United States

Office of Personnel Management

Retirement and Insurance Service

Benefits Administration Letter

Number: 99-406	Date: March 25, 1999

Subject:	Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program: Termination of Health Power HMO, Code XR

This is to advise you that Health Power HMO, Code XR, an HMO serving the Ohio cities of Dayton, Cincinnati, and Columbus, is being liquidated by the Ohio Department of Insurance. The plan will no longer participate in the FEHB Program effective May 1, 1999.

Employees may not newly enroll in Health Power. In addition, we are authorizing a special open season for employees enrolled in the plan to allow them to choose new plans. Employees who wish to maintain FEHB coverage must enroll in new plans during this special open season.

We will send Health Power enrollees a letter on OPM stationery advising them of this special open season. The letter, which enrollees are instructed to present to their personnel offices, explains that the open season is effective immediately and will continue for 30 days from the date of the letter. (However, agencies are asked to apply this cut-off date liberally if necessary.)

Because the plan will cease operations in the middle of a pay period, enrollment changes made during this special open season should be made effective as of the first day of the pay period during which the plan will cease operations (April 25 for most employees), but not later than May 1, 1999.

Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

Abby L. Block, Chief

Insurance Policy

and Information Division