House approves new dental, vision benefits pkg

[The Straight Story]

House approves new dental, vision benefits package

By Tom Shoop
[e-mail]

The House voted Monday afternoon to allow federal employees to purchase supplemental dental and vision care insurance through the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.

The House passed the legislation (S. 2657) unanimously on a voice vote.
The Senate has already approved the measure, so now it goes to President Bush.

Under the measure, employees must pay the entire cost of the supplemental coverage, but may use pre-tax dollars to do so.

Senate Governmental Affairs Committee Chairwoman Susan Collins, R-Maine, pushed for the bill, along with Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii.

Members of Congress and employee representatives said the measure was necessary to close a gap in coverage between the federal health plan and those provided by most private companies.

http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/1204/120604ts1.htm