H.R.6580

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.