Frequently Asked Questions

Learn more about Professional Liability Program changes.

What is happening to the PLP?

On September 15^th, 2025, the RCDSO announced that Navacord, one of Canada’s largest and fastest growing multi-line insurance brokerages, will become the owner/operator of the RCDSO’s PLP as of January 1, 2026. Jones DesLauriers, a broker partner of Navacord, has been the brokerage on record for the primary PLP policy and the excess insurance coverage since 2017. Navacord is the current broker for liability insurance for dentists in Alberta.

When would these changes become effective?

PLP operates as a program of the RCDSO until December 31, 2025. As of January 1, 2026, professional liability coverage will continue and the program will be operated by Navacord.
Dentists can continue to connect with the same trusted team for the advice and service they’ve always relied on.

Is PLP still accepting new claims?

Yes, it is business as usual for PLP and there are no changes made to the operation of the program. Stability for both patients and dentists will be maintained. New and existing PLP cases will continue to be handled in the usual manner with the same staff.

When dentists register or renew, professional liability coverage will continue with Navacord (with Jones DesLauriers as the broker.) In 2027 and 2028, continued coverage will be provided by Navacord and Jones DesLauriers as part of the registration and annual renewal process.

Dentists should continue to contact PLP directly for advice or assistance with potential, new or existing claims online at plp.rcdso.org or info@plpservices.org.

COVERAGE

Is my coverage changing?

In 2026, dentists will continue to receive the same coverage that is currently being offered. This includes $2 million per occurrence, regardless of specialty, and tail coverage for former members who have retired and/or moved out of Ontario. The only difference in coverage is an annual cap at $6 million per dentist. (Currently, the College’s policy with Victor Canada includes an aggregate limit of $30 million. million shared among all dentists; under the new policy, each dentist would have a dedicated $6 million limit.) PLP records indicate that neither of these thresholds have ever been approached by any dentist in a given year.

Dentists are also able to acquire excess coverage through JDIMI, as they have since 2017.

What are coverage limits for 2026?

Navacord is offering comprehensive coverage of $2M per occurrence with an annual aggregate cap of $6M per dentist. PLP records indicate that no dentist has ever come close to either threshold in a given year. Coverage is competitive with offerings in the rest of Canada and additional increased limits coverage will be available, as it has in previous years, through Jones DesLauriers at reasonable rates or through other providers. Learn more.

What minimum limit will be required?

College by-laws establish the requirement for minimum professional liability protection to ensure that the public is protected. A limit of $2 million per occurrence has been set, which is consistent with the coverage currently provided to Ontario dentists (the minimum aggregate limit is $6 million).

Dentists should continue to contact PLP directly for advice or assistance.

How do I get excess insurance, if I need it?

Excess Malpractice Protection is now available for 2026 from the College’s broker, Jones DesLauriers Insurance Management Inc. (JDIMI).

If you previously purchased excess limits, JDIMI has forwarded an email to you containing a secure link to renew. Check your “Junk” or “Spam” folder if not received.

To purchase excess malpractice limits for the first time through JDIMI, visit this website.

Be sure to select JANUARY 1, 2026 as your effective date.

If you have any questions, please contact JDIMI at excessprotection@jdimi.com or by telephone at 416-248-7144 or 1-877-301-4979 (RCDSO registrants only).

Why do I have to stay with Navacord for the next three years?

When the College consulted dentists in 2023 about divestment generally, many respondents expressed concern and anxiety about having to seek coverage, never having had to do so. As part of the procurement process, the College sought out a partner that would provide a bridging period to allow for a smoother transition for the profession.

In 2029, dentists will be able to obtain liability coverage through any policy that meets College and regulatory requirements although JDIMI will continue to be the College’s preferred provider of malpractice liability insurance and excess malpractice liability insurance.

What happens to my coverage when I retire?

By direction of Council, and with advice from dentists, one of the expectations we laid out for the potential new provider is that they provide lifetime tail coverage for dentists if they move to another jurisdiction, when they retire or if they pass away. Navacord is including lifetime tail coverage in their comprehensive offering to the profession.

