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HR 4498 108th Congress House

Small Employers Health Benefits Program Act of 2004

Official title: To establish a national health program administered by the Office of Personnel Management to offer health benefits plans to individuals who are not Federal employees, and for other purposes.

Introduced: June 8, 2004 See on congress.gov
Health Administrative procedureCatastrophic health insuranceCivil Rights and Liberties, Minority IssuesCommerce
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Competitive biddingCongressCongressional reporting requirementsCost accountingDiscrimination in insuranceDiscrimination in medical careEconomics and Public FinanceElectronic government informationEmployee health benefitsFederal employeesFederal preemptionFinance and Financial SectorGovernment Operations and PoliticsGovernment contractorsGovernment employees' health insuranceGovernment paperworkGovernment publicityHealth insuranceHealth insurance continuationIncome taxIndexing (Economic policy)Insurance premiumsInternetLabor and EmploymentLawMedical economicsMedically uninsuredMedicareNonprofit organizationsOffice of Personnel ManagementRebatesReinsuranceScience, Technology, CommunicationsSelf-employedSmall businessSocial WelfareSubsidiesTax creditsTax refundsTaxation
This bill died when the 108th Congress ended
It never became law before the 108th Congress (2003–2004) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 25, 2004
Referred to the Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations.
Jun 10, 2004
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Jun 3, 2004
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Jun 3, 2004
Introduced in House
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 Latest action June 25, 2004

Referred to the Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Small Employers Health Benefits Program Act of 2004 - Directs the Office of Personnel Management to administer a separate health insurance program for non-Federal employees who are either self-employed or employees of a small business with fewer than 100 employees.

Allows the Office to contract with carriers to provide health insurance under this Act. Requires rates charged to reasonably and equitably reflect the costs of the benefits provided. Permits rates and premiums to vary based on age but not on health status factors.

Permits the Office to reimburse a carrier for costs that exceed premiums received by a specified percentage. Requires a carrier to make payments to a contingency reserve fund established by the Office if the carrier's costs are lower than expected by a specified percentage. Allows the Office to use such funds to provide assistance to carriers that experience unanticipated financial hardships.

Requires the Office to establish a reinsurance fund to provide payments to carriers that experience a catastrophic claim (a claim over $50,000) for benefits provided to an individual enrolled under this Act.

Allows a participating employer to offer supplemental coverage options to employees for excepted benefits that are not subject to the Public Health Service Act requirements for health plans.

Authorizes the Office to contract with entities to administer this health program regionally.

Allows certain benefits to be offered to Medicare beneficiaries.

Requires the Office to implement a public education campaign regarding this health insurance program.

Allows a refundable tax credit for health insurance expenses of small employers who pay a specific percentage of employee expenses under such a health plan.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4498: Small Employers Health Benefits Program Act of 2004. 108th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-4498/
MLA
"H.R. 4498: Small Employers Health Benefits Program Act of 2004." 108th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-4498/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4498, 108th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-4498/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4498: Small Employers Health Benefits Program Act of 2004](https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-4498/)
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