### §1086a. Certain former spouses: extension of period of eligibility for health benefits

(a) Availability of Conversion Health Policies.—The Secretary of Defense shall inform each person who has been a dependent for a period of one year or more under section 1072(2)(H) of this title of the availability of a conversion health policy for purchase by the person. A conversion health policy offered under this subsection shall provide coverage for not less than a 24-month period.

(b) Effect of Purchase.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), if a person who is a dependent for a one-year period under section 1072(2)(H) of this title purchases a conversion health policy within that period (or within a reasonable time after that period as prescribed by the Secretary of Defense), the person shall continue to be eligible for medical and dental care in the manner described in section 1076 of this title and health benefits under section 1086 of this title until the end of the 24-month period beginning on the later of—

(A) the date the person is no longer a dependent under section 1072(2)(H) of this title; and

(B) the date of the purchase of the policy.

(2) The extended period of eligibility provided under paragraph (1) shall apply only with regard to a condition of the person that—

(A) exists on the date on which coverage under the conversion health policy begins; and

(B) for which care is not provided under the policy solely on the grounds that the condition is a preexisting condition.

(c) Effect of Unavailability of Policies.—(1) If the Secretary of Defense is unable, within a reasonable time, to enter into a contract with a private insurer to offer conversion health policies under subsection (a) at a rate not to exceed the payment required under section 8905a(d)(1)(A) of title 5 for comparable coverage, the Secretary shall provide the coverage required under such a policy through the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services. Subject to paragraph (2), a person receiving coverage under this subsection shall be required to pay into the Military Health Care Account or other appropriate account an amount equal to the sum of—

(A) the individual and Government contributions which would be required in the case of a person enrolled in a health benefits plan contracted for under section 1079 of this title; and

(B) an amount necessary for administrative expenses, but not to exceed two percent of the amount under subparagraph (A).

(2) The amount paid by a person who purchases a conversion health policy from the Secretary of Defense under paragraph (1) may not exceed the payment required under section 8905a(d)(1)(A) of title 5 for comparable coverage.

(3) In order to reduce premiums required under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Defense may offer a program of coverage that, with respect to mental health services, offers reduced coverage and increased cost-sharing by the purchaser.

(d) Conversion Health Policy Defined.—In this section, the term "conversion health policy" means a health insurance policy with a private insurer, developed through negotiations between the Secretary of Defense and the private insurer, that is available for purchase by or for the use of a person who is a dependent for a one-year period under section 1072(2)(H) of this title.

(Added Pub. L. 101–189, div. A, title VII, §731(b)(1), Nov. 29, 1989, 103 Stat. 1482; amended Pub. L. 102–484, div. D, title XLIV, §4407(b), Oct. 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 2707; Pub. L. 103–35, title II, §202(a)(16), May 31, 1993, 107 Stat. 102.)

#### **Editorial Notes**

#### Amendments

1993—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 103–35 made technical amendment to directory language of Pub. L. 102–484, §4407(b)(2). See 1992 Amendment note below.

1992—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–484, §4407(b)(1), inserted at end "A conversion health policy offered under this subsection shall provide coverage for not less than a 24-month period."

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 102–484, §4407(b)(2), as amended by Pub. L. 103–35, substituted "24-month period" for "one-year period" the second place appearing in the introductory provisions of par. (1).

Subsecs. (c), (d). Pub. L. 102–484, §4407(b)(3), (4), added subsec. (c) and redesignated former subsec. (c) as (d).

#### **Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries**

#### Effective Date of 1993 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 103–35 applicable as if included in the enactment of Pub. L. 102–484, see section 202(b) of Pub. L. 103–35, set out as a note under section 155 of this title.

#### Effective Date

Section applicable to a person referred to in 10 U.S.C. 1072(2)(H) whose decree of divorce, dissolution, or annulment becomes final on or after Nov. 29, 1989, and to a person so referred to whose decree became final during the period from Sept. 29, 1988 to Nov. 28, 1989, as if section had become effective on Sept. 29, 1988, see section 731(d) of Pub. L. 101–189, set out as an Effective Date of 1989 Amendment note under section 1072 of this title.

#### Application of Amendments by Pub. L. 102–484 to Existing Contracts

Pub. L. 102–484, div. D, title XLIV, §4407(c), Oct. 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 2708, provided that: "In the case of conversion health policies provided under section 1145(b) or 1086a(a) of title 10, United States Code, and in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 23, 1992], the Secretary of Defense shall—

"(1) arrange with the private insurer providing these policies to extend the term of the policies (and coverage of preexisting conditions) as provided by the amendments made by this section [amending this section and section 1145 of this title]; or

"(2) make other arrangements to implement the amendments made by this section with respect to these policies."

#### Termination of Applicability of Other Conversion Health Policies

Pub. L. 102–484, div. D, title XLIV, §4408(c), Oct. 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 2712, provided that:

"(1) No person may purchase a conversion health policy under section 1145(b) or 1086a of title 10, United States Code, on or after October 1, 1994. A person covered by such a conversion health policy on that date may cancel that policy and enroll in a health benefits plan under section 1078a of such title.

"(2) No person may be covered concurrently by a conversion health policy under section 1145(b) or 1086a of such title and a health benefits plan under section 1078a of such title."