Well, I found in the OMB manual that there are set provisions for health care for various acting position where the full position would require senate approval.
Here for example is a page from the manual that includes what benefits an acting postmaster is entitled to.
On the FBI web site you can see various FBI directors served as acting directors. Here is one example from 1919.
http://www.fbi.gov/libref/directors/allen.htm
Here is another example from 1973.
http://www.fbi.gov/libref/directors/ruckelshaus.htm
I suspect that this is normal practice because someone has to be in charge until a permanant person is in charge.
This is the OMB link I forgot in that last post.
http://www.opm.gov/insure/handbook/fehb06.asp
May be I am misunderstanding the Clinton game. The difference here may be that Clinton appointed him as acting after being assured of losing Senate confirmation, and also through the end of his term.
Any more insights?
Always worry about abuses of constitution, no matter which party does it.