Dental program for Lake County veterans may expand
A Lake County program offering dental care to indigent military veterans is set to expand dramatically, thanks to a proposed injection of state and local funds.
About 15 veterans receive dental care each year through the county's Veterans Assistant Commission, at an estimated cost of about $1,000 annually. But if the county board accepts a $25,000 state grant and matches that sum from its own coffers, the program could reach more than 100 veterans a year and offer expanded services, veterans commission Superintendent Mike Peck said.
"There's such a need," Peck said. "And it's not just the veterans; it's their dependents. We're interested in helping their wives and their children as well."
The grant would come from the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, and has already been approved by that organization. To receive the money, the county board must agree to contribute the same amount, officials said.
The county board's health and human services committee and its financial and administrative committee approved the proposal this week. The full board could vote on the dental deal Feb. 12.
The Veterans Assistance Commission has offered dental assistance to needy veterans for years. To qualify, a veteran must have received an honorable discharge and receive help from the Illinois Department of Human Services, such as food stamps or medical assistance, Peck said.
Combat experience is not a factor, nor is a veteran's branch of service or age.
Under the current program, Peck's group refers qualified veterans to local dentists and pays for their care.
Under the proposed program, veterans would receive examinations and teeth cleanings through the College of Lake County's dental hygienist program, Peck said. Veterans in need of additional services, such as fillings, dentures or root-canal procedures, will be referred to the county's public health department.
Cavities are among veterans' most common complaints, Peck said.
In addition to the dental grant, Peck is seeking money from the state for vision and hearing programs aimed at low-income veterans.