistics Canada, the average BC household spent $666 on dental services in 2023. Buying a simple health insurance plan with dental coverage, like PolicyMe’s Guaranteed Issue Dental Care option, could save you up to $532/year by swapping out those steep out-of-pocket dental bills for affordable premiums.
The top 4 companies for private dental insurance in British Columbia
Our top 4 insurers for dental coverage in BC include PolicyMe, GreenShield, Sun Life, and Manulife. Let’s take a deeper look at each one.
1. PolicyMe
Why it’s our top pick: PolicyMe’s Guaranteed Issue Dental Care insurance plan offers the most comprehensive slate of covered dental services—from routine cleanings to major services like crowns and bridges—at the lowest price in our analysis of Canadian dental insurance plans.
Under the Dental Care plan, 80% of all basic preventative and restorative services are covered with no waiting period, subject to an annual maximum of $750 in year 1 and $900 in subsequent years. You’ll also get 60% reimbursement for comprehensive services like root canals and periodontal treatment, plus coverage for major services starting in year 3.
Premiums start at $94.38/month for adults aged 18–44 in BC.
If you’d like your dental insurance to come with a healthy helping of medical coverage for things like prescription drugs, paramedical services, and vision care, consider the Guaranteed Issue Classic plan, which includes the same dental coverage as the Dental Care plan. The Advanced Plan offers even more comprehensive dental benefits, including coverage for orthodontics starting in year 2.
2. GreenShield
Why it made our list: These are all guaranteed-acceptance dental policies from GreenShield.
Zone 3 covers 80% of basic services and comprehensive services up to $600 in the first year, $800 in the second year, and $1,000 from the third year. Major services are covered at 50%, subject to the annual maximum, but only in year 3. Orthodontics are not covered in the basic Zone 3 plan.
Zone 2 is a step down and doesn’t cover major services. You get 80% coverage for basic services and 50% coverage for comprehensive basic services in the first year, increasing to 80% in year 3 to a maximum of $800 per year. Zone Fundamental caps dental at $450 per year with 70% coverage.
Premiums start at $95/month for adults aged 18–44 in BC.
3. Sun Life
Why it made our list: Sun Life offers three tiers of personal health plans with optional dental add-ons in British Columbia. There is no dental-only plan, so this is a good option if you need both health and dental coverage.
The Standard plan offers 70% reimbursement for preventative care with an annual maximum of $750, whereas the Basic plan is 60% up to $500. Both have a three-month waiting period.
The Enhanced plan is 80% up to $750, and it covers restorative services at 50% up to $500 per year and orthodontics (60% up to $1,500 lifetime maximum). There are waiting periods to consider: 3 months for preventative, 1 year for restorative, and 2 years for orthodontic care.
Premiums for the Standard plan start around $105/month for adults aged 18–44 in BC.
4. Manulife
Why it made our list: Manulife is an established insurer that offers individual health & dental plans in BC (and nationwide). With Flexcare, you can choose from two tiers, Basic or Enhanced.
Basic offers 50% coverage with a cap of $575 in the first year and $750 in the second year. It includes check-ups every nine months. This covers fillings and cleanings, but not major work like orthodontics, bridges, or crowns.
Enhanced is capped at $840 the first year and $920 the second year, with check-ups every six months. There is some coverage for oral surgery, major services, and orthodontics starting in year 2.
Premiums start at $101.80/month for adults aged 18–44 in BC.
How to choose the right dental insurance plan in British Columbia
Coverage is super individual, so you’ll need to consider several variables to find the best dental coverage in BC for you:
- Start with eligibility for government programs: Income-based dental coverage may be available to some BC residents. Check if you qualify, and use your tax returns to confirm and sign up.
- Consider current spending: Are you already spending money out-of-pocket on dental expenses? Add up what you’re currently shelling out on cleanings, fluorides, and check-ups for you and others in your household.
- Predict future spending: What does the future hold? If you know your teeth (or your kids’ teeth) will need work in the future, like bridgework or orthodontics, add up those future costs.
- Find the gap that needs covering: Compare current and predicted spending to find the dental coverage gap. Divide it by 12 to estimate monthly savings.
- Research plans: Speak to your friends and family, or start with the providers above. Check the coverage levels to see if they align with the services you expect to need. Carefully review the waiting periods, maximum coverage, co-payments, and exclusions.
- Get quotes: Once you know what kind of coverage you need, you can get as many quotes as you want to compare prices. Request dental insurance quotes from at least three companies to find the best rate.
There is not a single ‘best dental insurance’ plan for every BC resident. Every mouth is different! Take time to review your household dental needs and narrow down the options to fit your budget.
FAQ: Dental insurance in British Columbia
Prices listed on this page are based on information available as of October 2025. The prices shown are for general reference only and may vary based on factors like your age, location, and product selection.