Salute to Smiles
Helping Eligible Greater Hartford Veterans Access Dental Services at No Cost
Connecticut is home to over 150,000 Veterans, with more than 36,000 residing in Greater Hartford. Many Veterans, once out of active duty, are no longer eligible for dental insurance through the Veterans Administration. Some may have private insurance, but lower-income Veterans often do not qualify for Medicaid and cannot afford private plans due to pension-related income limits.
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Veterans cannot be fully healthy without proper oral health care. Many suffer from poor dental health due to limited access and long-term impacts of military service. Salute to Smiles seeks to honor their service by connecting them with quality oral health education, preventive care, and treatment resources.
Am I Eligible?
Greater Hartford Resident
Veteran must be a Connecticut resident living within the Greater Hartford area.
Discharge Status
Veteran must submit a DD-214 that shows an Honorable or General Under Honorable conditions discharge.
Limited VA Connection
Veteran is currently service-connected to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs at less than 100%.
Benefits Letter
Veteran must submit a current year VA disability award letter showing your combined service-connected evaluation (%) and current monthly award amount ($), even if rated at 0% (also called the benefits letter).
Financial Constraint
Veteran is struggling or unable to pay out-of-pocket dental costs.
Active Duty Service
If in the National Guard, Veteran must have served on Active Duty (other than for training).
