[Decision Concerning Presidential Appointee's Entitlement to Refund of Private Health Insurance Premiums]

The Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission requested a decision concerning whether a presidential appointee who was erroneously denied health insurance coverage for 6 months was entitled to reimbursement for the difference in the cost of private health insurance premiums she paid during that period. GAO held that the appointee was not entitled to reimbursement for the cost difference, since there was no statutory basis to authorize the correction of an administrative error through reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses. Accordingly, the claim was denied.