Seniors over the age of 87 will be the first cohort that can apply to join a new federal dental-benefits plan, which will be phased in slowly over the next year.

Health Minister Mark Holland announcing the rollout of the program – budgeted to cost $13 billion over the next five years – Monday morning, saying its crucial to Canadian’s overall health.

“When someone does not get the oral healthcare they need, it means they are going to have issues -cardio-vascularly with diabetes- or a myriad of other chronic diseases and illnesses. So it isn’t just about the social justice about someone being able to wake up and go to work with a healthy smile, its fundamentally about their health.”

The program is aimed at people with an annual household income under $90,000 who don’t have access to private insurance.

Eligibility will be slowly expanded over the course of next year. Holland says a smooth rollout of the program is important.

“That is why we are going to be opening applications in phases, starting with seniors and then people with disabilities, and children under 18.”

Once eligibility is expanded to all qualifying Canadian residents in 2025, it will be the government’s largest social program.

Holland says eligible Canadians won’t have to make the choice between paying their bills and getting the care they need.

“A third of Canadians today do not have access to dental insurance through their employer. 1 in 4 (Canadians) have said they were unable to visit an oral health professional because it was too expensive.”

The dental-benefits plan was originally pitched by the New Democrats, and is a key pillar of the supply-and-confidence deal between the NDP and the Liberals to secure the opposition party’s support on key votes.