HR 579 IH

To amend chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code, to make available to Federal employees the option of obtaining health benefits coverage for dependent parents.

February 13, 2001

Mr. ENGEL (for himself, Mr. THOMAS M. DAVIS of Virginia, Mrs. MCCARTHY of New York, Mr. WEINER, Mr. SANDERS, Mr. MCNULTY, Mr. OWENS, Mr. RUSH, Mrs. MORELLA, Mr. HILLIARD, Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, Mrs. JONES of Ohio, Mr. EVANS, and Mr. MORAN of Virginia) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Government Reform

To amend chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code, to make available to Federal employees the option of obtaining health benefits coverage for dependent parents.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Federal Family Health Coverage Act of 2001'.

SEC. 2. NEW ENROLLMENT OPTION.

(a) IN GENERAL- Subsection (a) of section 8905 of title 5, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

`(a) An employee may enroll in an approved health benefits plan described by section 8903 or 8903a either--

`(1) as an individual;

`(2) for self and family; or

`(3) for self and extended family.'.

(b) MEMBER OF EXTENDED FAMILY DEFINED- Section 8901 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking `and' at the end of paragraph (10), by striking the period at the end of paragraph (11) and inserting `; and', and by adding at the end the following:

`(12) `member of the extended family' means, with respect to an employee or annuitant, any individual who is--

`(A) a member of the family of such employee or annuitant; or

`(B) a dependent parent of such employee or annuitant.'.

(c) TEST FOR DEPENDENCY OF A PARENT- Paragraph (9) of section 8901 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking `(9)' and inserting `(9)(A)', by inserting `and' after the semicolon, and by adding at the end the following:

`(B) `dependent', in the case of any parent, means a parent at least half of whose support is contributed by the employee or annuitant involved, as determined under regulations prescribed by the Office, but does not include an individual who--

`(i) is entitled to benefits under part A of title XVIII of the Social Security Act; or

`(ii) has adequate health benefits under another group health plan, as determined under such regulations;'.

SEC. 3. DETERMINATION OF GOVERNMENT CONTRIBUTIONS.

(a) IN GENERAL- Paragraph (1) of section 8906(a) of title 5, United States Code, is amended--

(1) by striking `and' at the end of subparagraph (A);

(2) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (B) and inserting `; and'; and

(3) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following:

`(C) enrollments under this chapter for self and extended family.'.

(b) FIRST-YEAR RULE- The Office of Personnel Management shall by regulation establish the method by which the provisions of section 8906 of title 5, United States Code, relating to computation of Government contributions, shall be applied in connection with coverage for self and extended family during the first year in which such coverage is provided.

SEC. 4. TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.

Title 5, United States Code, is amended--

(1) in section 8902(e) by striking `exclusive of family members,' and inserting `exclusive of family members and dependent parents,';

(2) in subsections (g), (j) and (k)(1) of section 8902, section 8902a(a)(1)(B), and section 8903(1) by inserting `dependent parent,' after `family member,' each place it appears;

(3)(A) in section 8903(1) and the first sentence of section 8913(c) by inserting `dependent parents,' after `members of their families,';

(B) in section 8903(3) by striking `and members of their families,' and inserting `members of their families, and their dependent parents,'; and

(C) in section 8903a(b)(4) by striking `families.' and inserting `families and their dependent parents.';

(4) in subsections (b)(2) and (f) of section 8905 by inserting `or extended family' after `family';

(5) in section 8905(e) by adding at the end the following: `The Office shall by regulation ensure that the purposes of this subsection continue to be carried after coverage for self and extended family becomes available under this chapter.';

(6) in section 8906(e)(1)(A) and the second sentence of 8913(c) by inserting `or dependent parents' after `family'; and

(7) in section 8907(b) by inserting `or dependent parents' after `family members' each place it appears.

SEC. 5. EFFECTIVE DATE.

The amendments made by this Act shall apply with respect to coverage during years beginning at least 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act.

END