S. 2046Senate118th Congress (2023-2025)In Committee

Dental Care for Our Troops Act

Introduced June 20, 2023

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 9:07 AM UTC

The Dental Care for Our Troops Act changes the TRICARE dental program so that members of the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve no longer have to pay premiums or copayments for dental care. It creates a specific dental benefits plan for these reservists that is provided at no cost to the service member. The changes apply to all Selected Reserve members who are enrolled in TRICARE dental coverage.

Key Provisions

  • Creates a new dental benefits plan for members of the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve and designates it as a no‑premium plan
  • Prohibits charging any premium to members who enroll in the no‑premium plan
  • Eliminates copayments for dental care received under the no‑premium plan
  • Updates the language and numbering in the existing statute to reflect the new plan and its cost‑free status

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action
SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

June 20, 2023

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

June 20, 2023

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

June 20, 2023

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

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Introduced in SenateIssued June 20, 2023

II

118th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 2046

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

June 20, 2023

Ms. Baldwin (for herself, Mrs. Capito, and Mr. Blumenthal) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services

A BILL

To amend title 10, United States Code, to eliminate certain charges under the TRICARE dental program for members of the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Dental Care for Our Troops Act.

2.

TRICARE Dental for members of the Selected Reserve

Section 1076a of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

in subsection (a)—

(A)

in paragraph (1)—

(i)

in the paragraph header, by striking selected reserve and; and

(ii)

by striking for members of the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve and;

(B)

in paragraph (2), in the header, by inserting individual ready after other; and

(C)

by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(5)

Plan for Selected Reserve

A dental benefits plan for members of the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve.

;

(2)

in subsection (d)—

(A)

by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); and

(B)

by inserting after paragraph (2) the following new paragraph (3):

(3)

No premium plans

(A)

The dental benefits plan established under subsection (a)(5) is a no premium plan.

(B)

Members enrolled in a no premium plan may not be charged a premium for benefits provided under the plan.

;

(3)

in subsection (e)(2)(A), by striking a member of the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve or;

(4)

by redesignating subsections (f) through (l) as subsections (g) through (m), respectively;

(5)

by inserting after subsection (e) the following new subsection (f):

(f)

Copayments under no premium plans

A member who receives dental care under a no premium plan described in subsection (d)(3) shall pay no charge for any care described in subsection (c).

; and

(6)

in subsection (i), as redesignated by paragraph (4), by striking subsection (k)(2) and inserting subsection (l)(2).