MDVA Dental and Optical Assistance
Pays for dental and eye care for lower-income veterans and their dependents, paid directly to the provider you choose. Dental covers up to $1,500 for routine dental care, with extra authorizations of up to $4,000 for dentures and up to $2,500 for extractions needed to prepare for dentures; the dental amounts are lifetime amounts and unused balances carry into later years. Optical covers up to $600 a year for an eye exam and prescription eyewear, including contact lenses.
Who it is for
Minnesota veterans, their dependents, and unremarried surviving spouses who meet household income and asset limits (for example, about $2,608 monthly income and $10,000 in assets for a household of one; limits rise with family size). You must have lived in Minnesota at least 30 days with intent to stay.
Focus: Surviving spouses and families
Before you start
How you apply: Apply through a partner organization.
Apply through your County Veterans Service Officer. If your county office cannot help, contact MDVA Field Operations at FO.MDVA@state.mn.us.
How to apply
- Contact your County Veterans Service Officer (find yours at macvso.org or call 1-888-546-5838) and ask to apply for state dental or optical assistance.
- Provide proof of household income and assets; the benefit is income and asset based.
- Once MDVA approves you, it pays your chosen dental or eye care provider directly.
Deadline: Applications are open year round. You can receive one benefit period every 12 months. (Rolling, apply any time)
Amount: Up to $1,500 for routine dental care (a lifetime amount) plus denture and extraction allowances, and up to $600 per year for optical care
Verified as of 2026-07-05. Resources are checked periodically against their official source. Details, amounts, and deadlines change. Confirm the current information on the official page before you rely on it.