The plan seeks to improve access to behavioral health services. Image: zimmytws/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffThe Biden administration’s budget plan seeks several changes to federal employee benefits, while several newly offered bills in Congress also would affect benefits.
According to a document issued this week spelling out the budget plan in more detail, the plan “aims to improve access to behavioral health services by requiring coverage of three primary care visits and three behavioral health visits without cost-sharing for all Federal Employees Health Benefits Program plans. In addition, the budget strengthens healthcare affordability by limiting cost-sharing for insulin in FEHB.”
The plan also would “equalize survivor benefits payable to disabled children under both retirement systems. Currently, only disabled children under FERS whose annuity terminates due to substantial employment income may have their survivor annuity reinstated if the survivor becomes incapable of self-support. This proposal would extend the same opportunity for reinstatement to CSRS disabled children, equalizing the rules between the two retirement programs.”
Also mentioned, although without explanation, is increasing family member eligibility under the Federal Dental and Vision Insurance Program and shortening the length of contracts with carriers in that program “to allow flexibility for new carriers.”
Meanwhile, bills recently introduced in Congress include:
* S-579, a counterpart to a bill offered earlier in the House (HR-82) to repeal the windfall elimination provision and the government pension offset, which apply under the CSRS system. The former reduces a Social Security benefit the person earned through other employment if the person had less than 30 years of earnings above a designated level, while the latter reduces and often eliminates a Social Security spousal or survivor benefit.
* S-640, to shield federal employees from impacts ranging from lowered credit ratings to foreclosures during a government shutdown or debt default period and for 30 days afterward.
* HR-1416, to create an independent inspector general’s office within the TSP, a reaction to customer service and other problems—which are continuing, although at a lesser level—related to the program’s change last summer to a new operating system and investor website.
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See also,
How Do Age and Years of Service Impact My Federal Retirement
The Best Ages for Federal Employees to Retire
