THE OPEN SEASON FOR THE FEDERAL EMPLOYEES HEALTH BENEFITS PROGRAM STARTS ON NOVEMER 14

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP87-00868R000100100019-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 15
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 9, 2009
• Sequence Number: 19
• Publication Date: November 9, 1966
• Content Type: LETTER

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/11/09: CIA-RDP87-00868R000100100019-5
Washington, D. C. 20415
November 9, 1966
The open season the Federal Employees Health BeoefiLs Program starts
on November 14 and ends November 90. During this time eligible employees who
are not enrolled may enroll and employees and annuitants who are already
covered under a participating plan may change from one piany option, or type
of coverage (self-only or family) to arar_, _ .or Changes made during the open
season will be effective beginning with the first full pay period in January
1967,
EmployiitE: agencies have already distributed to employees open season in-
structions and brochures or, the two Government-wide plans (Indemnity Benefit
plan and Service Benefit plan) and on comprehensive medicax. pleas, he Com-
mission has mailed to each member of an employee organization with a partic.i?-
pating health benefits plan a brochure on that plan, An employee who wants
the brochure of an employee organization plan which he is eligible to join
may request it from his employing office.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/11/09: CIA-RDP87-00868R000100100019-5
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/11/09: CIA-RDP87-00868R000100100019-5
Jeanette:
The attached amendment to the Federal Employees Health Benefits
Regulations makes changes in three areas. The changes and our actions
on them are:
(1) Increased Government contributions - We have already notified
payrolls of the new deductions resulting from the increased
contributions and they were reflected in paychecks for the
fdrst payperiod after enactment of the bill (July 31, 1966).
(2) Raised Age of "Family member" children from 21 to 22. - We
mentioned this in our Headquarters and Field notices concerning
the forthcoming open season. We also drafted wording for possible
publication of this information in the Support Bulletin.\\
(3) Permit 6ertain Union Officers and Employees to Remain Covered
bY_the.ir Federal Health Insurance Plan While on Extended IWOP
to Serve in Capacity as a Union Offi icial, - I assume we will
never be bothered with this since I understand it is unlikely
that one of our Agency's employees will be elected or appointed
to an office or position, at the national level, of a Federal
employee union such as the American Federation of Government
Employees, National Association of Letter Carriers, etc.
The copies of these changes should be filed with Appendix B (Federal
Employees Health Benefits Regulations) of the Health Benefits Manual
until such time as we receive these changes in the regular FPM Supplement
issuance.
Bill
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/11/09: CIA-RDP87-00868R000100100019-5
 STAT
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/11/09: CIA-RDP87-00868R000100100019-5
w I
UNITED STATES CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
BUREAU OF RETIREMENT AND INSURANCE IN REPLY PLEASE REFER
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20415 RI:INS: I
September 23, 1966
F
President
STAT
Government Employees Health Assn., Inc.
Post office Box 463
Washington, D. C. 20004
L
As we advised you earlier, Public Law 89-504 amended certain pro-
visions of the Federal Employees'Health Benefits Act (now chapter
89 of Title 5, United States Code) to increase the Government
contribution, raise the age to which children are covered to 22,
and permit certain union officers and employees who are on leave
without pay from the Federal service to continue health benefits
coverage by paying the enrollment charges.
These changes in the law required changes in the Commission's
regulations which have now been made, as shown in the attachment.
The regulation amendments were published in the Federal Register
September 21, 1966.
Sincerely yours,
Andrew E. Ruddock
Director
Attachment
THE MERIT SYSTEM-A GOOD INVESTMENT IN GOOD GOVERNMENT
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/11/09: CIA-RDP87-00868R000100100019-5
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/11/09: CIA-RDP87-00868R000100100019-5
TITLE 5 - ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL
CHAPTER I - CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
PART 890 - FEDERAL EMPLOYEES HEALTH BENEFITS PROGRAM
The approval on July 18, 1966, of Public Law 89-504, the "Federal
Salary and Fringe Benefits Act of 1966" has the effect of amending
several provisions of the Federal Employees Health Benefits Act of 1959,
and requires that the regulations be changed to conform to the amended
provisions of the latter Act.
The Commission has found that it is impracticable, unnecessary,
and contrary to the ~~
public interest to give Preliminary notice, engage
in public-rule making procedure, and postpone the effective dates of
the amendments until 30 days after publication thereof in the Federal
Register because it was the express intent of Congress that the amend-
ments should become effective on dates provided by Public Law 89-504,
and, to effectuate the declared policy of the Act, these amendments to
the regulations should become effective as of that date.
