U.S. Office of Personnel Management - Ensuring the Federal Government has an effective civilian workforce

• To Frequently Asked Questions on this Policy
• To Benefits Administration Letter on this Policy
• To December 17 News Release

Previously, we stated that employees whose applications for long term care insurance had been approved were required to be "actively at work" (pay and duty status) for at least 50% of their scheduled tour of duty on their last regular work day before the scheduled effective date of their coverage. This meant that coverage could be delayed for one month, or more, for employees with applications approved in November and December if they were on leave on November 29 or December 31, respectively.

In view of heavy leave usage on Nov 29th and Dec 31st, and in keeping with our objectives of being employee-oriented and family friendly, we have relaxed this actively at work requirement.

For this year only, coverage will NOT be delayed for employees in an approved leave status Nov 29th or Dec 31st as long as they return to being actively at work during the month when their coverage becomes effective and they pay their premium within established deadlines.

Employees, as well as all applicants, still have an affirmative obligation to contact Long Term Care Partners if their health changes in a way that would affect their answers to one or more questions on their long term care insurance application on the effective date of their coverage.

We made this change in response to employee and agency concerns about holiday leave usage toward the end of the Open Season, a period in which large numbers of employees have expressed interest in applying. We also recognize that this is the first FLTCIP Open Season.

This family-friendly policy affects only employees and members of the uniformed services applying with the abbreviated underwriting application and will not be repeated in the future or apply to leave usage other than on November 29th and December 31.

This revised policy demonstrates our commitment to responding to your comments and concerns about the FLTCIP. We, along with Long Term Care Partners, wish you the best in the coming holiday season.