[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 246 (Monday, December 23, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 77366-77367]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-30413]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT

5 CFR Part 894

RIN 3206-AM57


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

AGENCY: U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

ACTION: Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing a 
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to change some conditions under which 
Federal employees may change an enrollment status under the Federal 
Employee Dental and Vision Insurance Program. OPM is proposing these 
changes to expand the opportunities for FEDVIP enrollment changes and 
therefore better align FEDVIP with the Federal Employees Health 
Benefits (FEHB) Program.

DATES: Comment date: Comments are due on or before February 21, 2014.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by RIN number ``3206-
AM57'' using any of the following methods:
    Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments.
    Mail: Planning and Policy Analysis, U.S. Office of Personnel 
Management, 1900 E Street NW., Washington, DC 20415, Michael W. 
Kaszynski.

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) is issuing a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to change some of the 
requirements for Federal employees to make enrollment changes under the 
Federal Employee Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP). OPM is 
proposing these changes to expand the opportunities for FEDVIP 
enrollment changes and therefore better align FEDVIP with the Federal 
Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program.
    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. Premiums for enrolled federal and postal 
employees are withheld from salary on a pre-tax basis.
    Enrollment takes place during the annual Federal Benefits Open 
Season in November and December of each year. New and newly eligible 
employees can enroll within 60 days after they become eligible.
    Eligible individuals can enroll in a dental plan and/or a vision 
plan. Individuals may enroll in a plan for Self-only, Self plus one, or 
Self and family coverage. The rules for family members' eligibility are 
the same as they are for the FEHB Program.
    OPM is proposing to expand enrollment opportunities so FEDVIP 
enrollees can make enrollment changes under the same qualifying life 
events (QLEs) as enrollees under the FEHB Program. This Notice of 
Proposed rulemaking is intended to authorize this change.

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

[[Page 77367]]

impact on the rights, roles and responsibilities of State, local, or 
tribal governments.

List of Subjects in 5 CFR Part 894

    Administrative practice and procedure, Employee benefit plans, 
Government employees, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Retirement.

U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
Katherine Archuleta,
Director.

    Accordingly, OPM proposes to amend 5 CFR part 894 as follows:

PART 894--FEDERAL EMPLOYEE DENTAL AND VISION PROGRAM

0
1. The authority citation for part 894 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 8962; 5 U.S.C. 8992; subpart C also issued 
under sec. 1 of Pub. L. 110-279, 122 Stat. 2604.

Subpart A--Administration and General Provisions

0
2. Section 894.101 is amended by removing the definition of QLE and 
adding in its place a definition of QLE qualifying life event to read 
as follows:


Sec.  894.101  Definitions.

* * * * *
    QLE qualifying life event means an event in this part 894 that 
permits an enrollment change and also includes all applicable QLEs 
defined in 5 CFR part 892 allowing enrollment in FEHB for those making 
pre-tax payment of FEHB premiums.
* * * * *

Subpart E--Enrolling and Changing Enrollment

0
3. Section 894.502 is amended as follows:


Sec.  894.502  What are the Qualifying Life Events (QLEs) that allow me 
to enroll?

    QLEs allowing enrollment in FEDVIP include the QLEs described in 
this part 894 and include applicable QLEs in 5 CFR part 892 allowing 
enrollment in FEHB for those making pre-tax payment of FEHB premiums.
0
4. Section 894.507 is amended by adding new paragraph (c) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  894.507  After I'm enrolled, may I change from one dental or 
vision plan or plan option to another?

* * * * *
    (c) Outside of open season, you may change from one dental and/or 
vision plan to another plan or one plan option to another option if you 
have experienced a QLE. QLEs for dental and vision coverage are 
described in this part 894 and 5 CFR part 892 allowing enrollment in 
FEHB for those making pre-tax payment of FEHB premiums.
0
5. Section 894.508 is amended by revising paragraph (e) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  894.508  When may I increase my type of enrollment?

* * * * *
    (e) QLEs for dental and vision coverage are described in this part 
894 and 5 CFR part 892 allowing enrollment in FEHB for those making 
pre-tax payment of FEHB premiums.
[FR Doc. 2013-30413 Filed 12-20-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6325-63-P