OPM Issues Final Rule on Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program

Targeted News Service

WASHINGTON, July 16 -- The U.S. Office of Personnel Management published the following rule in the Federal Register:

Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program; Qualifying Life Event Amendments

A Rule by the Personnel Management Office on 07/16/2014

Publication Date: Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Agency: Office of Personnel Management

Dates: This rule is effective August 15, 2014.

Effective Date: 08/15/2014

Entry Type: Rule

Action: Final rule.

Document Citation: 79 FR 41405

Page: 41405 -41406 (2 pages)

CFR: 5 CFR 894

RIN: 3206-AM57

Document Number: 2014-16660

Shorter URL: https://federalregister.gov/a/2014-16660

Action

Final Rule.

Summary

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on December 23, 2013, to amend conditions under which Federal employees and retirees may change enrollment under the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program. This is the final rule.

DATES:

This rule is effective August 15, 2014.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Michael W. Kaszynski, Senior Policy Analyst at [email protected] or (202) 606-0004.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to change some of the requirements for Federal employees and retirees to make enrollment changes under the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP). These expanded enrollment opportunities are intended to better align FEDVIP with specific Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) qualifying life events (QLE). We received no comments on the regulation. The new enrollment opportunities will allow FEDVIP enrollees to make enrollment changes when they get married or return to work after certain periods of leave without pay. FEDVIP enrollees will now be able to enroll or change plans or options when they experience these life events. Previously, enrollees had to wait until the annual Open Season event to make these changes. This better aligns these enrollment opportunities under both the FEDVIP and the FEHB Programs.

The Federal Employee Dental and Vision Benefits Enhancement Act of 2004 provided OPM the opportunity to establish arrangements under which supplemental dental and vision benefits were made available to Federal employees, retirees, and their family members.

FEDVIP is available to eligible Federal and Postal employees, retirees, and their eligible family members on an enrollee-pay-all basis. This program allows dental and vision insurance to be purchased on a group basis with competitive premiums and no pre-existing condition limitations for enrollment. Premiums for enrolled Federal and Postal employees are withheld from salary on a pre-tax basis.

Regulatory Impact Analysis

OPM has examined the impact of this proposed rule as required by Executive Order 12866 and Executive Order 13563, which directs agencies to assess all costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public, health, and safety effects, distributive impacts, and equity). A regulatory impact analysis must be prepared for major rules with economically significant effects of $100 million or more in any one year. This rule is not considered a major rule because there will be a minimal impact on costs to Federal agencies.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

I certify that this regulation will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities because the regulation only adds flexibility to the current enrollment process.

Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Review

This rule has been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget in accordance with Executive Order 12866.

Federalism

We have examined this rule in accordance with Executive Order 13132, Federalism, and have determined that this rule will not have any negative impact on the rights, roles and responsibilities of State, local, or tribal governments.

U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

Katherine Archuleta,

Director.

[*Federal RegisterVJ 2014-07-16]

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