[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2400 Introduced in House (IH)]
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115th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2400
To amend title 5, United States Code, to allow individuals who are not
Federal employees to enroll in the Federal Employees Health Benefits
Program, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 8, 2017
Mr. Issa introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 5, United States Code, to allow individuals who are not
Federal employees to enroll in the Federal Employees Health Benefits
Program, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. EXTENSION AND MODIFICATION OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEE HEALTH
INSURANCE.
(a) FEHBP.--
(1) In general.--Chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code,
is amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 8915. Health insurance for individuals who are not Federal
employees
``(a) Except as provided in this section, any individual may enroll
in a health benefits plan provided under this chapter and receive
health benefits, to the greatest extent practicable, in the same manner
as an employee.
``(b) An individual may not enroll in a health benefits plan under
this section if the individual--
``(1) is enrolled or eligible to enroll for coverage under
a public health insurance program, including--
``(A) title XVIII of the Social Security Act;
``(B) a State plan under title XIX of the Social
Security Act;
``(C) a State plan under title XXI of the Social
Security Act; or
``(D) any other program determined by the Office;
``(2) is a member of the uniformed services as defined
under section 101(a)(5) of title 10; or
``(3) is not a citizen or national of the United States or
an alien lawfully present in the United States.
``(c)(1) No Government contribution may be made for any individual
enrolled in a health benefits plan pursuant to this section.
``(2) Pursuant to regulations that the Office of Personnel
Management may prescribe, an employer of an individual enrolled in such
a plan may make a contribution on behalf of the individual.
``(d) In carrying out this section, the Office shall ensure that
individuals enrolled in a health benefits plan under this section shall
be in the same risk pool maintained for employees covered by this
chapter.
``(e) The Office shall issue regulations as are necessary to carry
out this section.
``Sec. 8916. No lifetime or annual limits
``(a) A carrier offering a health benefits plan under this chapter
may not establish--
``(1) lifetime limits on the dollar value of benefits for
any individual enrolled in such plan; or
``(2) unreasonable annual limits (within the meaning of
section 223 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) on the dollar
value of benefits for any such individual.
``(b) Subsection (a) shall not be construed to prevent a health
benefits plan under this chapter from placing annual or lifetime per
beneficiary limits on specific covered benefits to the extent that such
limits are otherwise permitted under Federal or State law.
``Sec. 8917. Non-discrimination in health care
``A carrier offering a health benefits plan under this chapter may
not discriminate with respect to participation under the plan or
coverage against any health care provider who is acting within the
scope of that provider's license or certification under applicable
State law. This section shall not require that a health benefits plan
or carrier contract with any health care provider willing to abide by
the terms and conditions for participation established by the plan or
issuer. Nothing in this section shall be construed as preventing a
health benefits plan, a carrier, or the Director of the Office of
Personnel Management from establishing varying reimbursement rates
based on quality or performance measures.''.
(2) Child under the age of 26.--Section 8901(5) of title 5,
United States Code, is amended by striking ``22'' in each
instance it appears and inserting ``26''.
(3) Application.--Sections 8916 and 8917 of such title (as
added by paragraph (1)) shall begin to apply to any contract
for health benefits plans entered into by the Office of
Personnel Management under chapter 89 of such title after the
date of enactment of this Act.
(4) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections of chapter
89 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting
after the item relating to section 8914 the following new
items:
``8915. Health insurance for individuals who are not Federal employees.
``8616. No lifetime or annual limits.
``8917. Non-discrimination in health care.''.
(b) Dental and Vision Benefits.--
(1) Dental.--Section 8952 of title 5, United States Code,
is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(d) The Office shall issue regulations necessary to enroll
individuals described in section 8915 in dental benefits plan offered
under this chapter, consistent with the requirements of such
section.''.
(2) Vision.--Section 8982 of title 5, United States Code,
is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(d) The Office shall issue regulations necessary to enroll
individuals described in section 8915 in vision benefits plan offered
under this chapter, consistent with the requirements of such
section.''.
(c) Enrollment of Insured Individuals Who Are Not Federal
Employees.--For plan years beginning in the year immediately following
the year in which this subsection is enacted, the Director of the
Office of Personnel Management shall issue regulations to provide for
the enrollment of individuals (as described under section 8915 of title
5, United States Code, as added by subsection (a)) in health benefits
plans under chapter 89, 89A, or 89B of such title.
(d) Plan for Extension of Federal Employee Health Benefits
Program.--Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this
Act and after consultation with appropriate experts, representatives of
affected individuals, and Federal officers, the Director of the Office
of Personnel Management shall submit a comprehensive plan to Congress
that--
(1) provides for the orderly implementation of the
amendments made by this section; and
(2) includes a schedule of actions to be taken to provide
for that implementation.
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