Extending FEHB to Dependent Parents

By Elizabeth Saloom, August 26, 2003

Legislation has been introduced to give federal employees the option of including their dependent parents under their Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) family enrollment. Rep. Robert E. Andrews, D-NJ, sponsored the bill.

The legislation is very new and it is early on in the process of becoming law. It has been referred to the House Subcommittee on Civil Service. After getting through the subcommittee, it has to go through the full committee and then the entire House and Senate.

Under this bill, feds' parents that have adequate health benefits under another group plan or who are entitled to benefits under the Social Security Act would not be included.

"I have introduced this legislation to help federal employees who are caring for dependent parents who are unable to obtain health insurance of their own," Andrews said.

He said his legislation would allow these employees to obtain medical insurance through federal benefits plan for dependent parents provided that the parents have no other health insurance, are classified as IRS dependents, are over 55 and are not readily employed so as to receive health benefits.

The National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) supports this legislation, said NTEU President Colleen Kelley, but she said she thinks one of the reasons it will stay on the "pending" list is its expense.