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 In a letter to the government's Office of Personnel Management (OPM),
Democratic Senators Mark Warner, Tim Kaine, Chris Van Hollen and Ben
Cardin said forcing workers to pay the premiums during the shutdown
would be "unacceptable."
Some 800,000 federal employees have been furloughed or are working
without pay since the shutdown began on Dec. 22, after Republican
President Donald Trump and Democrats in Congress deadlocked over his
demand for $5.7 billion for a border wall with Mexico.
With no paychecks and thus no payroll deductions, federal workers
subject to the shutdown will miss paying their vision and dental
premiums. OPM has said workers would start receiving bills for the
premiums depending on how long the shutdown lasts.
"We are alarmed that unpaid federal employees will be required to
incur this additional financial hardship during a time when they can
least afford it," the senators said.
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The senators said some insurers were willing to allow workers to
continue coverage without payment and urged OPM to work with all
insurers to help employees maintain their coverage.
The states the senators represent - Virginia for Warner and Kaine
and Maryland for Cardin and Van Hollen - have a large population of
federal workers. Many of those affected by the shutdown have turned
to unemployment assistance, food banks and other support, or have
sought new jobs.
OPM did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
(Reporting by Eric Beech; Editing by Kevin Drawbaugh and Peter
Cooney)
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