Veteran Oral Health
These national heroes who have sacrificed for their country deserve better access to care.
The Issue
Veterans in the US have consistently higher rates of gum disease, missing teeth, and filled teeth, compared to nonveterans. Yet, of the more than 9 million veterans who are eligible for medical care through the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), only 20% are eligible for dental coverage. For a veteran to get dental benefits through the VA, they need to have been a former prisoner of war, be 100% disabled, or have a service-related injury. Even when veterans are eligible to receive benefits, multiple barriers often stand in the way, including red tape, geographic barriers, and lack of awareness that they have a right to these services.
Why It Matters
Inadequate access to dental care for veterans has impacts far beyond the mouth. Oral health is linked to overall health, and veterans are more likely to have health conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. Poor oral health can worsen these conditions — and vice versa.
Without dental coverage, veterans are left to pay for care on their own. On average, veterans pay 65% more in out-of-pocket dental costs compared to nonveterans — with veterans living in rural areas paying even more. In some cases, veterans need to choose between feeding their families and getting needed care.
These issues have even larger economic implications. Self-consciousness and pain related to dental problems can also affect employment prospects and undermine productivity at work. Veterans who experienced oral pain at least occasionally within the past year were 13.5 times more likely to report oral health-related productivity loss.
What We Can Do
Policy solutions can help address this problem. The most effective one is expanding dental eligibility criteria for veterans who are already receiving medical care through the VA. Other recommendations include:Â
- Strengthening the Community Care Network (CCN) by improving provider availability, streamlining referrals, and enhancing transportation assistance. The CCN is a private network of VA-affiliated providers available to eligible veterans who cannot get care in a VA facility due to long wait times or geographic distance. Â
- Supporting Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) that can offer affordable and integrated care for veterans, especially ones who live in rural communities.Â
By providing veterans with the coverage they need, policymakers can improve access to necessary care for veterans, reduce costs for veterans and society, and have a positive impact on the economy. Â
Stats
8M
Nearly 8 million veterans report having fair or poor oral health.
Learn more
$2,000
Approximately 1.1 million veterans spend at least $2,000 out of pocket annually on dental care, totaling more than $2.2 billion per year.
Learn more
39.8%
Rural veterans are more likely to need or have dentures (39.8%) compared to urban veterans (23%) and report higher out-of-pocket dental costs.
Learn more
45%
A national survey conducted in 2021 reported that nearly half (45%) of veterans had permanent teeth removed because of pain and infection. Â