[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 104 (Monday, June 23, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5964-S5965]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BURR:
  S. 3178. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize 
dental insurance for veterans and survivors and dependents of veterans, 
and for other purposes; to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
  Mr. BURR. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce bill that would 
give our veterans, surviving spouses, and certain dependent children he 
option to buy dental insurance coverage through the Department of 
Veterans Affairs. My bill is based on a very successful program that 
has been in place since 1998 for military retirees and their families.
  Under the TRICARE Retiree Dental Program, TRDP, military retirees are 
given the option to purchase dental coverage under a contract managed 
by the Department of Defense. Since the program started, over one 
million eligible participants have chosen to buy dental coverage 
through this plan, including over 56,000 in my home state of North 
Carolina. Those individuals have access to a network of about 112,000 
dental plan providers across the nation. Premiums range from $14 to $48 
per month per person, depending on the region and type of dental plan 
selected. With this kind of success, it seems only fitting that we 
offer the same kind of benefit to our veterans.
  VA runs the largest integrated health care system in the nation. 
Although VA provides dental benefits to the 7.9 million veterans 
enrolled in the health care system, these benefits are either limited 
to a select group of people or can only be provided under very limited 
circumstances. For example, VA provides comprehensive dental care to 
veterans for 180 days after they leave service; who have service-
related dental conditions; who are in nursing homes and require dental 
care; or who fall under other very strict guidelines.
  My bill would supplement this limited coverage by giving veterans and 
survivors the option to purchase a more comprehensive dental plan. Of 
course, many veterans may have dental coverage through their employers 
or through an individual policy. My bill extends this dental plan 
option to all enrolled veterans.
  As I mentioned, the bill is modeled after the successful program that 
is now offered to TRICARE retirees. Federal employees also have access 
to a similar benefit option for dental coverage. Like these other 
programs, this VA program would be entirely voluntary, be financed 
through premiums and, most importantly, provide needed coverage from a 
network of dental professionals in local communities.
  This bill would not replace VA's dental services; it is just another 
option for those who want to have access to group insurance rates that 
they could not otherwise get on their own. This idea is like the 44 
year relationship VA has with Prudential, who provides active duty 
servicemembers and veterans with group life insurance policies. The 
most important part of the relationship is that servicemembers and 
veterans are well-served and get to reap

[[Page S5965]]

the benefits of group rates and competition.
  This is a good example of how we can build on innovative and 
successful approaches to improving options for our veterans. I believe 
my bill is another step in that direction, and I ask my colleagues for 
their support.
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