Health benefits, Federal employees: Active duty members of military; FEHB coverage and premiums,

[Federal Register: June 20, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 118)]

[Proposed Rules]

[Page 35397-35398]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr20jn06-13]

Proposed Rules Federal Register

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

[[Page 35397]]

OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT

5 CFR Part 890

RIN: 3206-AK98

FEHB Coverage and Premiums for Active Duty Members of the Military

AGENCY: Office of Personnel Management.

ACTION: Proposed rule with request for comment.

SUMMARY: The Office of Personnel Management is issuing a proposed regulation to change the Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) Program regulations that govern continued coverage for employees who are called or ordered to serve in the uniformed services. These regulations provide extended FEHB coverage for up to 24 months to Federal employees called or ordered to active duty and who meet certain requirements, including serving in support of a contingency operation. Those employees who are called or ordered to active duty in support of a contingency operation are also eligible for premium payments by their employing agency. The purpose of these regulations is to authorize Federal agencies to continue health benefits coverage for up to 24 months for those employees called or ordered to active duty, with certain employees qualifying for agency premium contributions.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 21, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael W. Kaszynski, Policy Analyst, Insurance Policy, OPM, Room 3425, 1900 E Street, NW., Washington, DC 20415-0001. Phone number: 202-606-0004. E-mail: mwkaszy@opm.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Defense Authorization Act for 2005 (Pub. L. 108-375) amended FEHB law to provide up to 24 months of continued FEHB coverage for Federal employees who are called or ordered to active duty in support of a contingency operation (5 U.S.C. 8905a), and to authorize agencies to pay the employee's share and the Government's share of premiums for up to 24 months (5 U.S.C. 8906 (e)(3)). The Act provides that this enhanced benefit is available for any employee who:

(1) Is enrolled in the FEHB Program;

(2) Is a member of a reserve component of the armed forces;

(3) Is called or ordered to active duty in support of a contingency operation (as defined in section 101(a)(13) of title 10 U.S.C.);

(4) Is placed on leave without pay or separated from service to perform active duty; and

(5) Serves on active duty for more than 30 consecutive days.

The expanded authority for agency premium payments authorized by Public Law 108-375 is a valuable benefit that helps reservists and their families shoulder the cost of health care during a time when they need it most. Public Law 108-454, the Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 2004, was enacted December 10, 2004. It amended 38 U.S.C. 4317(a)(1)(A) to extend from 18 to 24 months the length of an employee's health insurance coverage when the employee is absent because of service in the uniformed services. For FEHB purposes, this law applies to employees who are called to active duty but do not meet all the requirements of Public Law 108-375. Generally, these employees have orders that do not show that they are called to active duty in support of a contingency operation. As before, they do not meet the requirements of FEHB law for agency premium payment during active duty. These regulations propose to place into rulemaking the requirements of Public Law 108-375 and Public Law 108-454.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

I certify that this regulation will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities because the regulation affects only health insurance carriers under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.

Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Review

This regulation has been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget in accordance with Executive Order 12866.

List of Subjects in 5 CFR Part 890

Administrative practice and procedure, Government employees, Health facilities, Health insurance, Health professionals, Hostages, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Military Personnel, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Retirement.

Office of Personnel Management. Linda M. Springer, Director.

For the reasons set forth in the preamble, OPM is amending 5 CFR part 890 as follows:

PART 890--FEDERAL EMPLOYEES HEALTH BENEFITS PROGRAM

1. The authority citation for part 890 continues to read as follows:

   Authority: 5 U.S.C. 8913; Sec. 890.803 also issued under 50 U.S.C. 403p, 22 U.S.C. 4069c and 4069c-1; subpart L also issued under section 599C of Pub. L. 101-513, 104 Stat. 2064, as amended; Sec. 890.102 also issued under sections 11202(f), 11232(e), 11246 (b) and (c) of Pub. L. 105-33, 111 Stat. 251; and section 721 of Pub. L. 105-261, 112 Stat. 2061, unless otherwise noted.

2. Section 890.303 paragraph (i) is revised to read as follows:

   Sec. 890.303 Continuation of enrollment.

   * * * * *

   (i) Service in the uniformed services. (1) The enrollment of an individual who separates, enters military furlough, or is placed in nonpay status to serve in the uniformed services under conditions that entitle him or her to benefits under part 353 of this chapter, or similar authority, may continue for the 24-month period beginning on the date that the absence to serve in the uniformed services begins, provided that the individual continues to be entitled to benefits under part 353 of this chapter, or similar authority. As provided for by 5 U.S.C. 8905(a), the continuation of enrollment for up to 24 months applies to employees called or ordered to active duty in support of a contingency operation on or after September 14, 2001. The enrollment of an employee who met the requirements of chapter 43 of title 38, United States Code, on or after December 10, 2004, may continue for the 24- month period beginning on the date that the absence to serve in the uniformed services began, provided that the employee continues to be entitled to

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   continued coverage under part 353 of this chapter, or similar authority.

   (2) An employee in nonpay status is entitled to continued coverage under paragraph (e) of this section if the employee's entitlement to benefits under part 353 of this chapter, or similar authority, ends before the expiration of 365 days in nonpay status.

   (3) If the enrollment of an employee had terminated due to the expiration of 365 days in nonpay status or because of the employee's separation from service, it may be reinstated for the remainder of the 24-month period beginning on the date that the absence to serve in the uniformed service began, provided that the employee continues to be entitled to continued coverage under part 353 of this chapter, or similar authority.

3. Section 890.304 paragraphs (a)(1)(vi), (a)(1)(vii), and (a)(1)(viii) are revised to read as follows:

   Sec. 890.304 Termination of enrollment.

   (a) * * *

   (1) * * *

   (vi) The day he or she is separated, furloughed, or placed on leave of absence to serve in the uniformed services under conditions entitling him or her to benefits under part 353 of this chapter, or similar authority, for the purpose of performing duty not limited to 30 days or less, provided the employee elects in writing to have the enrollment so terminated.

   (vii) For an employee who separates to serve in the uniformed services under conditions entitling him or her to benefits under part 353 of this chapter, or similar authority, for the purpose of performing duty not limited to 30 days or less, the date that is 24 months after the date that the absence to serve in the uniformed services began or the date entitlement to benefits under part 353 of this chapter, or similar authority, ends, whichever is earlier, unless the enrollment is terminated under paragraph (a)(1)(vi) of this section.

   (viii) For an employee who is furloughed or placed on leave of absence under conditions entitling him or her to benefits under part 353 of this chapter, or similar authority, the date that is 24 months after the date that the absence to serve in the uniformed services began or the date entitlement to benefits under part 353 of this chapter, or similar authority, ends, whichever is earlier, but not earlier than the date the enrollment would otherwise terminate under paragraph (a)(1)(v) of this section. * * * * *

4. Section 890.502 paragraph (f) is revised to read as follows:

   Sec. 890.502 Employee withholdings and contributions.

   * * * * *

   (f) Uniformed services. (1) Except as provided in paragraph (f)(2) of this section, an employee whose coverage continues under Sec. 890.303(i) is responsible for payment of the employee share of the cost of enrollment for every pay period for which the enrollment continues for the first 365 days of continued coverage as set forth under paragraph (b) of this section. For coverage that continues after 365 days in nonpay status, the employee must pay, on a current basis, the full subscription charge, including both the employee and Government shares, plus an additional 2 percent of the full subscription charge.

   (2) As provided by 5 U.S.C. 8906(e)(3), an employing agency may pay both the Government and employee contributions and any additional administrative expenses for the cost of coverage for the employee and the employee's family for a period of 24 months for employees called or ordered to active duty in support of a contingency operation on or after September 14, 2001. Payment of these contributions and expenses is solely at the discretion of the employing agency.

   [FR Doc. E6-9666 Filed 6-19-06; 8:45 am]

   BILLING CODE 6325-39-P