[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6580 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 6580

  To amend title 5, United States Code, to allow veterans who receive 
health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs to be eligible for 
 supplemental dental and vision insurance under the Federal Employees 
                        Health Benefits Program.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 26, 2012

  Ms. Fudge introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
 Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the 
    Committee on Veterans' Affairs, 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 5, United States Code, to allow veterans who receive 
health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs to be eligible for 
 supplemental dental and vision insurance under 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. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Dental and Vision Benefits 
Act of 2012''.

SEC. 2. ELIGIBILITY OF VETERANS FOR SUPPLEMENTAL DENTAL AND VISION 
              INSURANCE.

    (a) Dental Benefits.--
            (1) In general.--Section 8951 of title 5, United States 
        Code, is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (3)--
                            (i) by inserting ``or a covered veteran 
                        described in paragraph (8)'' after ``paragraph 
                        (1) or (2)''; and
                            (ii) by inserting ``or the covered 
                        veteran'' after ``the individual''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraph:
            ``(8) The term `covered veteran' means a veteran who is 
        enrolled in the health care system established under section 
        1705(a) of title 38.''.
            (2) Premium support for veterans facing hardship.--Section 
        8958(a) of title 5, United States Code, is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``Each eligible'' and inserting 
                ``(1) Except as provided by paragraph (2), each 
                eligible''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraph:
    ``(2) If the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines that a 
covered veteran obtaining supplemental dental coverage under this 
chapter is unable to pay the premiums described in paragraph (1) 
because of financial hardship, such veteran shall not be responsible 
for any of such premiums.''.
    (b) Vision Benefits.--
            (1) In general.--Section 8981 of title 5, United States 
        Code, is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (3)--
                            (i) by inserting ``or a covered veteran 
                        described in paragraph (8)'' after ``paragraph 
                        (1) or (2)''; and
                            (ii) by inserting ``or the covered 
                        veteran'' after ``the individual''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraph:
            ``(8) The term `covered veteran' means a veteran who is 
        enrolled in the health care system established under section 
        1705(a) of title 38.''.
            (2) Premium support for veterans facing hardship.--Section 
        8988(a) of title 5, United States Code, is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``Each eligible'' and inserting 
                ``(1) Except as provided by paragraph (2), each 
                eligible''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraph:
    ``(2) If the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines that a 
covered veteran obtaining supplemental vision coverage under this 
chapter is unable to pay the premiums described in paragraph (1) 
because of financial hardship, such veteran shall not be responsible 
for any of such premiums.''.
    (c) Cooperation.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall cooperate 
with the Director of the Office of Personnel Management to ensure that 
a veteran who is enrolled in the health care system established under 
section 1705(a) of title 38, United States Code, is eligible for the 
supplemental dental and vision insurance benefits under chapters 89A 
and 89B of title 5, United States Code.
    (d) Outreach.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may conduct 
outreach to inform veterans of the supplemental dental and vision 
insurance provided to veterans under the Federal Employees Health 
Benefits Program pursuant to chapters 89A and 89B of title 5, United 
States Code, as amended by this section.
    (e) Reports.--Once during each three-year period beginning on the 
date of the enactment of this Act and ending on the date that is nine 
years after the date of such enactment, the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall submit to Congress a report on the implementation of 
providing veterans with supplemental dental and vision insurance under 
the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program pursuant to chapters 89A 
and 89B of title 5, United States Code, as amended by this section.
    (f) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
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