Subject:

Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program: Opportunity for Certain Former Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) Service Benefit Plan Members in Florida, Enrollment Codes 104, 105, 111, and 112, to Change Enrollment

Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) of Florida and BayCare Health System, which consists of several hospitals, were involved in a lengthy contract dispute which continued beyond the close of last fall's Open Season, which ended on December 9, 2002. BCBS of Florida and BayCare Health System have now announced they have reached agreement, and BayCare Health System will continue to participate in BCBS of Florida's Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) network for the next 33 months.

Some Federal employees may have switched their health plan because of concerns about BayCare Health System being in BCBS of Florida's PPO network. We are instructing you to allow the employees who switched from the BCBS Service Benefit Plan and have not filed claims under their new plans, the opportunity to make a belated open season change to switch back to their original plan. The opportunity to change will begin immediately and continue through March 17, 2003. The effective date of these changes will be the first pay period on or after January 1, 2003.

Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

Abby L. Block Assistant Director    for Insurance Programs

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