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Title 5, Government Organization and EmployeesRelease 119-102

§8954 Benefits

Title 5 › PART III — EMPLOYEES › Subpart G — Insurance and Annuities › CHAPTER 89A — ENHANCED DENTAL BENEFITS › § 8954

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Office may set minimum rules for enhanced dental plans and for the companies that sell them. Plans can offer more than one level of benefits, and every eligible person must be able to choose any level. Enhanced dental plans must cover nine types of services: diagnostic, preventive, emergency, restorative, oral and maxillofacial surgery, endodontics, periodontics, prosthodontics, and orthodontics. Approved plans must serve the geographic area the Office names and must include dentally underserved areas. If someone has dental coverage under a health plan under chapter 89 and also a plan under this chapter, the chapter 89 plan pays first.

Full Legal Text

Title 5, §8954

Government Organization and Employees, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Office may prescribe reasonable minimum standards for enhanced dental benefits plans offered under this chapter and for qualified companies offering the plans.
(b)Each contract may include more than 1 level of benefits that shall be made available to all eligible individuals.
(c)The benefits to be provided under enhanced dental benefits plans under this chapter may be of the following types:
(1)Diagnostic.
(2)Preventive.
(3)Emergency care.
(4)Restorative.
(5)Oral and maxillofacial surgery.
(6)Endodontics.
(7)Periodontics.
(8)Prosthodontics.
(9)Orthodontics.
(d)A contract approved under this chapter shall require the qualified company to cover the geographic service delivery area specified by the Office. The Office shall require qualified companies to include dentally underserved areas in their service delivery areas.
(e)If an individual has dental coverage under a health benefits plan under chapter 89 and also has coverage under a plan under this chapter, the health benefits plan under chapter 89 shall be the first payor of any benefit payments.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective Dec. 23, 2004, and applicable to contracts that take effect with respect to the calendar year 2006, see section 7 of Pub. L. 108–496, set out as a note under section 8951 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

5 U.S.C. § 8954

Title 5, Government Organization and Employees

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102