Will I need to look for a new provider?

Registrants will not need to look for a new program, as Navacord will take on the existing program and dentists will continue to have seamless liability protection through the registration and renewal process for the next three years. In 2029, dentists will be able to obtain liability coverage through any policy that meets College and regulatory requirements, although JDIMI will continue to be the College’s preferred provider of malpractice liability insurance and excess malpractice liability insurance.

FEES

Why did PLP fees increase?

The College’s estimated PLP fees have been frozen for the past three years, despite rising costs. Those fees were considerably under-market and the program itself was underfunded. The amount the new provider needs to provide professional liability protection is higher, resulting in the need for an increase in the professional liability fee for 2026 from $1,000 to $1,400 plus fees.

The total liability cost for 2026 is $1,500, and those funds flow directly to Navacord.

These costs are competitive with other Canadian provinces. Across the country, where liability is provided through a third party, the annual cost is between $1677 and $2097, plus applicable taxes. In 2026, the increase in liability costs will amount to $500 compared to 2025. Navacord plans to continue to offer reasonable rates and comprehensive coverage in the years to come.

Did Regulatory fees also increase in 2026?

No. Regulatory fees are frozen for 2026. According to College by-laws the fees are to increase by the rate of CPI annually. On September 18th, Council waived the annual CPI increase (almost $55) at its September 18th meeting to help mitigate the costs of the liability increase.

What happens at annual renewal with respect to payment of my fees?

Nothing changes. You will use the same process to renew and your liability protection will continue to be offered through your registration. To support a smooth transition, the College will collect the annual professional liability costs on behalf of Navacord for 2026.

I'm still paying my liability fee to the College during renewal. How does that money get to the new provider?

To ensure a smooth transition, the College will collect liability during the renewal process on behalf of Navacord. The College will transfer the entire amount to Navacord. The College does not keep any portion of the liability cost

Why can’t the College absorb the PLP fee increase?

The Finance Audit and Risk committee considered this option and given that the total liability need for 2025 is still unknown, it could put the requirements to provide regulation to the profession at risk. The College ran deficits from 2018-2022 related to PLP pay outs. Covering the increase would be a one-time event that would again put the College in a deficit. The liability of the program had also been historically underfunded, according to a 2023 actuarial evaluation (also see Review of the RCDSO’s Professional Liability Program).

The College froze regulatory fees for 2026 and Council decided not to implement the usual cost of living increase on regulatory fees. In future years, once PLP is fully divested and costs stabilize, the College will explore its regulatory fees.

CHOOSING A PROVIDER

What was the College looking for in a new provider?

Expectations, with input from Ontario dentists, of the new provider included:

• Maintain minimum coverage of $2 million, as required by the RCDSO.
• Set the same fee level for all licenced dentists.
• Offer coverage in a group model for all dentists to whom the college grants a licence.
• Keep lifetime tail coverage for dentists if they move to another jurisdiction to practice, when they retire, or if they pass away.
• Integrate the PLP team into the new program.
• Continue to support dentists beyond claims process: providing advice to de-escalate and manage difficult situations; drafting legal release documents that provide refunds properly; supporting and guiding dentists through a litigation process.
• Sustain current PLP policies with no unreasonable additional terms, conditions, or exclusions adverse to the profession or public.
• Share data with the College to support trend analysis in the profession
• Minimum liability limits, as determined by the RCDSO.

Navacord met each of these expectations and brought deep experience in the liability protection of dentists. Jones DesLauriers Insurance Management Inc. (JDIMI), a broker partner of Navacord, has been the brokerage on record for the primary PLP policy and the excess insurance coverage since 2017. Navacord is the current broker for liability insurance for dentists in Alberta.

Ontario dentists will benefit from a smooth transition process and three years of reasonable rates and comprehensive coverage.

Did you consult dentists?

Yes. In 2023, over 1,600 dentists responded to our survey about their priorities for the PLP program. Their advice helped to shape the requirements we set out for potential providers. The report is available here.

