38 U.S.C. § 1713 — Untitled legal text

Page 400 TITLE 38—VETERANS’ BENEFITS [§ 1713 (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 con- tract 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 con- siders appropriate for the dental insurance plan, including diagnostic services, preventative serv- ices, endodontics and other restorative services, surgical services, and emergency services. (e) ENROLLMENT.—(1) Enrollment in the dental insurance plan under this section shall be vol- untary. (2) Enrollment in the dental insurance plan shall be for such minimum period as the Sec- retary shall prescribe for purposes of this sec- tion. (f) PREMIUMS.—(1) Premiums for coverage under the dental insurance plan under this sec- tion shall be in such amount or amounts as the Secretary shall prescribe to cover all costs asso- ciated 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 in- surance plan shall pay the entire premium for coverage under the dental insurance plan, in ad- dition to the full cost of any copayments. (g) VOLUNTARY DISENROLLMENT.—(1) With re- spect 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 pre- scribe for purposes of this subsection, but only to the extent such disenrollment does not jeopardize the fiscal integrity of the dental in- surance plan. (2) The circumstances prescribed under para- graph (1)(B) shall include the following: (A) If an individual enrolled in the dental in- surance 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 in- surance 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 Sec- retary shall prescribe for purposes of this sub- section. (3) The Secretary shall establish procedures for determinations on the permissibility of vol- untary disenrollments under paragraph (1)(B). Such procedures shall ensure timely determina- tions on the permissibility of such disenrollments. (h) RELATIONSHIP TO DENTAL CARE PROVIDED BY SECRETARY.—Nothing in this section shall af- fect the responsibility of the Secretary to pro- vide 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 pre- scribe. (Added Pub. L. 114–218, § 2(a)(1), July 29, 2016, 130 Stat. 842; amended Pub. L. 117–42, § 2, Sept. 30, 2021, 135 Stat. 342.) Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2021—Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 117–42 struck out subsec. (j). Text read as follows: ‘‘This section terminates on De- cember 31, 2021.’’ [§ 1713. Renumbered § 1781] Editorial Notes PRIOR PROVISIONS A prior section 1713 was renumbered section 3513 of this title. § 1714. Fitting and training in use of prosthetic appliances; guide dogs; service dogs (a)(1) Any veteran who is entitled to a pros- thetic appliance shall be furnished such fitting and training, including institutional training, in the use of such appliance as may be necessary, whether in a Department facility or other train- ing institution, or by outpatient treatment, in- cluding such service under contract, and includ- ing travel and incidental expenses (under the terms and conditions set forth in section 111 of this title) to and from such veteran’s home to such hospital or training institution. (2) In furnishing prosthetic appliances under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall ensure women veterans are able to access clinically appro- priate prosthetic appliances through each med- ical facility of the Department. (b) The Secretary may provide guide dogs trained for the aid of the blind to veterans who are enrolled under section 1705 of this title. The Secretary may also provide such veterans with mechanical or electronic equipment for aiding them in overcoming the disability of blindness. (c) The Secretary may, in accordance with the priority specified in section 1705 of this title, provide— (1) service dogs trained for the aid of the hearing impaired to veterans who are hearing impaired and are enrolled under section 1705 of this title; (2) service dogs trained for the aid of persons with spinal cord injury or dysfunction or other chronic impairment that substantially limits mobility to veterans with such injury, dys- function, or impairment who are enrolled under section 1705 of this title; and (3) service dogs trained for the aid of persons with mental illnesses, including post-trau-