Beginning in 2014, VA piloted the VA Dental Insurance Program (VADIP), which provided an opportunity for certain eligible Veterans and their beneficiaries to purchase dental insurance from private insurance companies at a discounted rate. That program was slated to end Jan. 31, but a law passed in the summer of 2016 allows already enrolled Veterans to keep their insurance. The legislation also keeps the program funded through 2021.

VADIP offers Veterans enrolled in the VA health care system, as well as beneficiaries and their dependents of the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the VA (CHAMPVA), the opportunity to purchase discounted insurance from private dental insurers. Coverage includes diagnostic services, preventive services, endodontic and other restorative services, surgical services and emergency services. As of December 2016, 103,231 Veterans were enrolled in VADIP.

To establish the reauthorized program, VA must enter into new contracts with insurance providers to administer the insurance program.

“The new VADIP contract process is proceeding,” said Venis M. Whitfield, associate director of the Member Services Health Eligibility Center Member Benefits Section. “Enrollment in the pilot program ended Jan. 31, 2017, but individuals already enrolled in VADIP will automatically receive coverage for 12 months.”

VADIP was established as a pilot program by the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010. Customer-service survey results indicated that more than 92 percent of participants would renew in the program, indicating a strong overall satisfaction with the program.

For more information, visit http://www.va.gov/healthbenefits/VADIP or call 877-222-VETS (8387).

About the author: Angel Lawrence is the director of VA’s Health Eligibility Center where she provides executive oversight and leadership to approximately 500 Federal employees over three business lines in Topeka, Kansas; Fort Riley, Kansas; Hot Springs, South Dakota; Waco, Texas and Atlanta, Georgia.  In this role, Lawrence is regarded as the national expert in Veteran enrollment. Prior to joining the VA, she served as the deputy director of human resources for the City of Seattle, where she served on the mayor’s executive board as a subject matter expert in human resources policy and law.

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14 Comments

  1. John February 15, 2017 at 14:10

    I’m comfused. So can new applicants apply for dental then or no?

  2. Xxxx February 13, 2017 at 22:50

    It is a great dental plan. My WWII veteran father has it and it saves him a considerable amount of money. I recommend it.

  3. john h. ehmer February 12, 2017 at 13:56

    i am a disabled veteran with a severe hearing loss,even though my medical record shows this loss, the va in their infinate wisdom says that there was no hearing loss at discharge. I have survived cancer that i believe was caused by exposure to methel ethyl keytone without any protection or hearing protection on the flight line.

  4. Leslie burton February 12, 2017 at 09:21

    What does it take to get dental care? I feel since dental is so important to ones health, then it should be offered to all
    vets.

  5. Scott Bowen February 11, 2017 at 07:46

    When I attempted to get dental insurance through th “Obama Care” exchange I got a message that stated “As a veteran you can go to the V.A. Website and sign up for a group dental plan”. This is the same place V.A. Employees sign up for their own dental Ins benefits. I signed up 3 years ago and still have it -same basic plan I had for years though employers. They had 2 different companies offering different levels of coverage so I was able to choose a plan that meets my needs with reasonable premiums. I was NOT able to find this info published any where and my county V.A. Rep was surprised as he had never heard of this option either. I guess Obama Care let the big secret out!!

  6. ANGELO VITALONE SR February 11, 2017 at 01:07

    [Redacted] I ASKED FOR AND APPOINTMENT TOO SEE THE DENTIST AT THE PHILA VA IT HAS BEEN TWO MONTHS AND STILL WAITING. ANGELO VITALONE SR

    Editor’s note: A portion of this comment has been redacted per VA’s social media policy.

  7. David R. Brown February 10, 2017 at 17:24

    I get this insurance. It is through MetLife Dental. I have had work done by two different dentists. Both of their offices told me that they thought it was one of the better plans that they had seen. But, sometimes the dentist wants to charge more for a service than the insurance will pay. So the dental office will then bill you for the balance (usually $100 to $200 ouch). However, without this plan I would have nothing and could not afford any dental work.

    Anyone else have a similar experience?

  8. Nikolas Kondra February 10, 2017 at 13:57

    This NOT dental Insurance. It is a discount plan that you can get online for a lot less money and you don’t have to keep it a 12 Month period. This NOT taking care of the vets. I think this is taking care of the administrations interest.
    Sorry but that is the way.

    • Laura Elliott February 10, 2017 at 22:53

      What I have purchased from Dental Dental is definitely dental INSURANCE. I just had my preventative visit and the x-rays and cleaning will be covered 100%. There are several levels with different things covered and waiting periods.

  9. Lonnie Warren February 10, 2017 at 11:51

    I tried the insurance, they don’t pay for anything they can think up some kind of excuse for. Example I had new partial made and they refused to pay for them because I had a temporary set made that they did not pay for (it had been less than 15 years sense I had partials made. The ones that were temporary, ( they would not pay for because they did not recognize the dentist) They said it did not mater (because I did not have the new ones made in less than a year after the Temps.

    Go to USAA they have a better program and it is a lot cheaper.

  10. William Irving Canfield February 3, 2017 at 19:56

    I am a Marine Vietnam Veteran and I am currently receiving a 70% disabled compensation. What percentage disability does a Vet have to be awarded in order to qualify for Dental Care ?
    Thank you for your consideration,

    William I. Canfield Coarsegold, CA

    • Rich DeZago February 10, 2017 at 13:02

      I believe it’s 100% unless the dental problem is service connected.

  11. Thomas Colcord February 3, 2017 at 11:57

    How can I get dental Insuranc for myself disabled Veteran, 1976, and need for my wife. Can’t I pay a premium monthly to cover my wife?

  12. John H.F. Sharp February 2, 2017 at 20:55

    What chance does a Korean War Veteran ( 1950-54 ) have to participate in this benefit. ?
    I’m in dire need of dental service & IAW my DD214 record was NEVER provided any dental services prior to my Nov. 30, 1954 Honorable Discharge !!
    S/Sgt. John H.F. Sharp, Disabled Korean War Veteran.

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