Laws Affecting the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program

[Excerpt] For more than 50 years, the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program has been providing health insurance coverage to federal employees, retirees, and their dependents. It is the largest employer-sponsored health insurance program in the country, covering about 8.2 million enrollees each year. This report tracks legislative changes to FEHB. The report includes brief discussions of how Congress has changed FEHB through legislative action, including by restricting the use of federal funds; changing the formula for determining the government’s share of FEHB premiums; expanding eligibility for the program; and implementing policies that affect the relationship between Medicare and FEHB. The Appendix includes detailed summaries of selected laws or provisions of laws that have amended or changed FEHB