MCFD Children in Care Medical Benefits Program

Description:

MCFD Children in Care Medical Benefits Program provides funding for dental and orthodontic treatment for children and youth in care and youth in Youth Agreements, through a contract with Pacific Blue Cross (PBC).

Region of Administration:

Provincial

Government / Department:

Ministry of Children and Family Development

Eligibility:

Children and youth in care and youth receiving support through a Youth Agreement. Children and youth in care refers both to children and youth in the care of the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) and children and youth in the care of Delegated Aboriginal Agencies.

Children and youth in care have access to necessary dental and orthodontic care until they reach the age of 19. Youth receiving support through a Youth Agreement have access to dental care only until they reach the age of 19.

For orthodontic benefits, eligible are all children and youth in permanent care/continuing custody, who are not status Aboriginal peoples and Status Aboriginal children and youth in permanent care/continuing custody.

Coverage:

Basic and major restorative dental coverage to a maximum of $700 per year. The Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) provides funding for dental treatment through a contract with Pacific Blue Cross (PBC). Dental benefits are included in the PBC fee schedule for Plan A and B services. The following services are funded: Diagnostic, preventative, restorative, endodontic, periodontic, prosthodontic, anaesthesia, oral surgical services.

Providers:

Dentists, Independent dental hygienists

Therapeutic Responsibility:

Dentists, Independent dental hygienists

Compensation:

Fee-for-service

How it Works:

The child or youth’s worker is responsible for:

Activating dental coverage on the Management Information System (MIS);

Maintaining up to date information on MIS, and;

Providing one dental card to the foster caregiver or youth and placing the other card on the child or youth’s file.

If a child or youth is placed in care by agreement, his/her worker only activates dental coverage if it is not available through the parents’ dental plan.