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Small Employers Health Benefits Program Act of 2005

Introduced: April 28, 2005 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 109th Congress ended
It never became law before the 109th Congress (2005–2006) 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
May 20, 2005
Referred to the Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations.
May 15, 2005
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Apr 28, 2005
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, and the Budget, 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.
Apr 28, 2005
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Small Employers Health Benefits Program Act of 2005 - 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. Requires a carrier to determine the amount of premiums to assess for coverage based on a community rate that may be annually adjusted based on geographic area, family status, and age.

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.

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.

Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 to extend requirements that certain legislation which increases the deficit will trigger an offsetting sequestration (pay-as-you-go or PAYGO requirements).

What's happening now May 20, 2005

Referred to the Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations.

 Related & companion bills 4
  • S 637 Related bill Small Employers Health Benefits Program Act of 2005
  • S 874 Related bill Small Employers Health Benefits Program Act of 2005
  • S 2382 Related bill Small Employers Health Benefits Program Act of 2006
  • S 2510 Related bill Small Employers Health Benefits Program Act of 2006
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 5
 Cosponsors 3
All 3 Democratic 3
D
Schiff, Adam B.
California · Jun 7, 2005
 D
Smith, Adam
Washington · Apr 28, 2005
 D
Van Hollen, Chris
Maryland · Apr 28, 2005
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1955: Small Employers Health Benefits Program Act of 2005. 109th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-1955/
MLA
"H.R. 1955: Small Employers Health Benefits Program Act of 2005." 109th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-1955/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1955, 109th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-1955/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1955: Small Employers Health Benefits Program Act of 2005](https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-1955/)
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