How Reform Could Impact FEHB

Provisions in both the House and Senate versions of health insurance reform could impact the FEHB program and individual enrollees in various ways, according to a congressional analysis. For example, both would raise the maximum age for unmarried adult children to remain on their parent's plan, up to 27 in the House bill and up to 26 in the Senate bill. The House version further would allow persons eligible for temporary continuation of coverage to keep that coverage until they can obtain health insurance through an exchange plan in 2013--currently, federal employees are generally eligible for TCC for 18 months, and 36 months for dependents who age out of their parent's coverage. Also, both would lower the maximum allowed annual contributions to a health care FSA from $5,000 to $2,500 beginning in 2011, and indexed to inflation afterward. The Senate bill would further modify the definition of qualified medical expenses, which would affect FSAs and high-deductible health plans such as several found in the FEHB. For example, it would make over-the counter medicines ineligible for reimbursement unless they are prescribed by a physician.

 

Back | Published: September 8, 2010