I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 56
To make the Federal employees health benefits program available to individ-
uals age 55 to 65 who would not otherwise have health insurance, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 7, 2003
Mr. DREIER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on 
Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 
the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To make the Federal employees health benefits program 
available to individuals age 55 to 65 who would not 
otherwise have health insurance, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. ELIGIBILITY FOR FEHBP COVERAGE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 89 of title 5, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing:
‘‘§ 8915. Coverage for the near elderly 
‘‘(a) For purposes of this section, the term ‘qualified 
individual’ means an individual who, as of the date on 
which such individual first submits an application for 
health insurance coverage under this chapter in accord-
ance with subsection (d)—
‘‘(1) is at least 55 but less than 65 years of 
age; and 
‘‘(2) has not been covered under any policy of 
health insurance for at least the preceding 30 days. 
‘‘(b) Subject to the succeeding provisions of this sec-
tion, any qualified individual may enroll in an approved 
health benefits plan under this chapter, for self alone, so 
long as such individual pays currently into the Employees 
Health Benefits Fund, under arrangements acceptable to 
the Office of Personnel Management, the total subscrip-
tion charges required. 
‘‘(c) The total subscription charges required in the 
case of an individual enrolled in a health benefits plan 
under this section shall be equal to the sum of the em-
ployee and agency contributions that would apply under 
this chapter in the case of an employee enrolled in the 
same health benefits plan and level of benefits for self 
alone. 
‘‘(d) An application to obtain health insurance cov-
erage under this section may be submitted during any
open enrollment period normally provided for under this 
chapter and at such other times as the Office may by regu-
lation prescribe. 
‘‘(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this sec-
tion—
‘‘(1) an individual may not enroll or remain en-
rolled in any health benefits plan pursuant to this 
section after attaining age 65; and 
‘‘(2) an individual whose enrollment under this 
section is terminated, whether voluntarily or involun-
tarily, shall be barred from subsequently reenrolling 
under this section. 
‘‘(f) The Office shall prescribe such regulations as 
may be necessary to carry out this section.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions for chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘8915. Coverage for the near elderly.’’.
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall apply with respect to coverage in contract 
years beginning later than 6 months after the date of the 
enactment of this Act.
SEC. 2. EXPANSION OF AVAILABILITY OF ARCHER MSAS. 
(a) REPEAL OF LIMITATIONS ON NUMBER OF AR-
CHER MSAS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subsections (i) and (j) of 
section 220 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 
are hereby repealed. 
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Paragraph (1) 
of section 220(c) of such Code is amended by strik-
ing subparagraph (D). 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall apply to taxable years ending after the 
date of the enactment of this Act.
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