§ 1076c.
Dental insurance plan: certain retirees and their surviving spouses and other dependents
(b)
Persons Eligible for Plan.—
The following persons are eligible to enroll in the dental insurance plan established under subsection (a):
(1)
Members of the uniformed services who are entitled to retired pay.
(2)
Members of the Retired Reserve who would be entitled to retired pay under chapter 1223 of this title but for being under 60 years of age.
(3)
Eligible dependents of a member described in paragraph (1) or (2) who are covered by the enrollment of the member in the plan.
(4)
Eligible dependents of a member described in paragraph (1) or (2) who is not enrolled in the plan and who—
(B)
is enrolled in a dental plan that—
(i)
is available to the member as a result of employment by the member that is separate from the military service of the member; and
(ii)
is not available to dependents of the member as a result of such separate employment by the member; or
(C)
is prevented by a medical or dental condition from being able to obtain benefits under the plan.
(5)
The unremarried surviving spouse and eligible child dependents of a deceased member—
(A)
who died while in a status described in paragraph (1) or (2);
(C)
who died while on active duty for a period of more than 30 days and whose eligible dependents are not eligible, or no longer eligible, for dental benefits under
section 1076a of this title.
(d)
Benefits Available Under the Plan.—
The dental insurance plan established under subsection (a) shall provide benefits for dental care and treatment which may be comparable to the benefits authorized under
section 1076a of this title for plans established under that section and shall include diagnostic services, preventative services, endodontics and other basic restorative services, surgical services, and emergency services.
(f)
Required Terminations of Enrollment.—
The Secretary shall terminate the enrollment of any enrollee, and any eligible dependents of the enrollee covered by the enrollment, in the dental insurance plan established under subsection (a) upon the occurrence of the following:
(1)
In the case of an enrollment under subsection (b)(1), termination of the member’s entitlement to retired pay.
(2)
In the case of an enrollment under subsection (b)(2), termination of the member’s status as a member of the Retired Reserve.
(3)
In the case of an enrollment under subsection (b)(5), remarriage of the surviving spouse.
(g)
Continuation of Dependents’ Enrollment Upon Death of Enrollee.—
Coverage of a dependent in the dental insurance plan established under subsection (a) under an enrollment of a member or a surviving spouse who dies during the period of enrollment shall continue until the end of that period and may be renewed by (or for) the dependent, so long as the premium paid is sufficient to cover continuation of the dependent’s enrollment. The Secretary may terminate coverage of the dependent when the premiums paid are no longer sufficient to cover continuation of the enrollment. The Secretary shall prescribe in regulations under subsection (h) the parties responsible for paying the remaining premiums due on the enrollment and the manner for collection of the premiums.
(i)
Voluntary Disenrollment.—
(1)
With respect to enrollment in the dental insurance plan established under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense—
(A)
shall allow for a period of up to 30 days at the beginning of the prescribed minimum enrollment period during which an enrollee may disenroll; and
(B)
shall provide for limited circumstances under which disenrollment shall be permitted during the prescribed enrollment period, without jeopardizing the fiscal integrity of the dental program.
(2)
The circumstances described in paragraph (1)(B) shall include—
(A)
a case in which a retired member, surviving spouse, or dependent of a retired member who is also a Federal employee is assigned to a location outside the jurisdiction of the dental insurance plan established under subsection (a) that prevents utilization of dental benefits under the plan;
(B)
a case in which a retired member, surviving spouse, or dependent of a retired member is prevented by a serious medical condition from being able to obtain benefits under the plan;
(C)
a case in which severe financial hardship would result; and
(D)
any other circumstances which the Secretary considers appropriate.
(3)
The Secretary shall establish procedures for timely decisions on requests for disenrollment under this section and for appeal to the TRICARE Management Activity of adverse decisions.
(Added [Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title VII, § 703(a)(1)], Sept. 23, 1996, [110 Stat. 2588]; amended [Pub. L. 105–85, div. A, title VII], §§ 701, 733(b), 734, Nov. 18, 1997, [111 Stat. 1807], 1812, 1813; [Pub. L. 105–261, div. A, title VII, § 702], Oct. 17, 1998, [112 Stat. 2056]; [Pub. L. 106–65, div. A, title VII, § 704], Oct. 5, 1999, [113 Stat. 683]; [Pub. L. 106–398, § 1 [[div. A]], title VII, § 726, title X, § 1087(a)(6)], Oct. 30, 2000, [114 Stat. 1654], 1654A–187, 1654A–290; [Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title VII, § 715(b)(3)], Dec. 23, 2016, [130 Stat. 2222].)