H.R. 2004House116th Congress (2019-2021)In Committee

Ensuring FEDVIP and FLTCIP Coverage During Shutdowns Act

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Updated April 14, 2026 at 3:53 AM UTC

The Ensuring FEDVIP and FLTCIP Coverage During Shutdowns Act changes federal law so that during a government shutdown, federal workers’ supplemental dental, vision, and long‑term care insurance remain in force and cannot be cancelled because premiums aren’t paid while they are furloughed or working without pay. It also requires the Office of Personnel Management to set up rules to pay those missed premiums from the employee’s back‑pay once the shutdown ends. The bill affects all federal employees and uniformed service members who have these benefits.

Key Provisions

Adds a rule that if a federal employee (or uniformed service member) is furloughed or working without pay because of a lapse in appropriations, their supplemental dental coverage under FEDVIP cannot be cancelled for non‑payment of premiums during the shutdown.
Adds a similar rule for supplemental vision coverage under FEDVIP, preventing cancellation for non‑payment while the employee is furloughed or working without pay.
Adds a rule that long‑term care insurance coverage (FLTCIP) for eligible employees or service members also continues and cannot be cancelled for non‑payment of premiums during a shutdown.
Directs the Office of Personnel Management to issue regulations so that any unpaid premiums caused by the shutdown are paid to the insurance carriers from the employee’s back‑pay as soon as practicable after the shutdown ends.
Applies these rules to all existing or future contracts for supplemental dental, vision, or long‑term care insurance under the relevant sections of Title 5.

Legislative Activity

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3 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

Oversight and Government Reform Committee

June 12, 2019

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

April 1, 2019

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.

Oversight and Government Reform Committee

April 1, 2019

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Oversight and Government Reform Committee

June 12, 2019

HouseCommittee

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

Oversight and Government Reform Committee

June 12, 2019

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued April 1, 2019

116th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 2004

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 1, 2019

Mr. Cummings (for himself, Mr. Connolly, Mr. Meadows, Ms. Clark of Massachusetts, Mr. Young, and Mr. Taylor) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform

A BILL

To amend title 5, United States Code, to continue supplemental dental and vision benefits and long-term care insurance coverage for Federal employees affected by a Government shutdown, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Ensuring FEDVIP and FLTCIP Coverage During Shutdowns Act.

Continuing supplemental dental and vision benefits and long-term care insurance coverage during a Government shutdown

(a)

In general

Title 5, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

in section 8956, by adding at the end the following:

(d)

Coverage under a dental benefits plan under this chapter for any employee enrolled in such a plan and who, as a result of a lapse in appropriations, is furloughed or excepted from furlough and working without pay shall continue during such lapse and may not be cancelled as a result of nonpayment of premiums or other periodic charges due to such lapse.

;

(2)

in section 8986, by adding at the end the following:

(d)

Coverage under a vision benefits plan under this chapter for any employee enrolled in such a plan and who, as a result of a lapse in appropriations, is furloughed or excepted from furlough and working without pay shall continue during such lapse and may not be cancelled as a result of nonpayment of premiums or other periodic charges due to such lapse.

; and

(3)

in section 9003, by adding at the end the following:

(e)

Effect of Government shutdown

Coverage under a master contract under this chapter for long-term care insurance for an employee or member of the uniformed services enrolled under such contract and who, due to a lapse in appropriations, is furloughed or excepted from furlough and working without pay shall continue during such lapse and may not be cancelled as a result of nonpayment of premiums or other periodic charges due to such lapse.

(b)

Regulations

The Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall prescribe regulations under which premiums for supplemental dental, supplemental vision, or long-term care insurance under chapter 89A, 89B, or 90 (respectively) of title 5, United States Code, (as amended by subsection (a)) that are unpaid by an employee or member of the uniformed services (as the case may be), as a result of that employee or member being furloughed or excepted from furlough and working without pay as a result of a lapse in appropriations, are paid to the applicable carrier from back pay made available to the employee or member as soon as practicable upon the end of such lapse.

(c)

Application

The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply to any contract for supplemental dental, supplemental vision, or long-term care insurance under chapter 89A, 89B, or 90 (respectively) of title 5, United States Code, entered into before, on, or after the date of enactment of this Act.