I
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1170
To amend title 5, United States Code, to make available under the health
benefits program for Federal employees the option of obtaining coverage
for self and children only, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCH 17, 1999
Mr. SABO (for himself, Mr. FROST, Mr. SHOWS, Mr. SANDLIN, and Mr.
BRADY of Pennsylvania) introduced the following bill; which was referred
to the Committee on Government Reform
A BILL
To amend title 5, United States Code, to make available
under the health benefits program for Federal employees
the option of obtaining coverage for self and children
only, 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. OPTION TO ELECT COVERAGE FOR SELF AND
UNMARRIED DEPENDENT CHILDREN.
Subsection (a) of section 8905 of title 5, United
States Code, is amended to read as follows:
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‘‘(a) An employee may enroll in an approved health
benefits plan described by section 8903 or 8903a of this
title either—
‘‘(1) as an individual;
‘‘(2) for self and family; or
‘‘(3) for self and children only.
Coverage described in paragraph (3) includes neither the
spouse of the enrollee (if any) nor any child who does not
satisfy section 8901(5).’’.
SEC. 2. CONTRIBUTIONS AND RATES.
(a) CONTRIBUTIONS.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Paragraph (1) of section
8906(a) of title 5, United States Code, as set forth
in the amendment made by section 7002(a) of the
Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (Public Law 105–33;
111 Stat. 662), is amended—
(A) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of sub-
paragraph (A);
(B) by striking the period at the end of
subparagraph (B) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and
(C) by inserting after subparagraph (B)
the following:
‘‘(C) enrollments under this chapter for self and
unmarried dependent children (consistent with sec-
tion 8902(p)(1)).’’.
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(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made
by paragraph (1) shall take effect as if included in
the Balanced Budget Act of 1997.
(b) SEPARATE RATES BASED ON NUMBER OF CHIL-
DREN, ETC.—Section 8902 of title 5, United States Code,
is amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(p) Rates charged by health benefits plans for cov-
erage described in section 8905(a)(3) shall be governed
by the provisions of subsection (i), except that—
‘‘(1) separate rates shall apply depending on
whether the total number of unmarried dependent
children is equal to 1, 2, or 3 or more; and
‘‘(2) for purposes of setting such rates for the
first contract year in which such coverage is offered,
such provisions shall be applied by substituting
‘large employers for coverage for self and unmarried
dependent children.’ for ‘large employers.’.’’.
SEC. 3. DUPLICATIVE COVERAGE AND CHANGES OF COV-
ERAGE.
(a) DUPLICATIVE COVERAGE.—Subsection (e) of sec-
tion 8905 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by
adding at the end the following: ‘‘The Office shall by regu-
lation ensure that, in any situation not otherwise covered
by this subsection, if an employee or annuitant enrolls ei-
ther for self and family or for self and children only, the
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spouse of such employee or annuitant shall not be eligible
for any enrollment that would result in the same person
being covered under both enrollments at the same time.’’.
(b) CHANGES OF COVERAGE.—Subsection (f) of sec-
tion 8905 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by
inserting ‘‘or that of himself and his unmarried dependent
children’’ after ‘‘or that of himself and members of his
family’’.
SEC. 4. CONFORMING AMENDMENT.
Section 8905(c) of title 5, United States Code, is
amended by striking ‘‘self and family’’ each place it ap-
pears and inserting ‘‘for self and children only’’.
SEC. 5. EFFECTIVE DATE.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Office of Personnel Manage-
ment shall take such steps as may be necessary to ensure
that the type of coverage provided for by this Act shall
be available by the beginning of the first contract year
beginning at least 6 months after the date of enactment
of this Act.
(b) SAVINGS PROVISION.—For any contract year pre-
ceding the first contract year referred to in subsection (a),
chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code, shall be applied
as if this Act had not been enacted.
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