Contributions

§ 8906. Contributions (a) Except as provided by subsection (b) of this section, the Government contribution for health benefits for employees or annuitants enrolled in health benefits plans under this chapter, in addition to the contributions required by subsection (c) of this section, is 50 percent of the lowest rates charged by a carrier for a level of benefits offered by a plan under section 8903 (1) or (2) of this title, but— (1) not less than $1.25 or more than $1.75 biweekly for an employee or annuitant who is enrolled for self alone; and (2) not less than $3 or more than $4.25 biweekly for an employee or annuitant who is enrolled for self and family. (b) The Government contribution for an employee or annuitant enrolled in a plan described by section 8903 (3) or (4) of this title for which the biweekly subscription charge is less than twice the Government contribution established under subsection (a) of this section, is 50 percent of the subscription charge. (c) There shall be withheld from the pay of each enrolled employee and the annuity of each enrolled annuitant, and there shall be contributed by the Government, amounts, in the same ratio as the contributions of the employee or annuitant and the Government under subsections (a) and (b) of this section, which are necessary for the administrative costs and the reserves provided for by section 8909 (b) of this title. (d) The amount necessary to pay the total charge for enrollment, after the Government contribution is deducted, shall be withheld from the pay of each enrolled employee and from the annuity of each enrolled annuitant. The withholding for an annuitant shall be the same as that for an employee enrolled in the same health benefits plan and level of benefits. 80 Stat. 605 (e) An employee enrolled in a health benefits plan under this chapter who is placed in a leave without pay status may have his coverage and the coverage of members of his family continued under the plan for not to exceed 1 year under regulations prescribed by the Commission. The regulations may provide for the waiving of contributions by the employee and the Government. (f) The Government contributions for health benefits for an employee shall be paid— (1) in the case of employees generally, from the appropriation or fund which is used to pay the employee; (2) in the case of an elected official, from an appropriation or fund available for payment of other salaries of the same office or establishment; (3) in the case of an employee of the legislative branch who is paid by the Clerk of the House of Representatives, from the contingent fund of the House; and (4) in the case of an employee in a leave without pay status, from the appropriation or fund which would be used to pay the employee if he were in a pay status. (e) The Government contributions authorized by subsection (a) of this section for health benefits for an annuitant shall be paid from annual appropriations which are authorized to be made for that purpose. (f) The Commission shall provide for conversion of biweekly rates of contribution specified by this section to rates for employees and annuitants paid on other than a biweekly basis, and for this purpose may provide for the adjustment of the converted rate to the nearest cent.