Attached, please see our newest Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program brochure designed for newly hired and newly eligible employees and their spouses, and newly married spouses of employees. The title of the brochure is Get the Facts (reorder number FED 00123(0203)).

Any eligible individual can apply for the insurance at any time using the full underwriting application. But newly hired and newly eligible employees and their spouses, and newly married spouses of employees have the added benefit of applying with abbreviated underwriting within 60 days of hire/eligibility.

Currently, we are in the process of shipping the quantities of the new hire brochure you requested. If you have not already confirmed the number we plan to ship or need to request more copies, please respond directly to this email and let me know how many "hard copies" of the brochure you'd like to receive. Please forward this email to any field offices who may also want to request a supply.

I've also attached PDF and Word versions of the brochure which may be more convenient for you to use. The brochure is also available on our website at www.LTCFEDS.com. Feel free to download copies of this brochure for distribution while awaiting your shipment or if you run out and need to re-order sometime in the future.

If you would like to send out a message to new hires on the importance of considering the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program as part of their overall benefits package, just delete this introductory message and forward the text following the line below. As always, you're welcome to use this material as a newsletter article or other form of communication.

Thank you for your continued support! Please call me or email me if you have any questions.

Fewer questions when you and/or your spouse apply within 60 days of becoming eligible.

The Need for Long Term Care Services Can Put Your Financial Future and Independence at Risk!

Long term care is ongoing care for people who need lengthy or even lifelong assistance with activities they perform every day like bathing and dressing due to an illness, injury, or severe cognitive impairment (such as Alzheimers disease). Six out of ten Americans who reach age 65 will need long term care services* and the longer you live, the higher your odds.

Long term care could be the most expensive type of care you ever face. The average annual cost for home care is well over $20,000** (thats $18/hour, five hours per day, five days a week for a home health aide); and the national average annual cost in a nursing home is $52,000.** And costs are only expected to get higher. Even if you are not interested in this insurance at this time, consider it for your parents to help secure their financial future.

Most health care programs, including the FEHB Program, TRICARE, and TRICARE for Life, cover very few long term care expenses, if any! While Medicare covers some care in nursing homes and at home, it does so only for a limited time, and is subject to restrictions. The Department of Veterans Affairs provides limited long term care services with restrictions on who can receive them.

Long Term Care Is Not Just For Older Adults

You dont have to be in your retirement years to experience a disabling illness or injury. Long term care needs can strike anyone, at any time. In fact, 40% of the people who need long term care are working age adults.*

*Long-Term Care Insurance, Baby Boom or Bust?, Conning and Company, 1999, p.13.

**MetLife Market Survey of Nursing Home and Home Care Costs, April 2002.

Comprehensive Plan with $100 daily benefit amount, 3-year benefit period, 90-day waiting period and automatic

compound inflation option.

Consider How Valuable and Cost Effective this Protection Could Be

If you are under age 35:

The younger you are when you apply for long term care insurance, the lower your premiums. At age 30, the biweekly premium for a plan that covers home and facilities care and keeps pace with inflation is $14.76. And unlike some investments that take years to grow, long term care insurance can provide support shortly after your coverage becomes effective. That could be very important to your finances should a sudden illness or injury strike.

If you are from age 35 to 60:

You can still take advantage of low premiums. At age 50, the biweekly premium for a plan that covers home and facilities care and keeps pace with inflation is $28.70. Plus, if you are in good health now, you could avoid the risk of being turned down later.

If you are over age 60:

Because your odds of needing long term care are higher now, there is no better time to consider purchasing long term care insurance. Doing so can help protect the nest egg you worked so hard to build. Youll have a greater ability to make your own decisions about your long term care. You can help ensure that you wont need to rely on your children or other family members should you ever require this type of care, or spend down your assets to qualify for Medicaid (known in California as Medi-Cal).

Heres Why You Should Consider Long Term Care Insurance...

Long term care insurance gives you control over the type of care you receive and where you receive it. It also helps ensure your independence, so you wont have to worry about being a burden to your loved ones. Whatever your age, long term care insurance can be one of the best and most economical ways to help pay for long term care, should you ever require it.

And the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program is the only long term care insurance program sponsored by the Federal government for the Federal Family!

A unique and important part of your benefits, this Program reflects the careful efforts

of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and two insurance leaders

John Hancock and MetLife to provide comprehensive benefits and group premiums.

Important

Unlike some other insurance products, long term care insurance is something you must apply for, and pass a medical screening (called underwriting), in order to be enrolled. Certain medical conditions will prevent some people from being approved for coverage.

APPLY ASAP	By applying within 60 days of becoming eligible for this benefit, you and your spouse gain the following advantages:
ANSWER FEWER QUESTIONS	You will fill out a shorter application form with only a few health questions. Answering fewer questions may make it easier to be approved for coverage.
SAVE MONEY	You could save money because premiums are based on your age at the time your application is received. The younger you are when you apply, the lower your premium!
DONT WAIT	By applying now, you could avoid the risk of having a future change in health disqualify you from obtaining coverage.

Whos Eligible to Apply with Abbreviated Underwriting?

The following persons are eligible to apply for coverage with abbreviated underwriting within 60 days from the date they became eligible for this Program:

Newly hired and newly eligible Federal and U. S. Postal Service employees and members of the uniformed services;

Certain Federal and U. S. Postal Service employees who are returning from non-pay status;

The spouses of the above-listed persons;

The newly married spouses of Federal or U. S. Postal Service employees or members of the uniformed services (within 60 days from the date of marriage).

Federal and U.S. Postal Service employees must be in positions that convey eligibility for the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (since eligibility for this Program is tied to Federal Employees Health Benefits eligibility). Members of the uniformed services must be in active duty status or National Guard duty for at least 30 days, or be in the Selected Reserve.

After this initial 60-day period, you can still apply for coverage, but you must complete a full underwriting application that asks more questions about your health.

Note: Your parents, parents-in-law, stepparents, and adult children age 18 and over are also eligible to apply for coverage, but must complete a different application that has full underwriting.

Get the Facts on The Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program

To receive your Information Kit and application:

Visit www.LTCFEDS.com to view

educational materials, apply online, or download an application.

Call toll-free 1-800-LTC-FEDS

(1-800-582-3337) (TTY: 1-800-843-3557)

Apply today the younger you are when you apply, the lower your premium!

You, and if youre married, your spouse, now qualify for abbreviated underwriting.

But you must apply within 60 days of becoming eligible for this benefit.

Request your Information Kit and application, including a premium quote, TODAY!