[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3055 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]
S.3055
One Hundred Fourteenth Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE SECOND SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Monday,
the fourth day of January, two thousand and sixteen
An Act
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide a dental insurance
plan to veterans and survivors and dependents of veterans.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Department of Veterans Affairs
Dental Insurance Reauthorization Act of 2016''.
SEC. 2. DENTAL INSURANCE PLAN FOR VETERANS AND SURVIVORS AND DEPENDENTS
OF VETERANS.
(a) Dental Insurance Plan.--
(1) In general.--Subchapter II of chapter 17 of title 38,
United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1712B the
following new section:
``Sec. 1712C. Dental insurance plan for veterans and survivors and
dependents of veterans
``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish and administer a
dental insurance plan for veterans and survivors and dependents of
veterans described in subsection (b).
``(b) Covered Veterans and Survivors and Dependents.--The veterans
and survivors and dependents of veterans described in this subsection
are as follows:
``(1) Any veteran who is enrolled in the system of annual
patient enrollment under section 1705 of this title.
``(2) Any survivor or dependent of a veteran who is eligible
for medical care under section 1781 of this title.
``(c) Administration.--The Secretary shall contract with a dental
insurer to administer the dental insurance plan under this section.
``(d) Benefits.--The dental insurance plan under this section shall
provide such benefits for dental care and treatment as the Secretary
considers appropriate for the dental insurance plan, including
diagnostic services, preventative services, endodontics and other
restorative services, surgical services, and emergency services.
``(e) Enrollment.--(1) Enrollment in the dental insurance plan
under this section shall be voluntary.
``(2) Enrollment in the dental insurance plan shall be for such
minimum period as the Secretary shall prescribe for purposes of this
section.
``(f) Premiums.--(1) Premiums for coverage under the dental
insurance plan under this section shall be in such amount or amounts as
the Secretary shall prescribe to cover all costs associated with
carrying out this section.
``(2) The Secretary shall adjust the premiums payable under this
section for coverage under the dental insurance plan on an annual
basis. Each individual covered by the dental insurance plan at the time
of such an adjustment shall be notified of the amount and effective
date of such adjustment.
``(3) Each individual covered by the dental insurance plan shall
pay the entire premium for coverage under the dental insurance plan, in
addition to the full cost of any copayments.
``(g) Voluntary Disenrollment.--(1) With respect to enrollment in
the dental insurance plan under this section, the Secretary shall--
``(A) permit the voluntary disenrollment of an individual in
the dental insurance plan if the disenrollment occurs during the
30-day period beginning on the date of the enrollment of the
individual in the dental insurance plan; and
``(B) permit the voluntary disenrollment of an individual in
the dental insurance plan for such circumstances as the Secretary
shall prescribe for purposes of this subsection, but only to the
extent such disenrollment does not jeopardize the fiscal integrity
of the dental insurance plan.
``(2) The circumstances prescribed under paragraph (1)(B) shall
include the following:
``(A) If an individual enrolled in the dental insurance plan
relocates to a location outside the jurisdiction of the dental
insurance plan that prevents use of the benefits under the dental
insurance plan.
``(B) If an individual enrolled in the dental insurance plan is
prevented by a serious medical condition from being able to obtain
benefits under the dental insurance plan.
``(C) Such other circumstances as the Secretary shall prescribe
for purposes of this subsection.
``(3) The Secretary shall establish procedures for determinations
on the permissibility of voluntary disenrollments under paragraph
(1)(B). Such procedures shall ensure timely determinations on the
permissibility of such disenrollments.
``(h) Relationship to Dental Care Provided by Secretary.--Nothing
in this section shall affect the responsibility of the Secretary to
provide dental care under section 1712 of this title, and the
participation of an individual in the dental insurance plan under this
section shall not affect the entitlement of the individual to
outpatient dental services and treatment, and related dental
appliances, under such section 1712.
``(i) Regulations.--The dental insurance plan under this section
shall be administered under such regulations as the Secretary shall
prescribe.
``(j) Termination.--This section terminates on December 31,
2021.''.
(2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning
of chapter 17 of such title is amended by inserting after the item
relating to section 1712B the following new item:
``1712C. Dental insurance plan for veterans and survivors and dependents
of veterans.''.
(b) Conforming Repeal.--
(1) In general.--Section 510 of the Caregivers and Veterans
Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-163; 38 U.S.C.
1712 note) is repealed.
(2) Clerical amendment.--The table of contents for the
Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 is
amended by striking the item relating to section 510.
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.