Subject: Urgent Call to Reform Delta Dental Legion Network's Provider Fee Schedule to Protect Veteran Dental Care

We, the undersigned, respectfully call upon Delta Dental and relevant governmental and healthcare authorities to urgently address and revise the inadequate fee schedule imposed by the Delta Dental Legion Network. This fee schedule egregiously underpays privately owned dental practices, making it financially unfeasible for many providers to continue offering care to our nation's Veterans outside of the Veterans Affairs (VA) system.

This broken reimbursement model has serious and far-reaching consequences for the dental and overall health of Veterans, and action must be taken to correct it.

Key Issues Impacting Veteran Dental Care

Decreased Access to Dental Providers

The current fee structure discourages private dental practices from participating in the network, resulting in a sharp decline in the number of providers willing or able to see Veterans outside of VA clinics. With fewer providers, wait times for appointments—especially urgent or emergency dental services—are significantly prolonged, leaving Veterans without timely care.

Delays in Treatment and Long-Term Health Consequences

Delays in dental care can exacerbate treatable conditions, leading to irreversible damage to oral health, increased medical complications, and reduced quality of life. Untreated dental infections, periodontal disease, and tooth loss are not merely cosmetic issues; they can contribute to serious systemic health problems including cardiovascular disease and diabetes complications.

Mental Health Strain and Instability

Many Veterans live with anxiety, PTSD, and other mental health conditions. The stress of navigating delayed or unavailable care, compounded by the pain or discomfort of unresolved dental issues, can significantly destabilize their mental and emotional well-being. For a population already facing heightened mental health risks, the burden of inaccessible dental care is both unacceptable and dangerous.

Why This Matters

Our Veterans have honorably served this country. They deserve timely, high-quality, and dignified care from the dental community. But unless the Delta Dental Legion Network revises its fee schedule to offer fair and sustainable compensation, private providers will continue to exit the system—leaving Veterans with limited options and worsening outcomes.

This is not just a matter of economics. It is a matter of ethics, public health, and respect for those who have served.

What We Ask

We urge Delta Dental and the relevant federal partners to:

Immediately reassess and revise the Legion Network fee schedule to ensure it supports fair compensation for dental providers;

Collaborate with private practices to expand the provider network and increase access to timely dental services for Veterans;

Ensure that the dental care system for Veterans is sustainable, effective, and humane.

Join Us in Standing Up for Veterans

By signing this petition, you are lending your voice to a critical cause—ensuring that the men and women who have served our country receive the comprehensive dental care they need and deserve.

Let us not allow administrative barriers and unsustainable policies to stand in the way of the health and dignity of our nation’s Veterans.

Please sign below to support fair and accessible dental care for our Veterans.