Ensuring FEDVIP and FLTCIP Coverage During Shutdowns Act

I 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 2004 To amend title 5, United States Code, to continue supplemental dental and vision benefits and long-term care insurance coverage for Federal employ- ees affected by a Government shutdown, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES APRIL 1, 2019 Mr. CUMMINGS (for himself, Mr. CONNOLLY, Mr. MEADOWS, Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts, Mr. YOUNG, and Mr. TAYLOR) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform A BILL To amend title 5, United States Code, to continue supple- mental dental and vision benefits and long-term care insurance coverage for Federal employees affected by a Government shutdown, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Ensuring FEDVIP 4 and FLTCIP Coverage During Shutdowns Act’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 18:19 Apr 08, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2004.IH H2004 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 2004 IH SEC. 2. CONTINUING SUPPLEMENTAL DENTAL AND VISION 1 BENEFITS AND LONG-TERM CARE INSUR- 2 ANCE COVERAGE DURING A GOVERNMENT 3 SHUTDOWN. 4 (a) IN GENERAL.—Title 5, United States Code, is 5 amended— 6 (1) in section 8956, by adding at the end the 7 following: 8 ‘‘(d) Coverage under a dental benefits plan under this 9 chapter for any employee enrolled in such a plan and who, 10 as a result of a lapse in appropriations, is furloughed or 11 excepted from furlough and working without pay shall 12 continue during such lapse and may not be cancelled as 13 a result of nonpayment of premiums or other periodic 14 charges due to such lapse.’’; 15 (2) in section 8986, by adding at the end the 16 following: 17 ‘‘(d) Coverage under a vision benefits plan under this 18 chapter for any employee enrolled in such a plan and who, 19 as a result of a lapse in appropriations, is furloughed or 20 excepted from furlough and working without pay shall 21 continue during such lapse and may not be cancelled as 22 a result of nonpayment of premiums or other periodic 23 charges due to such lapse.’’; and 24 (3) in section 9003, by adding at the end the 25 following: 26 VerDate Sep 11 2014 18:19 Apr 08, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2004.IH H2004 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 2004 IH ‘‘(e) EFFECT OF GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.—Cov- 1 erage under a master contract under this chapter for long- 2 term care insurance for an employee or member of the 3 uniformed services enrolled under such contract and who, 4 due to a lapse in appropriations, is furloughed or excepted 5 from furlough and working without pay shall continue 6 during such lapse and may not be cancelled as a result 7 of nonpayment of premiums or other periodic charges due 8 to such lapse.’’. 9 (b) REGULATIONS.—The Director of the Office of 10 Personnel Management shall prescribe regulations under 11 which premiums for supplemental dental, supplemental vi- 12 sion, or long-term care insurance under chapter 89A, 89B, 13 or 90 (respectively) of title 5, United States Code, (as 14 amended by subsection (a)) that are unpaid by an em- 15 ployee or member of the uniformed services (as the case 16 may be), as a result of that employee or member being 17 furloughed or excepted from furlough and working without 18 pay as a result of a lapse in appropriations, are paid to 19 the applicable carrier from back pay made available to the 20 employee or member as soon as practicable upon the end 21 of such lapse. 22 (c) APPLICATION.—The amendments made by sub- 23 section (a) shall apply to any contract for supplemental 24 dental, supplemental vision, or long-term care insurance 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 18:19 Apr 08, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2004.IH H2004 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 2004 IH under chapter 89A, 89B, or 90 (respectively) of title 5, 1 United States Code, entered into before, on, or after the 2 date of enactment of this Act. 3 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 18:19 Apr 08, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H2004.IH H2004 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS