LIMITED EXTENSION OF CERTAIN MEDICAL BENEFITS FOR FORMER SPOUSES

SEC. 651. LIMITED EXTENSION OF CERTAIN MEDICAL BENEFITS FOR FORMER SPOUSES (a) Medical Coverage.—Section 1076 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: “(f)(1) A person described in paragraph (2) shall be considered a dependent for purposes of this section for a period of one year after the date of the person’s final decree of divorce, dissolution, or annulment. In addition, if such a person purchases a conversion health policy within the one-year period referred to in the preceding sentence, such person shall be entitled, upon request, to medical and dental care prescribed by section 1077 of this title for a period of one year after the purchase of the policy for any condition of the person that existed on the date on which coverage under the policy begins and for which care is not provided under that policy. “(2) A person referred to in paragraph (1) is a person who would qualify as a dependent under section 1072(2)(G) but for the fact that the person’s final decree of divorce, dissolution, or annulment is dated on or after April 1, 1985. “(3) In this subsection, the term ‘conversion health policy’ means a health insurance plan with a private insurer, developed through negotiations between the Secretary of Defense and a private insurer, that is available for purchase by or for the use of persons described in paragraph (2).”. (b) Conforming Amendment.—Section 645(c) of the Department of Defense Authorization Act, 1985 (10 U.S.C. 1072 note) is repealed effective as of the effective date of section 1076(f) of title 10, United States Code (as added by subsection (a)). (c) Transition.—Any person who qualified as a dependent under section 645(c) of the Department of Defense Authorization Act, 1985, as in effect before its repeal by subsection (b), shall remain qualified as a dependent as specified in that section and shall become eligible for benefits in accordance with section 1076(f) of title 10, United States Code (as added by subsection (a)), when no longer qualified as a dependent pursuant to such section 645(c). (d) Effective Date.—Section 1076(f) of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act or 30 days after the Secretary of Defense first makes available a conversion health policy (as defined in such section), whichever is later. Such section shall apply to persons whose decree of divorce, dissolution, or annulment becomes final after the date of the enactment of this Act.