[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 222 (Friday, November 17, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 66828-66829]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-19269]


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OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT

5 CFR Part 890

RIN 3206-AK90


Suspension of Enrollment in the Federal Employees Health Benefits 
(FEHB) Program for Peace Corps Volunteers

AGENCY: Office of Personnel Management.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Personnel Management is issuing a final 
regulation to allow Peace Corps volunteers who are FEHB Program 
enrolled annuitants, survivors, and former spouses to suspend their 
FEHB enrollments and then return to the FEHB Program during the Open 
Season, or return to FEHB coverage immediately, if they involuntarily 
lose health benefits coverage under the Peace Corps. The intent of this 
final rule is to allow these beneficiaries to avoid the expense of 
continuing to pay FEHB Program premiums while they have other health 
coverage as Peace Corps volunteers, without endangering their ability 
to return to the FEHB Program in the future.

DATES: Effective Date: Effective December 18, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael W. Kaszynski, Policy Analyst, 
Insurance Policy, OPM, Room 3425, 1900 E Street, NW., Washington, DC 
20415-0001. Phone number: 202-606-0004. E-mail: [email protected].

[[Page 66829]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) 
allows certain Medicare, Medicaid, CHAMPVA or TRICARE or TRICARE-for-
Life eligible FEHB Program annuitants, survivors, and former spouses to 
suspend their FEHB enrollments and then return to the FEHB Program 
during the Open Season; or return to FEHB coverage immediately, if they 
involuntarily lose coverage. This has allowed these beneficiaries to 
avoid the expense of continuing to pay FEHB Program premiums while they 
are using certain Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE or TRICARE-for-Life or 
CHAMPVA coverage without endangering their ability to return to the 
FEHB Program in the future. We have determined that individuals 
eligible for coverage under the Peace Corps should be allowed the same 
right to suspend FEHB coverage and reenroll in the FEHB Program as we 
afford these other groups. On November 30, 2005, OPM published an 
interim rule in the Federal Register at 70 FR 71749. We received no 
comments on the interim regulation.

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 
affects only health insurance carriers under the Federal Employees 
Health Benefits Program.

Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Review

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

List of Subjects in 5 CFR Part 890

    Administrative practice and procedure, Government employees, Health 
facilities, Health insurance, Health professionals, Hostages, Iraq, 
Kuwait, Lebanon, Military Personnel, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Retirement.

Office of Personnel Management.
Linda M. Springer,
Director.

0
Accordingly, the interim rule amending 5 CFR part 890 which was 
published in the Federal Register at 70 FR 71749, November 30, 2005, is 
adopted as a final rule without change.

[FR Doc. E6-19269 Filed 11-16-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6325-39-P