Vision-Dental Bill Cost Estimated

A bill (HR-3751) to require a study of current dental, vision and hearing benefits under the Federal Employees Health Benefits program and to recommend improvements would have “no significant impact on the federal budget,” the Congressional Budget Office has said. The CBO estimate of the budgetary effect is an important step in moving legislation to voting; the bill is awaiting a vote in the full House. CBO estimated the cost of doing the study at less than $500,000 and noted that any potential costs related to any later bill improving those benefits would be subject to future legislation. It’s questionable, though, whether any such expansion of benefits could occur for the 2005 plan year even if Congress were to act quickly, since carriers already are in the process of crafting their benefit offerings for next year.