§8956 Election of coverage

Summary

Lets eligible people pick dental coverage for just themselves, for themselves plus one person, or for their whole family. If both spouses can enroll, only one spouse may sign up for the "self plus one" or family option. A person cannot be signed up twice — for example as an employee (or annuitant or other eligible person) and also as a family member. The Office must make rules for enrolling and for changing those coverage choices. The rules must let people cancel or move to another plan before a contract term that changes rates or benefits, when a new plan is offered, or when a plan ends, and at other times the Office allows. Moves to a new plan can include the new plan’s waiting periods. If, because of a lapse in appropriations, an employee or a covered TRICARE‑eligible person is furloughed or kept working without pay, their dental coverage continues and cannot be ended for missed premium payments caused by that lapse.