2018-16237. Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, DoD.

ACTION:

Information collection notice.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Defense Health Agency announces a proposed public information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. Comments are invited on: Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

DATES:

Consideration will be given to all comments received by September 28, 2018.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments, identified by docket number and title, by any of the following methods:

Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

Mail: Department of Defense, Office of the Chief Management Officer, Directorate for Oversight and Compliance, 4800 Mark Center Drive, Mailbox #24, Suite 08D09, Alexandria, VA 22350-1700.

Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name, docket number and title for this Federal Register document. The general policy for comments and other submissions from members of the public is to make these submissions available for public viewing on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov as they are received without change, including any personal identifiers or contact information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

To request more information on this proposed information collection or to obtain a copy of the proposal and associated collection instruments, please write to TRICARE Operations Plan, 7700 Arlington Blvd., Suite 5101, Falls Church, VA 22042-5101, ATTN: Mr. Mark Ellis or call [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title; Associated Form; and OMB Number: TRICARE Young Adult Application; DD-2947; OMB Control Number 0720-0049.

Needs and Uses: The Ike Skelton National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 (FY11), Section 702, aligns TRICARE Program eligibility by providing a means to extend the age of eligibility of TRICARE dependents from age 21 or 23 up to age 26 to allow the purchase of extended dependent medical coverage across existing TRICARE program options (Select and Prime). This is consistent with the intent of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the implementing Health and Human Services regulations, and the limitations of Chapter 55 of Title 10. Section 702 allows qualified adult children not eligible for medical coverage at age 21 (23 if enrolled in a full-time course of study at an institution of higher learning approved by the Secretary of Defense) and are under age 26 to qualify to purchase medical coverage unless the dependent is enrolled in or eligible to purchase employer sponsored insurance per section 5000A(f)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or is married. The dependents shall be able to purchase either the TRICARE Prime or Select benefits depending on if they meet specific program requirements and the availability of a desired plan in their geographic location.

Affected Public: Individuals or Households.

Annual Burden Hours: 677.25.

Number of Respondents: 2,709.

Responses per Respondent: 1.

Annual Responses: 2,709.

Average Burden per Response: 15 minutes.

Frequency: On occasion.

Respondents are adult age dependents of active duty military and veteran service members. Respondents complete the DD-2947, “TRICARE Young Adult Application,” in order to apply for, change, or terminate their TRICARE Young Adult coverage or to request a different Primary Care Manager (PCM). Respondents typically make these requests over the phone by calling their regional contractor responsible for processing the DD-2947. Respondents in the East and West of the U.S. process the DD-2947 through Humana and HealthNet respectively; respondents outside of those regions have their DD-2947 processed by International SOS.

Dated: July 25, 2018.

Shelly E. Finke,

Alternate OSD Federal Register, Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.