this post was submitted on 12 Dec 2023
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The new federal dental insurance plan will be phased in gradually over 2024, with the first claims likely to be processed in May, government officials said ahead of a formal announcement scheduled for Monday morning.

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 10 months ago (2 children)

starting with qualifying seniors over the age of 87

Eligibility will gradually expand over the course of the year to include all qualifying seniors over the age of 65 by May 2024, then children under the age of 18 and people with disabilities by June.

Wow, talk about a big "fuck you" to the taxpayers funding this insurance.

What about working folks who can't afford dental care?

[–] [email protected] 11 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Gotta start somewhere. Once the program exists, expanding it is much easier. Look at Obamacare. They fought tooth and nail against it, but once it’s in the Republicans tried as hard as they could to repeal it and it just never worked.

It’s hard to take away entitlements once they exist, so the only future is really expanding it. Vision, dental and drug coverage are all on that path, it’s just a matter of time.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 10 months ago (1 children)

It’s hard to take away entitlements once they exist, so the only future is really expanding it.

As an Ontarian lol. We used to have provincial eye care coverage. That's been gone for decades now. Government can and will strip services as they see fit just need assholes in charge.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 10 months ago

I didn’t say impossible, just difficult. I still say expanding it is better than not, even if it’s not perfect.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Why is starting out with seniors a "fuck you" to taxpayers? Would you rather seniors wait longer just so we can all get covered at once?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

No, don't get me wrong. Absolutely start with seniors, young kids, and the disabled.

But don't forget the rest of us! We're the backbone of society funding these programs and helping the economy to hum along. Not including taxpayers between 18 and 65 is a massive slap in the face. Discrimination by definition.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Absolutely start with seniors, young kids, and the disabled.

And is this not what's happening? Are they saying that "taxpayers between 18 and 65" will never be included?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Are they saying that "taxpayers between 18 and 65" will never be included?

Correct. That demographic is not part of the plans.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

Maybe you have access to some privileged information, or by "the plans" you mean this one piece of legislation specifically.

But I'm pretty sure the forces behind this movement have "the plan" of expanding this to universal access. I wouldn't expect a single piece of legislation to necessarily include the whole ten-year rollout of the program, but start with just one segment.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I guess we can hope. But if it isn't even mentioned as part of a long-term vision, how optimistic should we be?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

About as optimistic that this part is not going to be cancelled halfway through or eventually rolled back 🤷‍♂️