Section 12524 - Enrollment and election of benefits(a) ENROLLMENT.-(1) Except as provided in subsection (f), upon first becoming a member of the Ready Reserve, a member shall be automatically enrolled for coverage under the insurance program. An automatic enrollment of a member shall be void if within 60 days after first becoming a member of the Ready Reserve the member declines insurance under the program in accordance with the regulations prescribed by the Secretary.(2) Promptly after the insurance program is established, the Secretary shall offer to members of the reserve components who are then members of the Ready Reserve (other than members ineligible under subsection (f)) an opportunity to enroll for coverage under the insurance program. A member who fails to enroll within 60 days after being offered the opportunity shall be considered as having declined to be insured under the program.(3) A member of the Ready Reserve ineligible to enroll under subsection (f) shall be afforded an opportunity to enroll upon being released from active duty in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary if the member has not previously had the opportunity to be enrolled under paragraph (1) or (2). A member who fails to enroll within 60 days after being afforded that opportunity shall be considered as having declined to be insured under the program.(b) ELECTION OF BENEFIT AMOUNT.-The amount of a member's monthly benefit under an enrollment shall be the basic benefit under subsection (a) of section 12525 of this title unless the member elects a different benefit under subsection (b) of such section within 60 days after first becoming a member of the Ready Reserve or within 60 days after being offered the opportunity to enroll, as the case may be.(c) ELECTIONS IRREVOCABLE.-(1) An election to decline insurance pursuant to paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (a) is irrevocable.(2) The amount of coverage may not be increased after enrollment.(d) ELECTION TO TERMINATE.-A member may terminate an enrollment at any time.(e) INFORMATION TO BE FURNISHED.-The Secretary shall ensure that members referred to in subsection (a) are given a written explanation of the insurance program and are advised that they have the right to decline to be insured and, if not declined, to elect coverage for a reduced benefit or an enhanced benefit under subsection (b).(f) MEMBERS INELIGIBLE TO ENROLL.-Members of the Ready Reserve serving on active duty (or full-time National Guard duty) are not eligible to enroll for coverage under the insurance program. The Secretary may define any additional category of members of the Ready Reserve to be excluded from eligibility to purchase insurance under this chapter.(g) MEMBERS OF INDIVIDUAL READY RESERVE.-Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, and pursuant to regulations issued by the Secretary, a member of the Individual Ready Reserve who becomes a member of the Selected Reserve shall not be denied eligibility to purchase insurance under this chapter upon becoming a member of the Selected Reserve unless the member previously declined to enroll in the program of insurance under this chapter while a member of the Selected Reserve.Added Pub. L. 104-106, div. A, title V, §512(a)(1), Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 300; amended Pub. L. 104-201, div. A, title V, §542, Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2521.EDITORIAL NOTES
AMENDMENTS1996-Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 104-201 added subsec. (g).
- Secretary
- The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of Defense.
- active duty
- The term "active duty" means full-time duty in the active military service of the United States, including sustained duty in the Space Force. Such term includes full-time training duty, annual training duty, and attendance, while in the active military service, at a school designated as a service school by law or by the Secretary of the military department concerned. Such term does not include full-time National Guard duty.
- full-time National Guard duty
- The term "full-time National Guard duty" means training or other duty, other than inactive duty, performed by a member of the Army National Guard of the United States or the Air National Guard of the United States in the member's status as a member of the National Guard of a State or territory, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or the District of Columbia under section 316, 502, 503, 504, or 505 of title 32 for which the member is entitled to pay from the United States or for which the member has waived pay from the United States.
- insurance program
- The term "insurance program" means the Ready Reserve Mobilization Income Insurance Program established under section 12522 of this title.