HEALTHCAREVA program
VA Dental Insurance Program (VADIP)
The VA Dental Insurance Program (VADIP) offers discounted private dental insurance plans from Delta Dental or MetLife, and enrollment is online with the chosen carrier. Veterans enrolled in VA health care can buy a plan, and so can current or surviving spouses and dependent children enrolled in CHAMPVA. Plan members pay the full premium and any required copays, and signing up does not affect access to free VA dental care.
Available to veterans enrolled in VA health care and to spouses, surviving spouses, and dependent children enrolled in CHAMPVA
Step-by-step guide
What you get
Private dental insurance at a reduced cost from Delta Dental or MetLife. You pick a plan and pay its premium and copays.
Who can buy a VADIP plan
- Enrolled in VA health careThe plans are open to veterans enrolled in VA health care. If you are not enrolled, apply for VA health care first.
Source: VA.gov: VA Dental Insurance Program (VADIP) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.169(b) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.36(a) (opens in new tab)
Who would the plan cover?
- A veteran enrolled in VA health care
VADIP offers discounted private dental insurance. Insurers in the program must offer coverage to any veteran enrolled in VA health care.
Source: VA.gov: VA Dental Insurance Program (VADIP) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.169(a) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.169(b) (opens in new tab)
- A spouse, surviving spouse, or child in CHAMPVA
The current or surviving spouse or dependent child of a veteran or service member can buy a plan when enrolled in CHAMPVA. VA.gov says carriers may offer separate options for dependents who are not in CHAMPVA; ask the carrier.
- Enrolled in CHAMPVACHAMPVA is the VA health program for certain spouses, surviving spouses, and children. VADIP is open to spouses, surviving spouses, and dependent children enrolled in it.
Source: VA.gov: VA Dental Insurance Program (VADIP) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.169(b) (opens in new tab); VA.gov: CHAMPVA benefits (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.271(a) (opens in new tab)
What to gather, and what it shows VA
| Document | What it shows | How VA gets it | Have it? |
|---|---|---|---|
| VA health care application VA Form 10-10EZ, the application for VA health care. | Your application to VA for health care | Apply to VA online, by phone, by mail, or in person at a VA medical center or clinic. | |
| CHAMPVA application VA Form 10-10d, the application for CHAMPVA benefits. | Your application to VA for CHAMPVA | Apply to VA for CHAMPVA. See the CHAMPVA chapter for how. | |
| VA confirms your group The check VA makes that you are enrolled in VA health care or in CHAMPVA when you sign up with a carrier. | That you are in a group VADIP covers | VA confirms this for the insurance company. The company tells you what it needs to enroll you. |
You enroll with the insurance company, and VA confirms the group you are in. BeneVets does not ask for copies of anything.
Steps, in order
- Free help with VA enrollment
VADIP is not a VA claim; you enroll with the insurance company. A VSO can help with the VA health care application. Free help: an accredited VSO can file this with you. Find one near you in the BeneVets VSO directory at Find an accredited VSO near you.
Source: VA.gov: accredited representatives (opens in new tab); VA.gov: how to apply for VA health care (opens in new tab)
- Veterans: enroll in VA health care first
A veteran applies for VA health care with VA Form 10-10EZ, online, by phone, by mail, or in person. If you are already enrolled, skip this step.
Source: VA Form 10-10EZ (opens in new tab); VA.gov: how to apply for VA health care (opens in new tab)
- Family members: enroll in CHAMPVA first
CHAMPVA covers certain family members, such as the spouse or child of a veteran rated permanently and totally disabled from a service-connected disability, who are not covered by TRICARE. A family member applies with VA Form 10-10d; see the CHAMPVA chapter. If you are already enrolled, skip this step.
Source: VA Form 10-10d (opens in new tab); VA.gov: CHAMPVA benefits (opens in new tab)
- Compare the plans
Read the coverage details and premium rates for the Delta Dental and MetLife VADIP plans. The rule sets a minimum list of care plans must offer, including exams and X-rays, cleanings, fillings, root canals, gum care, extractions, crowns, bridges, and dentures. Check each plan for what it covers and what you pay.
Source: VA.gov: VA Dental Insurance Program (VADIP) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.169(c) (opens in new tab)
- Enroll online with the carrier
Once you choose a Delta Dental or MetLife plan, enroll online with that company. After you enroll, you can manage your plan on its website. If you were covered in the 2013 to 2017 pilot program, you need to enroll again, and some plan options and fees may have changed.
Source: VA.gov: VA Dental Insurance Program (VADIP) (opens in new tab)
- Call the carrier with questions
For questions about MetLife, call 888-310-1681. For questions about Delta Dental, use the contact details on the Delta Dental VADIP site that VA.gov links to.
Source: VA.gov: VA Dental Insurance Program (VADIP) (opens in new tab)
Good to know
For a veteran, signing up for VADIP does not affect the ability to get free VA dental care. Many veterans enrolled in VA health care do not get free VA dental care, or get it for only some needs. VADIP lets you buy private dental insurance at a reduced cost, or add insurance on top of the free care you get.
Source: VA.gov: VA Dental Insurance Program (VADIP) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.169(a) (opens in new tab)
The cost depends on the insurance company and plan you choose. You pay the full premium for each person on your plan and any required copays when you get care. Premiums and copays are set through VA contracts and adjusted each year.
Source: VA.gov: VA Dental Insurance Program (VADIP) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.169(c) (opens in new tab)
VADIP covers care throughout the United States and its territories, including Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands. It is now a permanent VA program.
Source: VA.gov: VA Dental Insurance Program (VADIP) (opens in new tab)
The first enrollment period is 12 months, then coverage runs month to month while you stay in a covered group and keep paying. Missing premiums can end your coverage. In the first 12 months you can leave in the first 30 days if no claims were filed, or later only if you move outside the plan area, a serious medical condition keeps you from using it, or you face severe financial hardship; the last two need written proof that began after coverage started. The insurance company decides these requests and appeals, not VA. If you leave, the contract may make you wait before you can enroll again.
Source: 38 CFR 17.169(d) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.169(e) (opens in new tab)
BeneVets is informational and is not an accredited representative. Free help: an accredited VSO can work through VA benefits with you at no cost. Find an accredited VSO near you
Sources checked October 15, 2026: 38 CFR 17.36(a) (opens in new tab), 38 CFR 17.169(a) (opens in new tab), 38 CFR 17.169(b) (opens in new tab), 38 CFR 17.169(c) (opens in new tab), 38 CFR 17.169(d) (opens in new tab), 38 CFR 17.169(e) (opens in new tab), 38 CFR 17.271(a) (opens in new tab), VA.gov: accredited representatives (opens in new tab), VA.gov: VA Dental Insurance Program (VADIP) (opens in new tab), VA.gov: CHAMPVA benefits (opens in new tab), VA.gov: how to apply for VA health care (opens in new tab), VA Form 10-10EZ (opens in new tab), VA Form 10-10d (opens in new tab)