To make the Federal employees health benefits program available to individuals age 55 to 65 who would not otherwise have health insurance.

Referred to the House Committee on Government Reform.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jan 4, 2005

Permits any individual who is at least 55 but less than 65 years of age and who has not been covered under any health insurance policy for at least the preceding 30 days to enroll in an approved Federal employees' health insurance plan, for self only, so long as such individual pays the total subscription charges (equal to the employee and agency contributions that would be required) into the Employees Health Benefits Fund.

Prohibits an individual from: (1) enrolling or remaining enrolled in such a plan under this Act after attaining age 65; and (2) re-enrolling whether termination was voluntary or involuntary.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Dreier, David [R-CA-26] · R–CA

Committees

Oversight and Government Reform Committee

0 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Jan 4, 2005
Referred to the House Committee on Government Reform.
Jan 4, 2005
Introduced in House
Jan 4, 2005
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Jan 4, 2005 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Feb 4, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.55 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.55, 109th Congress: To make the Federal employees health benefits program available to individuals age 55 to 65 who would not otherwise have health insurance.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/house-bill/55

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2005-01-04.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/109/bills/hr55/BILLS-109hr55ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-02-04T16:55:25Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.55 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.55 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.55, 109th Congress: To make the Federal employees health benefits program available to individuals age 55 to 65 who would not otherwise have health insurance.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/house-bill/55

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2005-01-04.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/109/bills/hr55/BILLS-109hr55ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-02-04T16:55:25Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.55 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.55 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.55, 109th Congress: To make the Federal employees health benefits program available to individuals age 55 to 65 who would not otherwise have health insurance.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/house-bill/55

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2005-01-04.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/109/bills/hr55/BILLS-109hr55ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-02-04T16:55:25Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.55 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.55 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.55, 109th Congress: To make the Federal employees health benefits program available to individuals age 55 to 65 who would not otherwise have health insurance.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/house-bill/55

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2005-01-04.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/109/bills/hr55/BILLS-109hr55ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-02-04T16:55:25Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.55 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.