[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 136 (Wednesday, July 16, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 41405-41406]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-16660]



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 Rules and Regulations
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  Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 136 / Wednesday, July 16, 2014 / 
Rules and Regulations  

[[Page 41405]]



OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT

5 CFR Part 894

RIN 3206-AM57


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

AGENCY: U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

ACTION: Final rule.

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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.

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 amends 5 CFR Part 894 as follows:

PART 894--FEDERAL EMPLOYEES DENTAL AND VISION INSURANCE 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 section 1 of Pub. L. 110-279, 122 Stat. 2604.

Subpart E--Enrollment and Changing Enrollment

0
2. In Sec.  894.501, revise paragraphs (c) and (d) and add new 
paragraphs (e) and (f) to read as follows:


Sec.  894.501  When may I enroll?

* * * * *
    (c) Within 60 days of when you return to service following a break 
in service of at least 30 days;
    (d) From 31 days before you or an eligible family member loses 
other dental/vision coverage to 60 days after a QLE that allows you to 
enroll;
    (e) From 31 days before you get married to 60 days after; or
    (f) Within 60 days after returning to Federal employment after 
being on leave without pay if you did not have Federal dental or vision 
coverage prior to going on leave without pay, or your coverage was 
terminated or canceled during your period of leave without pay.

0
3. In Sec.  894.502, revise paragraphs (b) and (c) and add new 
paragraphs (d) and (e) to read as follows:


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

* * * * *
    (b) Your annuity or compensation is restored after having been 
terminated;
    (c) You return to pay status after being on leave without pay due 
to deployment to active military duty;

[[Page 41406]]

    (d) You get married; or
    (e) You return to Federal employment after being on leave without 
pay if you did not have Federal dental or vision coverage prior to 
going on leave without pay, or your coverage was terminated or canceled 
during your period of leave without pay.

0
4. In Sec.  894.507, revise paragraph (a) 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?

    (a) You may change from one dental and/or vision plan to another 
plan or one plan option to another option in that same plan during the 
annual open season, when you get married, or when you return to Federal 
employment after being on leave without pay if you did not have Federal 
dental or vision coverage prior to going on leave without pay, or your 
coverage was terminated or canceled during your period of leave without 
pay.
* * * * *

0
5. In Sec.  894.508, revise paragraph (e) to read as follows:


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

* * * * *
    (e) You may not change from one dental or vision plan to another, 
except as stated in Sec.  894.507.

[FR Doc. 2014-16660 Filed 7-15-14; 8:45 am]
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