IFHP Dental Eligibility: 5 Groups and What Newcomers Need to Bring
If you are a resettled refugee, protected person, or refugee claimant waiting for a decision, you likely qualify for IFHP dental coverage. The Interim Federal Health Program covers urgent dental care such as emergency exams, X-rays, and extractions, but supplemental services carry a co-payment: 70% is paid by IFHP and 30% by the patient as of May 1, 2026. Check your eligibility document, then confirm you are booking with an IFHP-registered dentist before your visit.
TL;DR:
Protected persons retain coverage for 90 days after a decision; sponsored beneficiaries’ supplemental timelines vary by province, and coverage ends when public insurance eligibility begins.
Bring an IFHC, RPCD, RPID, or Acknowledgment of Claim; the UCI printed on the document lets providers verify eligibility with Medavie Blue Cross.
Before booking, confirm the dentist is registered with IFHP and ask whether the clinic bills Medavie directly, since not every office handles direct billing.
If you also qualify for the Canadian Dental Care Plan, IFHP can still pay first for urgent treatment while enrollment is processed.
Apply for provincial coverage and the Canadian Dental Care Plan as soon as you qualify to maintain broader dental benefits after temporary IFHP coverage ends.
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Who qualifies for IFHP dental coverage and what documents prove it
Several groups of newcomers to Canada are eligible for IFHP dental benefits. Each group carries a slightly different timeline, so knowing which category applies to you helps you understand how long your coverage will last.
Resettled refugees (Government-Assisted Refugees, Privately Sponsored Refugees, and Blended Visa Office-Referred refugees) are eligible from the day they arrive in Canada.
Protected persons, including those granted asylum, qualify for IFHP coverage and generally keep it for a set period after their decision.
Refugee claimants waiting for a decision on their claim are eligible while their case is in process.
Victims of trafficking holding a temporary resident permit, and certain other temporary permit holders, may also qualify.
Persons in immigration detention are covered for the duration of their detention.
Your eligibility document is what a dental office will ask to see. This includes the Interim Federal Health Certificate (IFHC), the Refugee Protection Claimant Document (RPCD), the Refugee Protection Identity Document (RPID), or an Acknowledgment of Claim (AOC). Your Unique Client Identifier (UCI) appears on these documents and providers use it to confirm your file with Medavie Blue Cross.
Coverage duration depends on your category. According to IRCC’s eligibility guidance, IFHP coverage typically ends once you qualify for provincial or territorial health insurance, or when you leave Canada. Protected persons generally retain coverage for 90 days after their decision, which gives time to apply for provincial coverage. Resettled and sponsored beneficiaries may have supplemental coverage timelines that vary by province, so it is worth confirming your specific end date with your settlement worker or provider.
What dental services IFHP covers and why it counts as supplemental care
IFHP treats dental care as a supplemental benefit rather than a basic one, which is why a co-payment applies. The program is built to cover urgent situations rather than routine or cosmetic dental work.
Services commonly covered under IFHP’s urgent dental category include:
Emergency dental examinations for pain or infection
Dental X-rays needed to diagnose the problem
Tooth extractions when clinically necessary
Urgent restorations to stop pain or further damage
Dentures in qualifying cases
The official IFHP coverage summary lists these procedures as part of supplemental benefits, distinct from the basic medical coverage IFHP also provides.
As of May 1, 2026, IFHP covers 70% of the cost for supplemental services like urgent dental care, with the beneficiary responsible for the remaining 30% co-payment. This shift means every newcomer needing dental treatment should ask their provider about the co-payment amount before agreeing to a procedure.
How to access IFHP dental care and what to bring to your appointment
Getting care under IFHP is straightforward once you know the sequence. Following these steps helps you avoid delays or confusion at the front desk.
Search for an IFHP-registered provider. Medavie Blue Cross maintains the registration system, so use their provider help centre to confirm a clinic is registered before you book.
Call ahead to confirm registration and ask about direct billing. Not every dental office bills Medavie directly, so this step saves time.
