Department of Veterans Affairs Dental Insurance Reauthorization Act of 2016
PL 114-218 (S.3055), enacted 07/29/2016

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] 
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130 STAT. 843 
PUBLIC LAW 114–218—JULY 29, 2016 
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 enroll-
ment 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 pre-
scribe 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 Sec-
retary 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 sec-
tion 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 vet-
erans.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING REPEAL.— 
38 USC 
prec. 1701. 
Procedures. 
Determinations. 
Effective date. 
Time period. 
Notification. 
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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. 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 510 of the Caregivers and Vet-
erans 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. 
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