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Health costs

Dental care, receipts, caregiving and travel: the health costs that land on a retirement budget.

An older man in a dental chair talking with a hygienist before a check-up.

What the Canadian Dental Care Plan covers for seniors, and what it doesn't

Cleanings, fillings and dentures are on the list. Orthodontics, extra charges above the plan's fees and some pre-approved work are where the surprises sit.

Saude Animal Editorial · 22 October 2026 · 6 min read

A woman in her seventies sorting paper receipts into an accordion folder at a dining table.

Health costs

Which medical receipts are worth keeping for the tax return

The medical expense credit only starts after a threshold, it runs on any 12-month window you choose, and couples usually do better pooling on one return.

5 min read

A woman helping her elderly father into a knitted cardigan in his living room.

Health costs

What the caregiver credit is worth when you look after a parent or spouse

The Canada caregiver credit is a line on the tax return, not a cheque. Who counts as a dependant, what it reduces, and the paperwork the CRA may ask to see.

6 min read

A retired couple packing light clothes into a suitcase while snow covers the garden outside.

Health costs

How long you can spend the winter abroad without losing provincial health coverage

Ontario counts 153 days at home, Quebec counts 183 days away, British Columbia counts calendar months. The rules are provincial, and they are not the same.

6 min read

Health costs

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