WHITE PLAINS – Non-active duty Westchester County veterans who did not receive a service connected hearing or vision condition may now participate in a program that will offer them discount dental and eye care.

Senator Gregory Ball, chairman of the Senate Veterans Committee, Assemblyman Castelli, ranking Republican on the Assembly Veterans Committee, and Westchester County Executive Robert Astorino announced the program on Monday.

Ball said veterans deserve the discounted coverage.

“At the end of the day, these individuals are willing to stand up and fight and die in necessary four country and we do an awful lot as a government to recruit them and make a lot of promises but this is an example of a loop hole where the government is not doing the job and the private sector has stepped up to the plate at limited cost and no cost to the taxpayers,” he said.

Castelli, who is a veteran and the only disabled vet in the state Assembly, praised the program.

“This becomes a valuable thing to augment whatever medical coverage, especially older veterans on fixed incomes, have,” he said.

Astorino said government cannot continue to pay for everything.

“This is an opportunity where we can partner with private organizations to provide the care that is needed for veterans at a low cost at a great benefit and good service,” he said. “There’s no cost to the taxpayer and a win-win for our veterans.”

Veterans may participate through the Careington, Inc. program for only $8.95 a month savings of up to 70 percent on dental work and eye care discounts of from 15 to 35 percent. A network of 94,000 providers nationwide participates in the program.