Other USPHS Benefits

Time Off

• Holidays - 10 Federal holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King’s Birthday, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day.
• Personal Leave – Earn 2.5 days of personal leave per month, totaling 30 days per year. Members are eligible to take leave as soon as it is earned and can carry over 60 days of leave each year.
• Sick Leave – No limit on sick leave per year, but if determined to be medically unfit for duty members can be separated from service.
• Maternity/Paternity Leave – 12 weeks maternity leave and 10 days paternity leave.
• Adoption Leave – 21 days.

Medical and Dental Insurance

• Medical – Member and family receive excellent coverage through TRICARE. Multiple plans are available.
• Dental – Member receives excellent coverage at no cost. Low cost insurance for family.

Post 9/11 GI Bill

Provides up to 36 months of free tuition (4 years of study) at colleges, universities, trade schools, flight programs, apprenticeships, etc. Pays 100% of resident tuition and fees at public schools and up to ~$18,000/year at private or foreign schools (yellow ribbon program may help pay for more expensive schools). Provides a monthly stipend and covers most books and fees. Members are 100% eligible for benefit after 36 months of active duty and can use this benefit up to 15 years after leaving the service. Members can give all or portion of it to spouse or children, although this incurs a 4 year service commitment.

Retirement

• Pension – Blended Retirement System (BRS) - The 2016 Defense Authorization Act changed the retirement pension for those entering active duty on or after January 1, 2018. Officers in the BRS are eligible for a defined retirement pay benefit (pension) after 20 years of service. The pension increases annually during retirement according to Consumer Price Index, and does not decrease even if inflation is negative. To calculate the pension amount, the average of the top three years of base pay is multiplied by a percentage. With BRS, USPHS dentists earn 2.0% for each year of active duty service and each of the four years of dental school, totaling 48% at 20 years of service. In addition to the defined retirement pay, the BRS also includes a 1% matching USPHS contribution to the Thrift Savings Plan after 60 days of service and up to 4% USPHS matching after 2 years of service. Other potential options unique to the BRS include a lump sum payment as well as continuation pay. For additional details on the BRS please visit:
  • https://militarypay.defense.gov/BlendedRetirement/
  • https://dcp.psc.gov/ccmis/Compensation/BRS_FAQ.aspx 
• Legacy Retirement System (pre-2019) - Members are eligible fore a pension after 20 years of service. The pension increases annually during retirement according to the Consumer Price Index, and does not decrease even if inflation is negative. To calculate the pension amount, the average of the top three years of base pay is multiplied by a percentage. USPHS dentists earn 2.5% for each year of active duty service and each of the four years of dental school, totaling 60% at 20 years of service.
• Thrift Savings Plan – Similar to 401k retirement plans, but with very low costs (expense ratio 0.029%, compared to industry average of 1.02%).
• Medical and Dental Insurance– Multiple plans, excellent coverage, and low cost.

Other Benefits

• No malpractice insurance required.
• Eligible for VA benefits including home loans, which do not require a down payment or monthly insurance premiums.
• Eligible for free “Space Available” flights on military aircraft to locations across the world.
• Tax free shopping at military exchanges and commissaries.
• Eligible to stay at lower cost military lodges and hotels.
• Access to military Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) services.
• Often eligible for military discounts (eg. Disney World).