The Department of Veterans Affairs is looking to overhaul how dental care is delivered to eligible veterans through the community care program. The VA posted a request for proposals Feb. 10 for a new dental care administrator to build and manage a nationwide network of community dental providers.
The contract, once awarded, is intended to expand access to general and specialty dental care, preventive services and pharmacy support for the roughly 2.3 million veterans who currently qualify for VA dental benefits. Proposals are due by March 16.
What the VA Is Looking For
The RFP, posted on SAM.gov, calls for a vendor to serve as a third-party administrator responsible for recruiting, credentialing and maintaining a national network of licensed dental providers and practitioners. The goal is to standardize the way dental care is delivered through the VA's community care program, which allows veterans to see non-VA providers at the department's expense.
Community care has been part of the VA system since World War II, but it was formalized and expanded under the MISSION Act, signed into law in 2018. Today, roughly 40% of all VA health care is delivered through community care.
In fiscal year 2025, 888,051 veterans received dental care through the VA, with more than 3.5 million dental procedures delivered through community care providers, according to the VA announcement. "Dental health is a critical component of overall well-being," VA Secretary Doug Collins said. "This RFP will result in a contract that dramatically improves our ability to provide quality dental care to eligible veterans while ensuring they can choose the provider that's best for them."
The new contract follows a broader push by the VA to renew and strengthen its community care agreements. Many of the existing contracts with third-party health plans were signed in 2018 and are set to expire in 2026. The VA announced a separate RFP in December 2025 to replace those broader community care contracts with a new indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity structure designed to allow multiple national and regional health plans to compete for the work.
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Who Qualifies for VA Dental Care
Unlike most VA health care benefits, dental coverage is not available to every enrolled veteran. Of the nearly 9 million veterans enrolled in VA health care, only about 26% are eligible for dental services. Eligibility is determined through a classification system based on service-connected disabilities, military service history and other factors.
Veterans who qualify for comprehensive VA dental care at no cost include those with a service-connected compensable dental disability, those rated at 100% disabled or receiving Total Disability Individual Unemployability, former prisoners of war, and veterans whose dental condition is aggravating a separate service-connected medical condition.
Veterans actively participating in a VA vocational rehabilitation program under Chapter 31 can receive dental care necessary to meet their rehabilitation goals. Homeless veterans enrolled in certain VA programs for at least 60 days may also be eligible.
Recently separated veterans who served at least 90 days of active duty and were not provided a complete dental exam and treatment before discharge can apply for a one-time course of dental care but must do so within 180 days of separation.
Veterans who do not meet any of these criteria but are enrolled in VA health care can purchase dental insurance at a reduced rate through the VA Dental Insurance Program. VADIP offers plans through Delta Dental and MetLife with lower premiums than comparable coverage on the private market.
Why Dental Access Matters
Advocates have long argued that the VA's limited dental eligibility is one of the most significant gaps in the department's health care system. Poor oral health is closely linked to chronic conditions that are disproportionately common among veterans, including diabetes, heart disease and respiratory illness. More than 3.6 million veterans have visited emergency departments for dental pain since leaving the military, with estimated ER spending on those visits reaching $5.4 billion.
Jim Marszalek, executive director of the Disabled American Veterans Washington headquarters, called on the VA and Congress to fully fund dental care alongside other critical services. Several bills are pending in Congress that would expand dental eligibility further, including H.R. 210, the Dental Care for Veterans Act, which would make all enrolled veterans eligible for VA dental services. A separate bill introduced by Rep. Tony Gonzales would establish a pilot program using mobile dental vans to reach veterans in rural areas who already qualify but live too far from a VA dental clinic.
None of these bills have advanced beyond introduction, but they reflect growing momentum in Congress to address the issue.
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What Veterans Should Do Now
Veterans who are unsure whether they qualify for VA dental care can check their eligibility through the VA's online health benefits portal or contact their local VA medical center. Those who are eligible but not yet enrolled in VA health care can apply online using the 10-10EZ health care application.
Veterans who do not qualify for direct dental benefits should look into VADIP for reduced-cost coverage. More information on the program and enrollment is available on the VA dental care website.
The VA operates more than 200 dental clinics across the country, including locations in Alaska and Puerto Rico. Veterans can use the VA facility locator to find a dental clinic near them.
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