Statement of Determination

STATEMENT OF DETERMINATION

1. In accordance with 5 CFR 1320.13, the senior official or designee, of the Department of Defense has determined that this collection of information is needed prior to the expiration of the time periods under 5 CFR 1320 and it is essential to the mission of the agency. The agency cannot reasonably comply with the normal clearance procedures under Part 1320 since such compliance would delay compliance with a statutory requirement.

2. The TRICARE Management Activity is submitting the subject requirement for emergency review and approval. This emergency submission is necessary and appropriate to ensure that the Department avoids delays associated with implementing TRICARE Young Adult, a critical Congressionally mandated program to provide extended dependent medical coverage for adult age dependents. The law requires health care benefits to be effective January 1, 2011. Delaying the approval of data collection would delay the start of health care delivery and denial of prompt reimbursement for health care services rendered after January 1, 2011.

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 (Standard, Extra, and Prime) 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 Standard/Extra benefits upon meeting specific program requirements and the availability of a desired plan in their geographic location. The effective date of coverage is January 1, 2011, so it is essential to collect the necessary information from beneficiaries as soon as possible so retroactive benefits can be rendered.

The TRICARE Young Adult Application will be used by former dependents to apply for, change, or terminate their TRICARE Young Adult coverage.

OASD(HA)/TRICARE has coordinated this submission with the OMB Clearance Officer, Ms. Patricia Toppings.

3. The information that is requested is the minimum necessary to comply with the provisions of Section 702 of the Ike Skelton National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2011. A Federal Register notice will be published in the Federal Register prior to the submission of a subsequent information collection package to OMB under regular processing timeframes.