From July to September, 2025, dentists had an opportunity to provide comment on the fee increase as noted in a change to the fee by-law. We heard from the ODA who outlined concerns about the impact of the fee increase. This response was provided to Council and posted on our website here. We have also provided additional information below to provide greater transparency about the PLP reserve and College's finances here.

How much is the College receiving for this program?

It is too early to say what the net proceeds will be. There are several factors that will affect the net proceeds of the sale, including the unknown cost of claims that could emerge in 2025; unknown liabilities associated with historical claims; and other deal uncertainties. It is expected that the College will net out with a reserve fund that will provide it with the financial certainty needed to manage these risks. Elements of the transaction will be disclosed in future years as they are realized and finalized.

When will you disclose more about the financial elements of the deal?

Material elements of the financial implications for the College will be reported to Council in June of 2026 and be reported in the 2025 Annual Report and in subsequent reports, as required.

Why did you choose Navacord and not a non-profit?

The bidding process was competitive and the College is confident that we have selected the best owner/operator for the PLP.
The College, guided by Council and the profession, set out eight divestment objectives and Navacord met them all.
• Maintain minimum coverage of $2M
• Same fee for all licensed dentists in Ontario
• Maintain lifetime tail coverage
• Integrate current PLP employees into the new program
• Keep support services (guidance, education) beyond the claims process
• Offer coverage in a group model for all Ontario dentists
• Materially accept the current PLP policy wording
• Data-sharing with the College post transaction to support trend analysis in the profession

Was the process of choosing Navacord competitive?

RCDSO engaged in a competitive process to find the right home for the Professional Liability Program. The College enlisted PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) as procurement advisers to guide and manage the competition. Council established a Procurement Review Group (PRG) consisting of elected and appointed Council members to oversee the process.

A significant number of organizations were consulted, many sent letters of intent as formal expressions of interest. Both PwC and the PRG examined and analyzed a long list of qualified contenders before a short list was established. Organizations on the short list interviewed with the PRG and the leadership of PLP. From that short list the proponent who met all of the objectives listed was chosen: Navacord.

In addition to meeting the procurement objectives, Jones DesLauriers has been the brokerage on record for the primary PLP policy and the excess insurance coverage since 2017. Navacord is the current broker for liability insurance for dentists in Alberta.

When did you report this to dentists?

RCDSO has reported regularly at Council meetings on the PLP divestment from the Task Force report in 2023 to the by-law discussion in December 2025. We have regularly updated the public, registrants and system partners as we progressed through e-mail, the RCDSO website and the RCDSO Connect newsletter. The RCDSO attended a number of ODA component society events in 2025 to help answer dentists’ questions. On November 26, the College hosted an RCDSO Connect session where dentists asked questions about the transition and its implications. A recording of the session can be found here. Our Practice Advisory team has been available throughout the process to answer questions.

BACKGROUND

What is the history of the PLP divestment decision?

The Professional Liability Program (PLP) has been providing assistance to Ontario dentists for over 50 years. During that time, numerous staff and Council members have been dedicated to the promotion of patient safety and responsible dentistry.

In 2022, the Audit Committee and the Finance, Property and Administration (FPA) Committee reviewed the PLP program, its history, legislation, financial structure and assessed other comparable programs in Canada. As a result, Council established a PLP Expert Review Task Force to do a thorough review of the PLP program, outline any risks and recommend options to mitigate these risks on or before the September 2023 Council meeting.

The Expert Review Task Force, composed of liability and regulatory experts (including former Council members) met from February to July of 2023 and developed a report for review by the (now) Finance, Audit and Risk (FAR) Committee. After that review, the report findings and FAR’s analysis were presented to Council on September 21st. There, Council unanimously agreed that the College should not continue to directly operate PLP as it is currently structured.

With Council’s direction, RCDSO staff developed an implementation plan, with deliverables and timelines and created a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis of four divestment approaches.

At the December 2023 meeting, after reviewing the options and key considerations, Council directed staff to proceed with the option of exploring the transfer of the Professional Liability Program (including current liabilities and staff) to a third party, with the goal of allowing the program to continue to operate, under separate ownership.

