Home › Benefits › VADIP dental insurance
Direct answer: VADIP is discounted private dental insurance for veterans enrolled in VA health care and for CHAMPVA family members. You pick a Delta Dental or MetLife plan and pay the whole premium. In 2026, coverage for one veteran costs $18.87 to $56.41 a month at Delta Dental and $26.17 to $67.95 at MetLife, by region and plan.
By the numbers: Veteran-only monthly premiums in 2026: Delta Dental Enhanced $18.87-$26.05, Prime $39.79-$56.41; MetLife Standard $26.17-$32.96, High $52.49-$67.95. Source: Delta Dental and MetLife VADIP rate pages
“The initial period of enrollment will be for a period of 12 calendar months, followed by month-to-month enrollment” — 38 CFR 17.169(d)(2)
Updated 2026-10-17
Veterans enrolled in VA health care, and spouses, surviving spouses and dependent children enrolled in CHAMPVA (VA.gov; 38 CFR 17.169(b)). Coverage works across the U.S. and its territories. Carriers may offer separate coverage for dependents who aren't CHAMPVA beneficiaries.
It depends on the carrier, plan, where you live and who's covered. For one veteran, Delta Dental's posted monthly premiums run $18.87-$26.05 (Enhanced) to $39.79-$56.41 (Prime) by region; MetLife's run $26.17-$32.96 (Standard) and $52.49-$67.95 (High) by state. You pay the full premium; VA doesn't subsidize it.
No. VADIP is insurance you buy. You pay the full premium for each person on the plan plus any copays (VA.gov). Some veterans qualify for free VA dental care instead, and buying VADIP doesn't affect that eligibility (38 CFR 17.169(a)(1)).
Not in the first year, except in set cases. Enrollment starts with 12 calendar months, then goes month to month, when you can cancel for any reason. In the first 12 months you can cancel within the first 30 days if you filed no claims, or if you move out of the plan's area, have a serious medical condition, or face severe financial hardship (38 CFR 17.169(d)(2), (e)(2)).
Delta Dental: 9 months for major restorative, root canals, gum treatment, oral surgery and prosthodontics (bridges, dentures, implants). MetLife: no waiting periods, except 24 months for child orthodontia on the High option.
Delta Dental's Comprehensive and Prime plans cover bridges, dentures and implants at 50% in network after 9 months; Enhanced doesn't. No Delta plan covers braces. MetLife's High option covers orthodontia for dependent children up to age 19 after 24 months, up to $3,000 lifetime; adult orthodontia isn't available.
VADIP started as a pilot that ran from 2013 to 2017. VA now calls it a permanent program with no end date. If you were covered during the pilot, you need to enroll again.
As of Oct. 17, 2026 · 2026 premiums from both carriers · 38 CFR 17.169
VADIP is dental insurance you buy at a group rate, not free VA dental care. If you're enrolled in VA health care (or CHAMPVA), you can pick a Delta Dental or MetLife plan and pay the whole premium. The catch: you sign up for 12 months before you can cancel for any reason, and Delta makes you wait 9 months for major work.
The math:
Sources: VA.gov: VADIP · 38 CFR 17.169 · Delta Dental VADIP · MetLife VADIP rates
A best fit for the situation described, not financial advice or a buy/sell recommendation. Partner links never change a pick.
Both carriers' 2026 monthly premiums, as posted on their own sites (Delta Dental VADIP, MetLife VADIP rates). Delta Dental prices by ZIP code; MetLife by state.
| What the plan pays (in / out of network) | Delta Enhanced | Delta Comprehensive | Delta Prime | MetLife Standard | MetLife High |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleanings, X-rays, exams | 100% / 80% | 100% / 80% | 100% / 90% | 100% / 60% | 100% / 90% |
| Fillings | 50% / 30% | 60% / 40% | 70% / 60% | 50% / 40% | 70% / 60% |
| Root canals | 50% / 30% (after 9 mo.) | 50% / 30% (after 9 mo.) | 50% / 40% (after 9 mo.) | 30% / 20% | 50% / 40% |
| Crowns | Not covered | 50% / 30% (after 9 mo.) | 70% / 60% (after 9 mo.) | 30% / 20% | 50% / 40% |
| Bridges, dentures, implants | Not covered | 50% / 30% (after 9 mo.) | 50% / 40% (after 9 mo.) | 30% / 20% (bridges, dentures) | 50% / 40% (bridges, dentures) |
| Braces (orthodontia) | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Children to 19: 50% after 24 mo., $3,000 lifetime |
| Deductible (in / out of network) | $50 / $50 | $0 / $50 | $0 / $50 | $0 / $50 | $0 / $50 |
| Annual maximum per person (in network) | $1,000 | $1,500 | $3,000 | $1,300 first year, then $1,500 | $3,000 first year, then $3,500 |
| Waiting periods | 9 months for root canals and gum treatment | 9 months for major work | 9 months for major work | None | None, except child orthodontia (24 months) |
Percentages are the share the plan pays, in network / out of network. Delta Dental: gum treatment (periodontics) 50% / 30% (Prime 50% / 40%) after 9 months on all plans; simple extractions are the only oral surgery on Enhanced. MetLife's Standard and High maximums rise by $200 and $500 on the Jan. 1 after 12 months in the option; MetLife's out-of-network maximum on Standard is $1,000 / $1,200. Read each plan's booklet or summary for limits and exclusions (Delta Dental VADIP · MetLife VADIP options).