Book your appointment, mentioning that you are an IFHP beneficiary so staff can prepare the right paperwork.
Bring your eligibility document and your UCI number to the visit. Providers verify your coverage with Medavie before starting treatment.
Ask about your co-payment amount for the specific service you need, since this varies by procedure.
Here is how the billing usually works: say a beneficiary needs a $500 urgent dental procedure. IFHP covers $350 (70%) and the patient pays $150 (30%) directly to the provider, who then bills Medavie for the remaining balance, per the current co-payment policy. A clinic that handles direct billing submits the IFHP portion for you, so you only pay your share at checkout.
Pro Tip: Ask the clinic if interpreter support is available when you book, especially if English or French is not your first language.
How long IFHP dental coverage lasts and how it works with CDCP
IFHP coverage is meant to be temporary. It ends when you become eligible for provincial or territorial health insurance, or if you leave Canada, as outlined in IRCC’s eligibility rules. Protected persons typically keep coverage for 90 days after their decision, while sponsored beneficiaries may have supplemental timelines that depend on when provincial coverage kicks in.
IFHP generally acts as a payer of last resort, meaning it steps in only after other coverage is exhausted. There is an exception for urgent dental care: when a beneficiary also qualifies for the Canadian Dental Care Plan, IFHP can still act as the first payer for urgent treatment, which helps avoid gaps while CDCP enrollment is processed.
For a $500 urgent dental service, you would pay a $150 co-payment while IFHP covers the remaining $350. Applying for provincial coverage and the CDCP as soon as you are eligible gives you more complete, lasting dental insurance coverage once IFHP’s temporary benefits end.
What newcomers can expect walking into a dental clinic
Newcomers often worry about paperwork more than the procedure itself. In our experience, most of that worry eases once a clinic confirms your eligibility document and UCI match on file, explains your co-payment clearly, and bills the IFHP portion directly so you are not left guessing. A welcoming, multilingual front desk makes that first visit far less stressful, and we always encourage patients to apply for provincial coverage and the CDCP as soon as they qualify.
— Mersal
Get urgent dental care today at Mersal Dental in Ottawa
We accept IFHP and CDCP, and offer emergency appointments for newcomers who cannot wait for pain relief. Our multilingual team is used to walking patients through eligibility documents step by step.
Call us and tell us you are an IFHP beneficiary so we can prepare your file.
Bring your eligibility document (IFHC, RPCD, RPID, or AOC) and your UCI number.
Expect to pay your 30% co-payment for supplemental dental services at checkout.
If you are in pain now, visit our dental emergency page to see same-day options, or check our new patient booking page to get started.
This article is general information, not a substitute for advice from a qualified doctor. Consult a qualified healthcare professional about your own circumstances before acting on anything here.
FAQ
Does Canada’s dental plan cover 100% of costs?
No single Canadian dental plan covers 100% of costs for most patients. Under IFHP, supplemental services like urgent dental care are covered at 70%, with a 30% co-payment from the beneficiary.
What documents prove I am eligible for IFHP dental coverage?
Eligibility is proven through IRCC-issued documents such as the Interim Federal Health Certificate, the Refugee Protection Claimant Document, the Refugee Protection Identity Document, or an Acknowledgment of Claim. Your Unique Client Identifier on these documents lets a registered provider verify your coverage with Medavie Blue Cross.
How long does IFHP dental coverage last for refugees?
Coverage generally lasts until you become eligible for provincial or territorial health insurance, or until you leave Canada. Protected persons typically retain coverage for 90 days after their decision, while other categories vary by province.
Can I choose any dentist for IFHP-covered care?
You need to use a dentist registered with IFHP, since Medavie Blue Cross only reimburses registered providers. You can confirm a clinic’s registration through the Medavie Blue Cross help centre before booking.
What happens if I also qualify for the Canadian Dental Care Plan?
IFHP is usually a payer of last resort, but an exception allows it to act as the first payer for urgent dental care even if you also qualify for the Canadian Dental Care Plan. Applying for CDCP as soon as you are eligible still gives you more complete coverage once your IFHP benefits end.
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