I
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 55
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 6, 1999
Mr. DREIER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Commit-
tee 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 juris-
diction 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 TO PARTICIPATE.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 89 of title 5, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the follow-
ing:
‘‘§ 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 full amount of
the subscription 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
section—
‘‘(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) APPLICABILITY.—The amendments made by this
section shall apply with respect to determinations as to
eligibility for coverage commencing in any contract year
beginning after the end of the 6-month period beginning
on the date of enactment of this Act.
SEC. 2. EXPANSION OF AVAILABILITY OF MEDICAL SAV-
INGS ACCOUNTS.
(a) REPEAL OF LIMITATIONS ON NUMBER OF MEDI-
CAL SAVINGS ACCOUNTS.—
(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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