GovernmentExecutive.com

Senior House lawmakers on Tuesday pressed the Office of Personnel Management to explore options for expanding federal workers' dental and vision health care benefits, but a senior OPM official said the agency has not yet looked into the issue and currently has no plans to do so.

Rep. Jo Ann Davis, R-Va., held a hearing of the House Government Reform Subcommittee on Civil Service and Agency Organization to discuss the dental and vision benefits available to federal employees. Davis, the subcommittee chairwoman, introduced legislation (H.R. 3751) earlier this year that would compel OPM to examine ways to enhance those benefits.

"It is a black mark against the federal government that its current dental and vision offerings are so meager," she said.

House Government Reform Committee Chairman Tom Davis, R-Va., praised the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, but said it needs to be updated and improved. FEHBP provides health care coverage for 8.3 million federal employees, retirees and their families.

"While dental benefits are currently available under most plans in the FEHBP, coverage is very limited," Tom Davis said. "In addition, vision care is only available through HMOs."

Abby Block, the OPM deputy associate director for Employee and Family Support Policy, told the subcommittee that the Bush administration has not taken a position on the legislation. While Block said she was willing to answer lawmakers' questions, she responded to almost every query by saying that the White House has not yet developed an opinion on expanding dental and vision benefits.

She said also that the administration has no time line in place for developing such a position.

When asked if federal employees actually want greater dental and vision benefits, Block said she could not speak for federal employees' desires. She also would not agree to conduct a survey to measure federal employees' opinion on the subject.

"I'm not in a position to promise we could do such a survey," Block said.

Jo Ann Davis' proposed resolution would require OPM to develop recommendations on federal dental and vision benefits by June 30, 2004. Block said that the Bush administration is opposed to any congressional requirements to make recommendations.

COMMENTS

• Whatever. All this clamoring for benefits that are just a mirage anyway. If you need expensive coverage, insurers feel more empowered to give federal workers the shaft because we aren't protected by state insurance laws, and OPM pretty much does nothing but rubber stamp insurers' graft. Anon Posted June 20, 2007 4:22 AM
• It's so sad that with all the added duties and responsibilities foisted upon CBP Legacy Officers (Immigration, Customs, and Agriculture), OPM refuses to recognize that a decent Dental Insurance Plan ought to be added to our paltry Health Insurance Package. Ironically, NY State and City Employees enjoy more comprehensive Health Insurance Packages than Federal Employees. It doesn't sit well that those CBP Officers entrusted with the responsibility of providing the first line of defense against terrorism, cant afford Dental Care for themselves or their loved ones. In an agency that emphasizes professional appearance; a toothless work force just doesn't cut it. Wake up OPM, stop treating Federal Employees as 3rd class citizens. We deserve Health Insurance that is at the minimum, on par with those provided by state and local governments! GovExec.com reader Posted December 12, 2004 1:12 AM
• The last comment about hearing loss is particularly poignant. I lost most of my hearing as a technician in, of all things, a rock concert. The "dead speaker" came alive, and both my eardrums burst. Most of the cost of my hearing aids are not covered by my federal plan, and I now need upgrades...for my job. The upgrades cost even more than the original ones cost, but again, no coverage. I hear from others in private industry, which I left some years ago, that their hearing aids were completely covered. Dental coverage is a joke. I was hit in the face by someone breaking into my apartment, and teeth lost. Yet still I got little coverage. I cannot believe we are so poorly covered for basic things like this. Please listen to us! Helen GovExec.com reader Posted March 22, 2004 10:45 AM