Is there dental care coverage for Veterans?

See the info:
www.benefits.va.gov/​compensation/​claims-special-dental.asp

I have run into the same situation with my husband. With our limited resources, getting dental coverage is not possible right now. I contacted our VA Dental Clinic in Palo Alto, CA and was informed that unless the Vet is 100% service-related disabled, there is no coverage. You can go to the clinic on an emergency basis - such as impacted tooth, broken tooth, abcess or infection - and you will be treated BUT you will be billed $350. Haven't been able to find the mobile clinic in our area.

I am a vet and signed up for the VADIP thru metlife. Its about $24 a month with an annual deductible $50 and a $1500 a year limit. Search for va dental ins for full coverage options and limits.

If you don't apply within a time frame after discharge then you are not eligible, but you can get affordable dental insurance if you follow this link.
https://www.va.gov/healthbenefits/VADIP/

Retired vets have access to dental care through Delta Dental. Is your father covered by Tricare? After 65 he can be covered through Tricare for Life if he is a retired vet, as well as Delta Dental.

Hi - does he have Tricare? Their dental is separate, but exists, you have to pursue it separately. Good luck!

My father is on VA and now has full dental coverage. I don't know all the details, but on my recent visit with him last month I heard about his full dental coverage which is big news for him. It may be dependent on the situation, etc.; he's a stroke survivor, 10 years out, and he only just now got full dental coverage, so time might be a factor too. Hope this helps.

When I got DH into the VA System, I asked about dental.

I was told that the VA doesn't do dental - HOWEVER, if the veteran is in hospital and has a problem needing work (ie: abscess) that while in hospital, it will be taken care of.

I know nothing about $350 - but in today's world, that doesn't cover a heck of a lot of dental work so it sounds like a bargain to me.

Get in touch with a Veteran's Advocate  https://vetadvocates.org/  and ask about what is covered.

I have no information on the $350, but I can offer the following, which you'd have to check out.

VADIP - VA Dental Insurance Program, offers lower rate dental insurance with plans from Delta Dental and Met Life.

https://feds.deltadentalins.com/vadip/ or call 855.370.3303

https://www.metlife.com/VADIP/index.html or call 888.310.1681. I see from the website that enrollments begins on Nov. 15, 2017.

(Phone numbers are from a VA flyer a few years old. Check the web sites first). If the full URLs are deleted, search on "VA dental programs".

I don't know what the qualifications for members are, but have read something to the effect that only enlisted Vets are eligible. If this is true, search for this Huffington Post article: "Most Vets Don’t Qualify For VA Dental Care. So These Dentists Are Giving It For Free". It addresses a private sector mobile dental unit called "MouthMobile" for Veterans.

I haven't done any more research on these issues than what I post here, so you'll have to do some checking.

However, the flyer I picked up states that "eligibility for VADIP is limited to Veterans enrolled in VA health care. To learn more about eligibility, visit www.va.gov/healthbenefits/VADIP." So it seems your first step (if not already taken) is to enroll for VA health care.

Good luck!