VA Dental Insurance (VADIP)
The VA Dental Insurance Program, or VADIP, is a program where the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilitates the purchase of private dental insurance for eligible applicants at a reduced cost.
It is not a form of direct dental care provided by VA dentists in VA facilities. Instead, the VA has negotiated discounted group rates with two private insurance carriers, Delta Dental and MetLife, who manage the plans, enrollment, and claims.
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Why VADIP Was Created
VADIP was created to bridge a significant gap in dental coverage for the Veteran community. Eligibility for comprehensive, no-cost dental care directly from the VA is limited by law. Veterans such as those with a service-connected dental disability or a 100% disability rating may qualify, but this leaves many enrolled in VA health care without access to affordable dental services.
VADIP provides an official, cost-effective pathway for these Veterans and their eligible family members to obtain the dental insurance they need.
Is VADIP a Permanent Program?
Yes. VADIP began as a three-year pilot program in 2014 to test offering premium-based dental insurance.
After its success, it was extended and later made permanent by the Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring of Authorities Act of 2021. The program no longer has a termination date.
If I buy a VADIP plan, will it affect my eligibility for free VA dental care?
No. Enrolling in VADIP has no effect on your eligibility for any direct VA dental care benefits you may already qualify for. The program is designed to be purely complementary. Veterans who don’t qualify for any VA dental care can apply for this coverage.
VADIP Eligibility, Enrollment, and Coverage
VADIP is a national program. The plans from both Delta Dental and MetLife provide coverage throughout the United States and its territories, including Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
To be eligible to purchase a VADIP plan, you must meet one of two requirements:
- You are a Veteran enrolled in the VA health care system.
- You are a beneficiary of the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the VA (CHAMPVA).
How can a Veteran become eligible for VADIP?
The prerequisite for VADIP eligibility is to be in the VA health care system. Eligibility is not based on disability rating, priority group, or income. If a Veteran is not yet enrolled in VA health care, they must first apply for and be accepted into that system. Once enrolled, they are immediately eligible to purchase a VADIP plan.
How can a Veteran’s family member become eligible for VADIP?
Family members can become eligible for VADIP if they are enrolled as beneficiaries in the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the VA (CHAMPVA). CHAMPVA is a health care program for the spouse or dependent children of a Veteran who is rated as permanently and totally disabled from a service-connected condition, among other criteria.
Are dependents of Veterans who are not CHAMPVA beneficiaries eligible for VADIP?
No. The program is only for Veterans enrolled in VA health care and for CHAMPVA beneficiaries. Dependents who do not qualify for CHAMPVA cannot be enrolled in a VADIP plan. However, the insurance carriers, Delta Dental and MetLife, may offer separate, non-VADIP commercial dental plans that can cover these other family members. Contact the companies directly for these options.
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How do I enroll in a VADIP plan?
Enrollment is handled directly by the insurance carriers, not the VA. You must choose either Delta Dental or MetLife and visit their specific VADIP website to complete the online application. The insurance company will then verify your eligibility with the VA before finalizing your enrollment.
Is there a specific time of year to enroll?
No. VADIP has a continuous open enrollment period, meaning you can sign up for a plan at any time. Once you enroll, you are committed to a 12-month period.
I was enrolled in the VADIP pilot program that ran from 2013 to 2017. Do I need to do anything?
Yes. You must actively re-enroll in one of the current plans. Coverage from the pilot program did not automatically carry over to the permanent program. Plan options, benefits, and costs may have changed, so you should review the new offerings from both Delta Dental and MetLife before making a selection.
VADIP Insurance Providers
The VA has contracted with two national insurance carriers: Delta Dental of California and MetLife. These two companies have been the providers since the program’s inception.
What is the VA’s role versus the insurance companies’ role?
The VA’s role is to sponsor the program and negotiate discounted premium rates for the Veteran community. The private insurance carriers are Delta Dental and MetLife. They design the plans, manage enrollment, collect premiums, maintain the dentist networks, and process all claims.
For any questions about plan details, coverage, premiums, or provider networks, you must contact the insurance companies directly.
- Delta Dental: 855-370-3303
- MetLife: 888-310-1681
What kinds of dental services do VADIP plans typically cover?
VADIP policies generally cover a comprehensive range of services, including:
- Diagnostic services like exams and x-rays.
- Preventive care like teeth cleanings.
- Restorative services like fillings, crowns, bridges, and root canals.
- Dental surgery, such as tooth extractions.
- Emergency dental care.
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What costs are participants responsible for?
VADIP is not a free benefit. Participants are responsible for paying the full monthly premium for their chosen plan directly to the insurance company. They must also pay any out-of-pocket costs required by their plan when they receive care, such as deductibles and copayments.
What are the details of the MetLife VADIP plans?
MetLife offers a Standard Option and a High Option. Both plans provide the greatest value when using an in-network dentist, as these dentists have agreed to accept lower, negotiated fees. Using an in-network dentist also means you have a $0 annual deductible, whereas out-of-network care has a $50 deductible at press time.
The Standard Option has an annual maximum benefit that increases after one year. For in-network care, it covers 100% of basic services (cleanings, exams), 50% of intermediate services (fillings), and 30% of major services (crowns, root canals) at press time. It does not cover orthodontia.
The High Option has a higher annual maximum benefit, which increases after one year. For in-network care, this plan covers 100% of basic services, 70% of intermediate services, and 50% of major services. This plan also offers orthodontia coverage for dependent children up to age 19 at 50% at press time. There is a lifetime maximum and a 24-month waiting period.
What is known about the Delta Dental VADIP plans?
Delta Dental also offers multiple plan choices to fit different needs and budgets. According to the official site, there are three PPO plans with 100% coverage for qualifying in-network services. At press time, those plans are:
- Enhanced
- Comprehensive
- Prime
These plans also carry annual maximums and feature no in-network copays depending on which plan you choose. The Prime plan features the lowest co-pay and the highest annual maximum.
Delta Dental claims to have negotiated military discounts with dental providers in its network. Do you need to know about eligibility? Delta Dental provides the following caveat on its official site:
“Eligible enrollees include any Veteran enrolled in VA health care and any individual enrolled in VA’s Civilian Health and Medical Program (CHAMPVA). Dependent children and other family members who do not qualify as a CHAMPVA beneficiary are not eligible.”
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About the author
Editor-in-Chief Joe Wallace is a 13-year veteran of the United States Air Force and a former reporter/editor for Air Force Television News and the Pentagon Channel. His freelance work includes contract work for Motorola, VALoans.com, and Credit Karma. He is co-founder of Dim Art House in Springfield, Illinois, and spends his non-writing time as an abstract painter, independent publisher, and occasional filmmaker.
