Victory: PSAC secures major improvements to the Public Service Dental Care Plan in arbitration

source
July 4, 2024

In an important victory for federal public service workers, an arbitration panel has ruled in favour of significant improvements to the Public Service Dental Care Plan (PSDCP) following an arbitration hearing on June 14. This binding arbitration award will lead to important changes to the plan, coming into effect January 1, 2025.

This ruling comes after a long and difficult negotiation process in which Treasury Board has continuously showed unwillingness to negotiate fair and reasonable updates to the plan. PSAC applauds the arbitration panel’s decision that will benefit over 185,000 federal public service workers.

The significant improvements to the plan include:

An increase to the annual maximum for routine and major services from $2,500 to $3,000 as of January 1, 2025 and to $3,250 as of January 1, 2027;
An increase to the lifetime orthodontic maximum from $2,500 to $3,000 effective January 1, 2025 and $3,250 as of January 1, 2027;
An increase from 50% to 65% coverage for major services such as bridge, implant or dentures;
New coverage for tomography, pit and fissure sealants regardless of age, and procedures and assessments related to Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ);
Contributions to the plan for those on extended parental leave will be paid by the employer for up to 18 months of leave;
More flexible language for exceptions for replacing appliances such as crowns or bridges and on time limits to submit a claim where unavoidable circumstances are at play;
New anesthesia coverage for any member or dependent who has a disorder which puts the safety of the patient or dentist at risk;
More flexible coverage when there is damage to a tooth that would not usually be covered if the damage is such that it may require major coverage in the future;
Coverage for members or their dependents with a congenitally missing tooth until the age of 22.

The employer made several proposals to the arbitration panel, but few were accepted aside from minor changes that will have minimal impact on plan members.

Read the full binding arbitration decision for more details.

The dental plan is negotiated for PSAC members employed by the federal government, many of its agencies (including CRA), and other employers.

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