CDCP Card Delay: Vancouver’s Step-by-Step Guide

How to Use Your CDCP Dental Coverage Even If Your Sun Life Card Hasn’t Arrived

With the rollout of the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP), many people are excited to finally have coverage for essential dental care. But one common worry keeps coming up: “My CDCP membership card hasn’t arrived yet. Can I still go to the dentist?” The short answer is that yes, In most cases, you do not need to have the physical card in your hand to receive CDCP-covered dental treatment. Your eligibility is stored electronically, and dental clinics can verify it before your visit. This guide explains how to use your CDCP coverage without a physical card, and how to make your appointment go smoothly.  

1. Do You Actually Need the Physical CDCP Card?

CDCP coverage is administered by Sun Life for the Government of Canada. Your coverage status, policy details, and member ID are stored in Sun Life’s system, not on the plastic card itself. That means:

• This card is a convenience and not a source of your eligibility.

• Dental clinics may also verify your coverage with Sun Life directly.

• You don’t have to delay care just because the card is delayed, lost, or hasn’t been mailed yet.

In other words, as long as your CDCP application is approved and active, you can usually move forward with treatment.  

2. How to Confirm Your CDCP Coverage Without a Card

If your card is delayed in the mail, you can still confirm that your CDCP coverage is active:

1. Check your approval letter or email from CDCP

• Check for reference numbers, policy info, or dates when effective.

• Keep this letter handy – printed, or on your phone.

2. Call Sun Life’s CDCP Support Line

• Use the phone number provided in your welcome package or on official Government of Canada / Sun Life CDCP pages.

• Have them verify this:

• that your CDCP coverage is active

• Your policy/plan number

• Your member ID

• Your effective date of coverage

3. Note this information

• Write it down or save it on your phone so you can easily share it with your dental clinic.

This way, you arrive at your appointment with all the key details already organized.

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If you haven’t signed up for the Canadian Dental Care Plan yet,

you can follow our step-by-step guide here:

👉How to Register for CDCP (Sun Life) — Complete Guide

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3. Information You Should Know Before Your Appointment

To help your dental clinic verify your CDCP coverage, it’s useful to have a few key details ready. These could be identified as part of your welcome letter, e-mail, or Sun Life correspondence:

• Policy or plan number

• Member ID (sometimes called certificate number)

• Coverage start date

If you don’t see all of these in your paperwork, don’t worry. Your clinic can often confirm them by contacting Sun Life, but having them ready will make the process faster.  

4. A Note for Patients at The Art of Smile Dental Clinic

At The Art of Smile Dental Clinic in Downtown Vancouver, our team can:

• confirm your CDCP (Sun Life) coverage online

• Confirm your eligibility prior to your visit proceed with treatment even in case of your physical card not arriving

You don’t have to wait for postal delays to end before you take care of your oral health. If you have questions about using your CDCP coverage without a card, our front desk team is happy to walk you through the steps.

📞 Call us today at (604) 449-9699

to confirm your eligibility and book your appointment.

Written by: MOJTABA, Dental Lab Specialist