An act to amend title 5, United States Code, to allow Federal annuitants to make contributions for health benefits through direct payments rather than through annuity withholdings, to make a technical correction relating to the life insurance program, and to provide for the termination of life insurance coverage uniformly.
PL 101-303 (H.R.1805), enacted 05/29/1990

104 STAT. 250 
PUBLIC LAW 101-303—MAY 29, 1990 
Public Law 101-303 
101st Congress 
An Act 
To amend title 5, United States Code, to allow Federal annuitants to make contribu-
May 29, 1990 
tions for health benefits through direct payments rather than through annuity 
[H.R. 1805] 
withholdings if the annuity is insufficient to cover the required withholdings, and 
for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
Retirement. 
United States of America in Congress assembled, 
Insurance. 
SECTION 1. HEALTH BENEFITS. 
(a) AUTHORITY FOR DIRECT PAYMENTS.—Section 8906 of title 5, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 
"(i) An annuitant whose annuity is insufficient to cover the 
withholdings required for enrollment in a particular health benefits 
plan may enroll (or remain enrolled) in such plan, notwithstanding 
any other provision of this section, if the annuitant elects, under 
conditions prescribed by regulations of the Office, to pay currently 
into the Employees Health Benefits Fund, through the retirement 
system that administers the annuitant's health benefits enrollment, 
an amount equal to the withholdings that would otherwise be 
required under this section,". 
(b) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Section 8906 of 
title 5, United States Code, is further amended— 
(1) in subsection (c), by inserting "except as provided in 
subsection (i) of this section)" before "the annuity"; and 
(2) in subsection (d), by inserting "(except as provided in 
subsection (i) of this section)" before "from the annuity". 
5 use 8906 note. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this section shall 
take effect on the date of enactment of this Act. Any annuitant 
whose enrollment was terminated at any time before such date on 
account of such annuitant's annuity being insufficient to cover the 
amount of the required withholdings may, under regulations pre-
scribed by the Office of Personnel Management, be prospectively 
reinstated in any available health benefits plan upon application of 
the annuitant. 
SEC. 2. TECHNICAL CORRECTION IN LIFE INSURANCE PROVISIONS. 
Section 8708 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
"(d)(1) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, for each 
period in which an employee continues life insurance after retire-
ment or while in receipt of compensation under subchapter I of 
chapter 81 of this title because of disease or injury to the employee, 
as provided under section 87060t)) of this title, a sum equal to one-
half of the amount which is withheld from the employee's annuity 
or compensation under section 8707 of this title shall be contributed 
by the Office from annual appropriations which are authorized to be 
made for that purpose and which may be made available until 
expended. 
"(2) Contributions under this subsection— 
PUBLIC LAW 101-303—MAY 29, 1990 
104 STAT. 251 
"(A) shall not be made other than with respect to individuals 
who retire, or commence receiving compensation, after Decem-
ber 31,1989; 
"(B) shall not be made with respect to any individual for 
months after the calendar month in which such individusd 
becomes 65 years of age; and 
"(C) shall, in the case of any individual who elects coverage 
under subparagraph (B) of section 8706(bX3) of this title, be 
equal to the amount which would apply under this subsection if 
such individual had instead elected coverage under subpara-
graph (A) of such section. 
"(3) The United States Postal Service shall pay the contributions 
required under this subsection with respect to any individual who— 
"(A) first becomes an annuitant by reason of retirement from 
employment with the United States Postal Service after Decem-
ber 31,1989; or 
"(B) commences receiving compensation under subchapter I of 
chapter 81 of this title (because of disease or injury to the 
individual) after December 31, 1989, if the position last held by 
the individual before commencing to receive such compensation 
was within the United States Postal Service.". 
SEC. 3. REDUCTION IN AGE REQUIREMENT FOR WIDOWS AND WIDOWERS 
FOR RECEIVING CERTAIN COMPENSATION UNDER THE FED-
ERAL EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION SYSTEM. 
Chapter 81, of title 5, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in section 8133(b)(1) by striking out "age 60" and inserting 
in lieu thereof "age 55"; and 
(2) in section 8135(b) by striking out "age 60" and inserting in 
lieu thereof "age 55". 
Approved May 29, 1990. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 1805: 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 101-327 (Comm. on Post Office and Civil Service). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 
Vol. 135 (1989): Nov. 6, considered and passed House. 
Vol. 136 (1990): Apr. 26, considered and passed Senate, amended. 
May 8, House concurred in certain Senate amendments, 
disagreed to another, and concurred in another with an 
amendment. 
May 14, Senate receded and concurred in House amendment.