Council directed staff to begin a procurement process, guided by the proposed assumptions and key elements outlined, and under the guidance of a procurement review group. The procurement process resulted in the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) as advisors. The Procurement Review Group was formed in early 2024 and is met regularly.

On September 15th, the RCDSO announced that after an extensive and competitive process, RCDSO Council has approved the selection of Navacord as the new owners of the program due to their commitment to preserve the existing service excellence of the program via current PLP staff; their offer of full and comprehensive coverage for dentists; and their deep experience in the liability protection of Ontario dentists.

Council received regular progress reports on the divestment project.

Council deliberations are viewable on the RCDSO YouTube channel.

Why was the Task Force struck in the first place?

Several risks have been identified with PLP, foremost among them are reputational, regulatory and financial risks.

RCDSO is one of the few health regulatory Colleges in Canada that directly operates an in-house liability program.

Over the past several years, changing expectations of professional regulation and the RCDSO’s commitment to act in the public interest have caused RCDSO to consider the benefits, risks and appropriateness of this non-legislated program as an operational department of the College.

One of the College’s primary regulatory responsibilities is to hold dentists accountable for conduct and practice issues; PLP serves as the primary malpractice protection provider for those same dentists. While there is a firewall between PLP and our regulatory programs, this divergence in mandate and function is confusing to both the public and dentists and raises questions about how we can effectively serve both mandates.

The College is also expected to be a responsible steward of its financial resources in achieving its statutory objectives and regulatory mandate, and the direct operation of PLP has presented some challenges to the RCDSO’s financial position including the completion of an adequate non-PLP operating reserve.

What did the Task Force recommend?

The Task Force Report presented a number of options with benefits and risks to help Council determine the best option for RCDSO.

The Task Force identified three options:

• Status Quo: RCDSO retains the current structure of PLP with minor modifications that could mitigate risk.
• Subsidiary: RCDSO establishes a subsidiary corporation. This would create structural separation of mandate and finances, while RCDSO would retain ownership of the program.
• Divest: RCDSO stops directly offering its liability protection program over time and moves to transfer, sell or end the program

The report provided Council with considerable information to help make this decision.

The program has been working well for 50 years, why change now?

There are a number of environmental changes, including public expectations that have changed since PLP was first established.

RCDSO is one of the few health regulatory Colleges in Canada that directly operates an in-house liability program.

PLP’s mission and function are distinct from the rest of the College’s, whose mandate is to “act in the public interest.”

One of the College’s primary regulatory responsibilities is to hold dentists accountable for conduct and practice issues. PLP serves as the primary malpractice protection provider for those same dentists. While there is a firewall between PLP and our regulatory programs, this divergence in mandate and function is confusing to both the public and dentists and raises questions about how we can effectively serve both mandates.

If an unexpected major financial event were to occur (one that exceeds the current reserve fund plus the $20 million available in reinsurance), the RCDSO would be required to draw from its regulatory reserves or to impose a fee to the profession.

How did RCDSO decide to change PLP?

At the December 2023 meeting, Council directed staff to proceed with exploring the transfer of the Professional Liability Program (including current liabilities and staff) to a third party, with the goal of allowing the program to continue to operate, under separate ownership.

Council asked staff to begin the procurement process under the guidance of a Procurement Review Group. PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), an external mergers and acquisitions advisor was retained.

Council deliberations are viewable on the RCDSO YouTube channel.

On September 15th, 2025, the RCDSO announced that Navacord, one of Canada’s largest and fastest growing multi-line insurance brokerages, will become the owner/operator of the RCDSO’s PLP as of January 1, 2026. Jones DesLauriers, a broker partner of Navacord, has been the brokerage on record for the primary PLP policy and the excess insurance coverage since 2017. Navacord is the current broker for liability insurance for dentists in Alberta.

I have further questions about PLP changes, who can I contact?

For general information, please contact the RCDSO’s Practice Advisory Service at practiceadvisory@rcdso.org or call 416-961-6555 or toll-free 1-800-565-4591.