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The TRICARE Dental Program Branch (TDPB) is implementing authority provided by the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for the Fiscal Year 2023 (NDAA23) to provide additional benefits and dental insurance options to TRICARE beneficiaries eligible for TRICARE Dental Program (TDP) enrollment.  This rule expands the TDP as follows: establishes contracts with two to four dental insurance contractors; creates a standard plan (lower cost); creates a non-standard plan (higher cost); establishes a third-party administrator contract to manage enrollment, eligibility, premium collection, and reconciliation services; and creates three enrollment options: self, plus one, and family (for three or more dependents).  These additions provide TDP beneficiaries the option to select amongst a variety of dental insurance plans from multiple insurance contractors.  Currently there is only one plan provided by a single dental insurance contractor.  Implementing these changes will also allow TDP beneficiaries to select enrollment options to better fit their family size.  Currently, the TDP has two enrollment options; the changes in this interim final rule will allow TDP beneficiaries to select from three enrollment options.

Overall Description of Deadline: Sec. 723 of Subtitle C of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 is titled "Extension of time for modifications to premium sharing plans under TRICARE dental program." Section 1076a of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking ''January 1, 2026'' each place it appears and inserting ''January 1, 2027''. This section also contains rulemaking requirements.