United States Office of Personnel Management The Federal Government's Human Resources Agency
PURPOSEThis letter transmits lists of significant events affecting certain plans during the upcoming FEHB Open Season. Some of these events will require action on the part of agencies and enrollees. Also note the plans that are dropping out of the Program at the end of 2001. Since employees in these plans must enroll in new plans during open season if they are to continue insurance coverage in 2002, we ask that you distribute this list widely within your agencies.TERMINATIONSSection 1: Plans Dropping Out of the FEHB Program for 2002 Section 2: Plans Reducing Their Service Areas by Terminating an Enrollment Code What Must Employees Do?
SERVICE AREA REDUCTIONSSection 3: Plans Reducing Their Service Areas Without Terminating an Enrollment Code
Enrollees in the service areas being terminated must elect new health plans for 2002. Enrollees who do not choose new health plans will have to travel to their plan's remaining service area to receive full benefits. Section 4: Plans Splitting a Service Area
Enrollees in these plans must complete a Standard Form (SF) 2809 to enroll in the new code for their service area or elect another health plan during the open season. What Must You Do?
OTHER CHANGESSection 5: New Plans Entering the Program for 2002Section 6: Service Area Expansions Without New Enrollment Codes
You must include these new plans and expanded service areas when you count the number of eligible employees and place your orders for brochures. Section 7: Plan Name Changes Section 8: Plans Dropping a Point of Service Product These plans are dropping their Point of Service Product (POS) for 2002. Enrollees who use the POS Option may want to consider changing plans during open season.Section 9: Plans Adding a Point of Service Product Section 10: Code Mergers Enrollees in the codes that merge will be transferred to the surviving code.Section 11: Plan Mergers These plans are merging with other plans at the end of 2001. Enrollees in the "old" plans will be transferred automatically to the "gaining" plans and do not need to take action. Enrollees in the old plans, must choose different plans during open season if they do not wish to be transferred to the new plans.Section 12: Plans Merging Options The plan in this section (Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan) will merge its current High Option and Standard Option into one. Enrollees currently in the Plan's High Option will be transferred to the surviving option unless they select a new plan for 2002.Section 13: Plans Dropping an Option Enrollees in the Option being dropped will be automatically transferred to the surviving option unless they select a new plan for 2002.Section 14: Plans Adding an Option FEHB WEBSITEWe have made changes to the FEHB website to make it easier to navigate and find information. The 2001 Open Season website will be up no later than November 1, 2001. All 2001 Open Season information including plan brochures, FEHB Guides, plan rates and more will be easily accessible from the site. Some end of year changes such as plan terminations are already available on the website.We encourage you and your employees to visit the web site at www.opm.gov/insure for the most up to date information.
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Page updated 4 October 2001