(a) Each eligible individual obtaining supplemental vision coverage under this chapter shall be responsible for 100 percent of the premiums for such coverage.(b) The Office shall prescribe regulations specifying the terms and conditions under which individuals are required to pay the premiums for enrollment.(c) The amount necessary to pay the premiums for enrollment may-(2) in the case of an annuitant, be withheld from the annuity of such an annuitant;(3) in the case of a covered TRICARE-eligible individual who receives pay from the Federal Government or an annuity from the Federal Government due to the death of a member of the uniformed services (as defined in section 101 of title 10), and is not a former spouse of a member of the uniformed services, be withheld from-(A) the pay (including retired pay) of such individual; or(B) the annuity paid to such individual; or(4) in the case of a covered TRICARE-eligible individual who is not described in paragraph (3), be billed to such individual directly.(d) All amounts withheld under this section shall be paid directly to the qualified company.(e) Each participating qualified company shall maintain accounting records that contain such information and reports as the Office may require.(f)(1) The Employee Health Benefits Fund is available, without fiscal year limitation, for reasonable expenses incurred by the Office in administering this chapter before the first day of the first contract period, including reasonable implementation costs.(2)(A) There is established in the Employees Health Benefits Fund a Vision Benefits Administrative Account, which shall be available to the Office, without fiscal year limitation, to defray reasonable expenses incurred by the Office in administering this chapter after the start of the first contract year.(B) A contract under this chapter shall include appropriate provisions under which the qualified company involved shall, during each year, make such periodic contributions to the Vision Benefits Administrative Account as necessary to ensure that the reasonable anticipated expenses of the Office in administering this chapter during such year are defrayed.Added Pub. L. 108-496, §3, Dec. 23, 2004, 118 Stat. 4009; amended Pub. L. 114-328, §715, 130 Stat. 2222.EDITORIAL NOTES
AMENDMENTS2016-Subsec. (c)(3), (4). Pub. L. 114-328 added pars. (3) and (4).
STATUTORY NOTES AND RELATED SUBSIDIARIES
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2016 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 114-328 applicable with respect to the first contract year for chapter 89A or 89B of this title, as applicable, that begins on or after Jan. 1, 2018, see section 715(c) of Pub. L. 114-328, set out as a note under section 8951 of this title.
EFFECTIVE DATESection effective Dec. 23, 2004, and applicable to contracts that take effect with respect to the calendar year 2006, see section 7 of Pub. L. 108-496, set out as a note under section 8951 of this title.
- Member
- The term "Member" means a Senator in, a Representative in, or a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress.
- Office
- The term "Office" means the Office of Personnel Management.
- eligible individual
- The term "eligible individual" refers to an individual described in paragraph (1), (2), or (8), without regard to whether the individual is enrolled in a health benefits plan under chapter 89.
- employee
- The term "employee" means an employee defined under section 8901(1) and an employee of the District of Columbia courts.
- qualified company
- The term "qualified company" means a company (or consortium of companies or an employee organization defined under section 8901(8)) that offers indemnity, preferred provider organization, health maintenance organization, or discount vision programs and if required is licensed to issue applicable coverage in any number of States, taking any subsidiaries of such a company into account (and, in the case of a consortium, considering the member companies and any subsidiaries thereof, collectively).