US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

26 U.S.C. § 139D

Indian health care benefits

(a)

General rule

Except as otherwise provided in this section, gross income does not include the value of any qualified Indian health care benefit.

(b)

Qualified Indian health care benefit

For purposes of this section, the term “qualified Indian health care benefit” means—
(1)
any health service or benefit provided or purchased, directly or indirectly, by the Indian Health Service through a grant to or a contract or compact with an Indian tribe or tribal organization, or through a third-party program funded by the Indian Health Service,
(2)
medical care provided or purchased by, or amounts to reimburse for such medical care provided by, an Indian tribe or tribal organization for, or to, a member of an Indian tribe, including a spouse or dependent of such a member,
(3)
coverage under accident or health insurance (or an arrangement having the effect of accident or health insurance), or an accident or health plan, provided by an Indian tribe or tribal organization for medical care to a member of an Indian tribe, include a spouse or dependent of such a member, and
(4)
any other medical care provided by an Indian tribe or tribal organization that supplements, replaces, or substitutes for a program or service relating to medical care provided by the Federal government to Indian tribes or members of such a tribe.
(c)

Definitions

For purposes of this section—
(1)

Indian tribe

The term “Indian tribe” has the meaning given such term by section 45A(c)(6).

(2)

Tribal organization

lThe term “tribal organization” has the meaning given such term by section 4() of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act.

(3)

Medical care

The term “medical care” has the same meaning as when used in section 213.

(4)

Accident or health insurance; accident or health plan

The terms “accident or health insurance” and “accident or health plan” have the same meaning as when used in section 105.

(5)

Dependent

The term “dependent” has the meaning given such term by section 152, determined without regard to subsections (b)(1), (b)(2), and (d)(1)(B) thereof.

(d)

Denial of double benefit

Subsection (a) shall not apply to the amount of any qualified Indian health care benefit which is not includible in gross income of the beneficiary of such benefit under any other provision of this chapter, or to the amount of any such benefit for which a deduction is allowed to such beneficiary under any other provision of this chapter.

Pub. L. 111–148, title IX, § 9021(a)124 Stat. 873(Added , , .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

llSection 4() of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, referred to in subsec. (c)(2), is classified to section 5304() of Title 25, Indians.

Codification

Pub. L. 111–148, title X, § 10108(f)(1)124 Stat. 913Pub. L. 112–10, div. B, title VIII, § 1858(b)(2)(A)125 Stat. 168Pub. L. 111–148section 1858(d) of Pub. L. 112–10section 36B of this titleAnother section 139D, added , , , related to free choice vouchers, prior to repeal by , , , effective as if included in the provisions of, and the amendments made by, the provisions of to which it relates, see , set out as an Effective Date of 2011 Amendment note under .

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Pub. L. 111–148, title IX, § 9021(c)124 Stat. 874

“The amendments made by this section [enacting this section] shall apply to benefits and coverage provided after the date of the enactment of this Act [].”
, , , provided that:

No Inference With Respect to Exclusion From Gross Income of Certain Benefits

Pub. L. 111–148, title IX, § 9021(d)124 Stat. 874

“Nothing in the amendments made by this section [enacting this section] shall be construed to create an inference with respect to the exclusion from gross income of—
“(1)
benefits provided by an Indian tribe or tribal organization that are not within the scope of this section, and
“(2)
benefits provided prior to the date of the enactment of this Act [].”
, , , provided that: