Fix FEDVIP Age Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 1287
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-02-13: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- Last Updated
- 2025-06-09T18:07:21Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The "Fix FEDVIP Age Act" (H.R. 1287) aims to expand eligibility for dental and vision insurance under the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP), a benefits program for federal workers, by increasing the age limit for covered dependent children from 22 to 26. This aligns FEDVIP more closely with similar federal health benefits programs.
Key Provisions
- Eligibility Expansion: Amends Section 8901(5) of Title 5, United States Code, to replace all instances of "22" with "26" in defining eligible dependent children for FEDVIP coverage.
- Short Title: The legislation is officially named the "Fix FEDVIP Age Act."
- Scope: Applies specifically to dental and vision insurance benefits for federal employees and eligible family members; no other changes to program rules are specified.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Under current law, dependent children (such as unmarried children or students) lose FEDVIP coverage at age 22.
- The bill raises this cutoff to age 26, allowing coverage for young adults who may still be in education, training, or early career stages without independent insurance.
- This mirrors expansions in the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program, which already covers dependents up to age 26 following the Affordable Care Act's influence.
Potential Impacts
- On Citizens: Federal employees and their families, particularly those with dependents aged 22-26, gain access to continued dental and vision coverage, potentially reducing out-of-pocket costs for preventive care, orthodontics, or vision needs during transitional life stages.
- On Government Agencies: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which oversees FEDVIP, may face slightly higher program costs due to expanded enrollment, though premiums are typically shared between employees and the government. Administrative updates to enrollment systems and communications would be required, but the change is minor in scale.
- On International Relations: No direct impact, as this is a domestic employee benefits adjustment.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Employees and Retirees: Primary beneficiaries, as they can now enroll or maintain coverage for adult children up to age 26.
- Dependent Children (Ages 22-26): Young adults who may be students, disabled, or unmarried, gaining extended access to affordable insurance.
- OPM and Insurance Carriers: Responsible for implementing and funding the program; carriers (private companies offering FEDVIP plans) may see modest enrollment increases.
- Congressional Committees: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform for review and potential passage.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: This is a narrow, technical amendment to federal employee benefits law (Title 5, U.S. Code), requiring no new regulations beyond OPM's implementation. It promotes equity in benefits without altering eligibility criteria for other groups (e.g., spouses or disabled dependents remain unchanged).
- Constitutional: No significant issues; it falls under Congress's authority to regulate federal employment and benefits, with no First Amendment, privacy, or equal protection concerns raised.
- Political: The bill reflects bipartisan interest in supporting federal workers' families amid rising healthcare costs, potentially serving as a low-controversy measure to modernize benefits. If enacted, it could set a precedent for further expansions in federal programs to match private-sector trends, though fiscal conservatives might scrutinize added costs to the federal budget.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26]
Cosponsors (3)
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5], Rep. Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-NY-26]
Recent Actions
- 2025-02-13: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- 2025-02-13: Introduced in House
- 2025-02-13: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Fix FEDVIP Age Act — issued 2025-02-13 — PDF (2 pages)