VA sets VADIP premiums through its contract with each carrier and they're adjusted once a year (38 CFR 17.169 (c)(1)). These are the monthly amounts each carrier posts for 2026. On both carriers' tables, 1 CHAMPVA beneficiary costs the same as Veteran only, and 2 cost the same as Veteran + Veteran spouse.
Delta assigns your region from the first 3 digits of your ZIP code; use the finder above for yours (Delta Dental VADIP).
| Delta region | Enhanced | Comprehensive | Prime | Prime, 3+ CHAMPVA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Region 1 | $21.50 | $36.89 | $45.88 | $137.64 |
| Region 2 | $20.51 | $35.07 | $43.58 | $130.74 |
| Region 3 | $22.61 | $38.91 | $48.47 | $145.41 |
| Region 4 | $18.87 | $32.10 | $39.79 | $119.37 |
| Region 5 | $26.05 | $45.16 | $56.41 | $169.23 |
First three price columns: veteran only, per month.
Per month (MetLife VADIP rates).
| State | Standard, veteran only | High, veteran only | Standard, Veteran + spouse | High, CHAMPVA + family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $26.17 | $52.49 | $49.75 | $141.72 |
| Alaska | $32.96 | $67.95 | $62.62 | $183.49 |
| American Samoa | $32.96 | $67.95 | $62.62 | $183.49 |
| Arizona | $32.11 | $64.38 | $61.02 | $173.84 |
| Arkansas | $26.71 | $53.54 | $50.75 | $144.58 |
| California | $32.96 | $67.95 | $62.62 | $183.49 |
| Colorado | $27.42 | $56.52 | $52.08 | $152.61 |
| Connecticut | $28.89 | $61.14 | $54.90 | $165.09 |
| Delaware | $28.17 | $58.08 | $53.53 | $156.84 |
| Florida | $26.86 | $55.40 | $51.06 | $149.60 |
| Georgia | $26.17 | $52.49 | $49.75 | $141.72 |
| Guam | $32.96 | $67.95 | $62.62 | $183.49 |
| Hawaii | $32.96 | $67.95 | $62.62 | $183.49 |
| Idaho | $32.96 | $67.95 | $62.62 | $183.49 |
| Illinois | $27.88 | $57.49 | $52.97 | $155.25 |
| Indiana | $27.16 | $54.47 | $51.61 | $147.08 |
| Iowa | $28.59 | $60.52 | $54.33 | $163.42 |
| Kansas | $27.88 | $57.49 | $52.97 | $155.25 |
| Kentucky | $26.17 | $52.49 | $49.75 | $141.72 |
| Louisiana | $26.71 | $53.54 | $50.75 | $144.58 |
| Maine | $28.89 | $61.14 | $54.90 | $165.09 |
| Maryland | $27.45 | $55.03 | $52.16 | $148.58 |
| Massachusetts | $28.89 | $61.14 | $54.90 | $165.09 |
| Michigan | $27.16 | $54.47 | $51.61 | $147.08 |
| Minnesota | $28.59 | $60.52 | $54.33 | $163.42 |
| Mississippi | $26.71 | $53.54 | $50.75 | $144.58 |
| Missouri | $27.88 | $57.49 | $52.97 | $155.25 |
| Montana | $27.42 | $56.52 | $52.08 | $152.61 |
| Nebraska | $28.59 | $60.52 | $54.33 | $163.42 |
| Nevada | $32.96 | $67.95 | $62.62 | $183.49 |
| New Hampshire | $28.89 | $61.14 | $54.90 | $165.09 |
| New Jersey | $28.17 | $58.08 | $53.53 | $156.84 |
| New Mexico | $32.11 | $64.38 | $61.02 | $173.84 |
| New York | $28.17 | $58.08 | $53.53 | $156.84 |
| North Carolina | $28.17 | $58.08 | $53.53 | $156.84 |
| North Dakota | $28.59 | $60.52 | $54.33 | $163.42 |
| Northern Mariana Islands | $32.96 | $67.95 | $62.62 | $183.49 |
| Ohio | $27.16 | $54.47 | $51.61 | $147.08 |
| Oklahoma | $27.42 | $56.52 | $52.08 | $152.61 |
| Oregon | $32.96 | $67.95 | $62.62 | $183.49 |
| Pennsylvania | $28.17 | $58.08 | $53.53 | $156.84 |
| Puerto Rico | $26.86 | $55.40 | $51.06 | $149.60 |
| Rhode Island | $28.89 | $61.14 | $54.90 | $165.09 |
| South Carolina | $26.17 | $52.49 | $49.75 | $141.72 |
| South Dakota | $28.59 | $60.52 | $54.33 | $163.42 |
| Tennessee | $26.17 | $52.49 | $49.75 | $141.72 |
