Introduction of Federal Employee Disability Insurance Act of 2010

Floor Speech

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* Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I rise to introduce a bill to offer Federal employees supplemental disability insurance at no cost to the Federal Government. My bill will allow Federal employees to collect disability benefits to replace a portion of their income if they become unable to work because of a non-work related injury or illness. While the Federal Government does offer non-work related disability benefits to Federal employees, they do not protect the lost income of employees who become disabled but who have not been employed by the Federal Government for at least 18 months, or 5 years as the case may be, and are disabled for less than 1 year. Under current law, Federal employees hired before 1984 who become disabled for more than 1 year are eligible to collect their Federal employee retirement pension if they have 5 years of creditable civilian service, while Federal employees hired after 1984 who become disabled for 1 year or more cannot collect such benefits unless they have been employed by the Federal Government for 18 months or more. Without the disability insurance option that my bill will offer, a Federal employee who becomes disabled, even for a short time, is at risk of financial ruin.

* My bill is also significant because, although it will require Federal employees to pay 100% of premiums, the purchasing power of the Federal Government will allow Federal employees to pay lower insurance premiums and will not exclude those with preexisting conditions. A Federal employee can still elect to purchase disability insurance in the private marketplace, but they may face higher premiums or even be denied coverage altogether because of a pre-existing condition. This bill is a much needed supplement to the insurance benefits currently available to Federal employees.

* I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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