Noteboom The Law Firm

New Law Could Provide Dental Insurance to Veterans

May 14, 2010 - US Veterans and their families have received many new benefits over the last couple weeks. Among those was a bill signed into law which could provide dental benefits to every veteran as well as their survivors and dependants.

This law will mandate the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) conduct a study on the viability of selling veterans dental insurance. The signed law, however, lacked particular details and left many decisions to the VA as to if the insurance is even possible.   

Should the dental insurance become available, the VA must make sure to cover costs, which will be done by the VA establishing the program's premiums. While the VA will run the program, it will still need to establish contracts with dental insurance agents who will then administer the program. The insurance plan will be completely voluntary.

There has been no information provided as to where or when pilot programs will be established. The bill also fails to establish in any detail how patients and providers can become involved in the insurance. Apparently these will be some of the decisions left to the VA. The minimum services included in coverage will be:

• Emergency;
• Surgical;
• Restorative;
• Endodontic;
• Preventative; and
• Diagnostic. 

One thing the bill did establish was the eligibility requirements as to length of time in service. Additionally, there are specific circumstances that must be met to be eligible for dental benefits. This dental insurance program exists in a much larger bundle of benefits given to veterans through recently passed legislature.