| Texas | $26.71 | $53.54 | $50.75 | $144.58 |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | $26.86 | $55.40 | $51.06 | $149.60 |
| Utah | $27.42 | $56.52 | $52.08 | $152.61 |
| Vermont | $28.89 | $61.14 | $54.90 | $165.09 |
| Virginia | $28.17 | $58.08 | $53.53 | $156.84 |
| Washington | $32.96 | $67.95 | $62.62 | $183.49 |
| Washington D.C. | $28.17 | $58.08 | $53.53 | $156.84 |
| West Virginia | $27.45 | $55.03 | $52.16 | $148.58 |
| Wisconsin | $27.88 | $57.49 | $52.97 | $155.25 |
| Wyoming | $27.42 | $56.52 | $52.08 | $152.61 |
2027 premiums weren't posted on either carrier's page when we checked.
How we built this: every premium comes from the rate tables on Delta Dental's and MetLife's own VADIP pages, read Oct. 17, 2026 (Delta: 5 regions x 3 plans x 5 coverage tiers, plus Delta's own ZIP-prefix map of 925 prefixes; MetLife: 56 states and territories x 2 options x 5 tiers). The finder runs in your browser with the same lookup as the server-side check. No quotes or personal pricing: the carriers set and bill the premium.
Facts and math, not advice. VaultRubric isn't VA, Delta Dental or MetLife, and we're not paid by either carrier. Check the plan booklet before you enroll.
Veterans enrolled in VA health care, and spouses, surviving spouses and dependent children enrolled in CHAMPVA (VA.gov; 38 CFR 17.169(b)). Coverage works across the U.S. and its territories. Carriers may offer separate coverage for dependents who aren't CHAMPVA beneficiaries.
It depends on the carrier, plan, where you live and who's covered. For one veteran, Delta Dental's posted monthly premiums run $18.87-$26.05 (Enhanced) to $39.79-$56.41 (Prime) by region; MetLife's run $26.17-$32.96 (Standard) and $52.49-$67.95 (High) by state. You pay the full premium; VA doesn't subsidize it.
No. VADIP is insurance you buy. You pay the full premium for each person on the plan plus any copays (VA.gov). Some veterans qualify for free VA dental care instead, and buying VADIP doesn't affect that eligibility (38 CFR 17.169(a)(1)).
Not in the first year, except in set cases. Enrollment starts with 12 calendar months, then goes month to month, when you can cancel for any reason. In the first 12 months you can cancel within the first 30 days if you filed no claims, or if you move out of the plan's area, have a serious medical condition, or face severe financial hardship (38 CFR 17.169(d)(2), (e)(2)).
Delta Dental: 9 months for major restorative, root canals, gum treatment, oral surgery and prosthodontics (bridges, dentures, implants). MetLife: no waiting periods, except 24 months for child orthodontia on the High option.
Delta Dental's Comprehensive and Prime plans cover bridges, dentures and implants at 50% in network after 9 months; Enhanced doesn't. No Delta plan covers braces. MetLife's High option covers orthodontia for dependent children up to age 19 after 24 months, up to $3,000 lifetime; adult orthodontia isn't available.
VADIP started as a pilot that ran from 2013 to 2017. VA now calls it a permanent program with no end date. If you were covered during the pilot, you need to enroll again.
Estimates, not financial advice. Taxes, insurance, PMI and fees vary by lender, county and city; confirm with your lender, dealer and state agency before acting.
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