Therefore, it is ordered that these amendments are effective the first day of the first as of
pay period which begins on or after July 18,
1966, except for the amendment of section 890.303, which is
July 18, 1966. effective
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/11/09: CIA-RDP87-00868R000100100019-5
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/11/09: CIA-RDP87-00868R000100100019-5
V
Section 890.302(b) is amended to read as follows:
?890.302 Coverage of family members.
# # a; ~
(b) Child incapable of self-support.
When an employee or annuitant enrolls for a family which includes
a child incapable of self-support who has become 22 years of age, the
employing office shall require the employee or annuitant to submit a
certificate of the physician that the child is incapable of self-support
because of a physical or mental disability which existed before the
child became. 22 years of age, and can be expected to continue for more
than 1 year. The certificate shall include a statement of the name of
the child, the nature of his disability, the period of time it has
existed, and its probable future course and duration. The certificate
shall be signed by the physician and show his office address. When an
employee or annuitant is enrolled for a family which includes a child
under 22 years of age who is incapable of self-support because of a'
physical or mental disability, the employing office shall require the
employee or annuitant to submit the certificate on or before the date
the child becomes 22 years of age. However, the employing office may
accept otherwise satisfactory evidence of incapacity not timely filed.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/11/09: CIA-RDP87-00868R000100100019-5
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/11/09: CIA-RDP87-00868R000100100019-5
Subsection 890.303(e) is amended to read as follows:
X3890.303 Continuation of enrollment.
(e) It1 nonpa status.
Except as provided in section !06(b)' (c) of
regard to an employee on leave Public Law 89-50~ in
without
pay to serve as a full-tie
officer or employee of an employee organization, the enr
employee continues ?llment.of an
without cost to the employee while he is in nonpay
status for up to 365 days. The 365 days' nonPa
tinuouor broken b Y status may be con-
s periods of less than four
pay sta consecutive months in
tus. If an employee has at least four consecutive Pay status after a months in
period of nonpay status he
365 days continuation of e is entitled to begin the
nrollment anew. For the purposes of this
paragraph, four consecutive
months in pay status means any Period during which the employee is -month
in pay status for at least part of
each pay period.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/11/09: CIA-RDP87-00868R000100100019-5
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/11/09: CIA-RDP87-00868R000100100019-5
? 9
Section 890.501 is amended to read as follows:
1890.501 Government contributions.
(a) The Government contribution for all plans, except those for
which another contribution is set by paragraph (b) of this section,
for each enrolled employee who is paid biweekly, is the amount provided
in section 8906 of title 5, U.S.C., as amended, plus four per cent of
that amount.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/11/09: CIA-RDP87-00868R000100100019-5
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/11/09: CIA-RDP87-00868R000100100019-5
w w
TITLE 5 - ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL
CHAPTER I - CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
PART 890 - FEDERAL EMPLOYEES HEALTH BENEFITS PROGRAM
The approval on July 18, 1966, of Public Law 89-504, the "Federal
Salary and Fringe Benefits Act of 1966" has the effect of amending
several provisions of the Federal Employees Health Benefits Act of 1959,
and requires that the regulations be changed to conform to the amended
provisions of the latter Act.
The Commission has found that it is impracticable, unnecessary,
and contrary to the public interest to give preliminary notice, engage
in public-rule making procedure, and postpone the effective dates of
the amendments until 30 days after publication thereof in the Federal
Register because it was the express intent of Congress that the amend-
ments should become effective on dates provided by Public Law 89-504,
and, to effectuate the declared policy of the Act, these amendments to
the regulations should become effective as of that date.
Therefore, it is ordered that these amendments are effective as of
the first day of the first pay period which begins on or after July 18,
1966, except for the amendment of section 890.303, which is effective
July 18, 1966.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/11/09: CIA-RDP87-00868R000100100019-5
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/11/09: CIA-RDP87-00868R000100100019-5
s w
Section 890.302(b) is amended to read as follows:
?890.302 Coverage of family embers.
# # # #
(b) Child incapable of self-support.
When an employee or annuitant enrolls for a family which includes
a child incapable of self-support who has become 22 years of age, the
employing office shall require the employee or annuitant to submit a
certificate of the physician that the child is incapable of self-support
because of a physical or mental disability which existed before the
child became 22 years of age, and can be expected to continue for more
than 1 year. The certificate shall include a statement of the name of
the child, the nature of his disability, the period of time it has
existed, and its probable future course and duration. The certificate
shall be signed by the physician and show his office address. When an
employee or annuitant is enrolled for a family which includes a child
under 22 years of age who is incapable of self-support because of a
physical or mental disability, the employing office shall require the
employee or annuitant to submit the certificate on or before the date
the child becomes 22 years of age. However, the employing office may
accept otherwise satisfactory evidence of incapacity not timely filed.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/11/09: CIA-RDP87-00868R000100100019-5
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/11/09: CIA-RDP87-00868R000100100019-5
w
Except as provided in section 406(b), (c) of Public Law 89-50L in
regard to an employee on leave without pay to serve as a full-time
officer or employee of an employee organization, the enrollment of an
employee continues without cost to the employee while he is in nonpay
status for up to 365 days. The 365 days' nonpay status may be con-
tinuous or broken by periods of less than four consecutive months in
pay status. If an employee has at least four consecutive months in
Subsection 890.303(e) is amended to read as follows:
?890.303 Continuation of enrollment.
(e) Ih_nonpay status.
pay status after a period of nonpay status he is entitled to begin the
365 days' continuation of enrollment anew. For the purposes of this
paragraph, four consecutive months in pay status means any 4-month
period during which the employee is in pay status for at least part of
each pay period.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/11/09: CIA-RDP87-00868R000100100019-5
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/11/09: CIA-RDP87-00868R000100100019-5
Section 890.501 is amended to read as follows:
?890.501 Government contributions.
(a) The Government contribution for all plans, except those for
which another contribution is set by paragraph (b) of this section,
for each enrolled employee who is paid biweekly, is the amount provided
in section 8906 of title 5, U.S.C., as amended, plus four per cent of
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/11/09: CIA-RDP87-00868R000100100019-5
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/11/09: CIA-RDP87-00868R000100100019-5
i w
TITLE 5 - ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL
CHAPTER I - CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
PART 890 - FEDERAL EMPLOYEES HEALTH. BENEFITS PROGRAM
The approval on July 18, 1966, of Public Law 89-504, the "Federal
Salary and Fringe Benefits Act of 1966" has the effect of amending
several provisions of the Federal Employees Health Benefits Act of 1959,
and requires that the regulations be changed to conform to the amended
provisions of the latter Act.
The Commission has found that it is impracticable, unnecessary,
and contrary to the public interest to give preliminary notice, engage
in public-rule making procedure, and postpone the effective dates of
the amendments until 30 days after publication thereof in the Federal
Register because it was the express intent of Congress that the amend-
ments should become effective on dates provided by Public Law 89-504,
and, to effectuate the declared policy of the Act, these amendments to
the regulations should become effective as of that date.
Therefore, it is ordered that these amendments are effective as of
the first day of the first pay period which begins on or after July 18,
1966, except for the amendment of section 890.303, which is effective
July 18, 1966.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/11/09: CIA-RDP87-00868R000100100019-5
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/11/09: CIA-RDP87-00868R000100100019-5
w w
When an employee or annuitant enrolls for a family which includes
a child incapable of self-support who has become 22 years of age, the
employing office shall require the employee or annuitant to submit a
certificate of the physician that the child is incapable of self-support
because of a physical or mental disability which existed before the
child became., years of age, and can be expected to continue for more
than 1 year. The certificate shall include a statement of the name of
the child, the nature of his disability, the period of time it has
existed, and its probable future course and duration. The certificate
shall be signed by the physician and show his office address. When an
employee or annuitant is enrolled for a family which includes a child
under 22 years of age who is incapable of self-support because of a
Section 890.302(b) is amended to read as follows:
?890.302 Coverage of family members.
(b) Child incapable of self-support.
physical or mental disability, the employing office shall require the
employee or annuitant to submit the certificate on or before the date
the child becomes 22 years of age. However, the employing office may
accept otherwise satisfactory evidence of incapacity not timely filed.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/11/09: CIA-RDP87-00868R000100100019-5
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/11/09: CIA-RDP87-00868R000100100019-5
Subsection 890.303(e) is amended to read as follows:
?890.303 Continuation of enrollment.
(e) Iii n_atus .
Except as provided in section L06(b), (c) of Public Law 89-504 in
regard to an employee on leave without pay to serve as a full-time
officer or employee of an employee organization, the enrollment. of an
employee continues without cost to the employee while he is in nonpay
status for up to 365 days. The 365 days' nonpay status may be con-
tinuous or broken by periods of less than four consecutive months in
pay status. If an employee has at least four consecutive months in
pay status after a period of nonpay status he is entitled to begin the
365 days' continuation of enrollment anew. For the purposes of this
paragraph, four consecutive months in pay status means any )-month
period during which the employee is in pay status for at least part of
each pay period.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/11/09: CIA-RDP87-00868R000100100019-5
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/11/09: CIA-RDP87-00868R000100100019-5
Section 890.501 is amended to read as follows:
1890.501 Government contributions.
(a) The Government contribution for all plans, except those for
which another contribution is set by paragraph (b) of this section,
for each enrolled employee who is paid biweekly, is the amount provided
in section 8906 of title 5, U.S.C., as amended, plus four per cent of
that amount.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/11/09: CIA-RDP87-00868R000100100019-5