PUBLIC LAW 114–218—JULY 29, 2016 

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 

DENTAL INSURANCE REAUTHORIZATION ACT 

OF 2016 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLAWS
130 STAT. 842 PUBLIC LAW 114–218—JULY 29, 2016 

Public Law 114–218 

114th Congress 

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: 

‘‘§ 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 

Contracts. 

38 USC 1712C. 

Department of 

Veterans Affairs 

Dental Insurance 

Reauthorization 

Act of 2016. 

38 USC 101 note. 

July 29, 2016 

[S. 3055] 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLAWS
PUBLIC LAW 114–218—JULY 29, 2016 130 STAT. 843 

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.— 

38 USC 

prec. 1701. 

Procedures. 

Determinations. 

Effective date. 

Time period. 

Notification. 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLAWS
130 STAT. 844 PUBLIC LAW 114–218—JULY 29, 2016 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 3055: 

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 162 (2016): 

July 13, considered and passed Senate. 

July 14, considered and passed House. 

Æ 

(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. 

Approved July 29, 2016. 

Repeal. 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLAWS