§8988 Premiums

Summary

People who get the supplemental vision coverage must pay 100 percent of the premiums. The Office will make simple rules about how and when people must pay. For workers, the premium can be taken out of their pay. For retirees who get annuities, it can be taken from their annuity. A covered TRICARE-eligible person who receives federal pay or an annuity because a service member died (and who is not a former spouse) can have the premium taken from that pay or annuity. Other covered TRICARE-eligible people will be billed directly. Money taken out this way must be sent straight to the qualified company. Each participating company must keep the accounting records the Office asks for. The Employee Health Benefits Fund can pay reasonable start-up costs incurred before the first day of the first contract period. After the first contract year begins, a Vision Benefits Administrative Account in that Fund will pay ongoing Office expenses, and each contract must require the company to make yearly contributions to cover those expected expenses.