[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1244 Introduced in House (IH)]






109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1244

To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide health care coverage 
for spouses and children of members of the uniformed services on active 
      duty through the Federal Employees Health Benefits program.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 10, 2005

  Mr. Israel introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
   Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on 
 Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
  Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
           within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide health care coverage 
for spouses and children of members of the uniformed services on active 
      duty through the Federal Employees Health Benefits program.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. HEALTH CARE COVERAGE FOR SPOUSES AND CHILDREN OF MEMBERS OF 
              THE UNIFORMED SERVICES THROUGH FEDERAL EMPLOYEES HEALTH 
              BENEFITS PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--(1) Chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after section 1108 the following new section:
``Sec. 1108a. Health care coverage through Federal Employees Health 
              Benefits program for spouses and children
    ``(a) FEHBP Option.--The Secretary of Defense, after consulting 
with the other administering Secretaries, shall enter into an agreement 
with the Office of Personnel Management under which eligible 
beneficiaries described in subsection (b) may enroll in health benefits 
plans offered through the Federal Employees Health Benefits program 
under chapter 89 of title 5.
    ``(b) Eligible Beneficiaries; Coverage.--(1) An eligible 
beneficiary under this subsection is a member of the uniformed services 
who is on active duty for a period of more than 30 days with a 
dependent described in subparagraphs (A), (D), or (I) of section 
1072(2).
    ``(2) Eligible beneficiaries may enroll in a Federal Employees 
Health Benefits plan under chapter 89 of title 5 under this section for 
self and family coverage that includes any dependent of the member who 
is a family member for purposes of such chapter.
    ``(3) A person eligible for coverage under this subsection shall 
not be required to satisfy any eligibility criteria specified in 
chapter 89 of title 5 as a condition for enrollment in health benefits 
plans offered through the Federal Employees Health Benefits program.
    ``(4) An eligible beneficiary is not eligible to enroll in a 
Federal Employees Health Benefits plan under this section if a 
dependent referred to in paragraph (1) of the beneficiary is eligible 
to enroll in the Federal Employees Health Benefits program as an 
employee under chapter 89 of title 5.
    ``(c) Prohibition Against Dependents' Use of MTFs and Enrollment 
Under TRICARE.--Dependents of covered beneficiaries under this chapter 
who are provided coverage under the FEHBP shall not be eligible to 
receive care at a military medical treatment facility or to enroll in a 
heath care plan under the TRICARE program.
    ``(d) Charges.--The Director shall determine total subscription 
charges for family coverage for eligible beneficiaries who enroll in a 
health benefits plan under chapter 89 of title 5 in accordance with 
this section. The subscription charges shall include premium charges 
paid to the plan and amounts described in section 8906(c) of title 5 
for administrative expenses and contingency reserves.
    ``(e) Government Contributions.--The Secretary of Defense shall be 
responsible for the Government contribution for an eligible beneficiary 
who enrolls in a health benefits plan under chapter 89 of title 5 in 
accordance with this section, except that the amount of the 
contribution may not exceed the amount of the Government contribution 
which would be payable if the electing beneficiary were an employee (as 
defined for purposes of such chapter) enrolled in the same health 
benefits plan and level of benefits.''.
    (2) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is 
amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1108 the 
following new item:

``1108a. Health care coverage through Federal Employees Health Benefits 
                            program.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--Section 1108a of title 10, United States Code, 
as added by subsection (a), shall take effect six months after the date 
of the enactment of this Act.
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