United States

Office of Personnel Management

Retirement and Insurance Service

Benefits Administration Letter

Number: 98-417	Date: October 23, 1998

Subject:	1998 Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program Open Season: Withdrawal of Regence HMO Oregon and Regence Health Maintenance of Oregon

We have just been notified that Regence HMO Oregon (code 7A), which serves most of Oregon, and Regence Health Maintenance of Oregon (code 6B), which serves Portland, Oregon, and Southwest Washington, are withdrawing from the FEHB Program effective December 31, 1998. Unfortunately, the FEHB Guides had already gone to print when the plans made their decisions to withdraw, so their names appear in the Guides.

The plans will send notices of their withdrawal to their enrollees. However, it is important to remember that enrollees in these plans who fail to choose other plans during open season will have no health benefits for 1999. Consequently, if you have employees in the areas served by the plans, we ask that you notify them directly of the plans' withdrawal.

Thank you for your assistance.

Abby L. Block, Chief

Insurance Policy

and Information Division