[Federal Register: June 28, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 125)]
[Notices]
[Page 43691-43692]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28jn02-101]
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OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT
Notice of Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program Open Season
AGENCY: Office of Personnel Management.
ACTION: Notice of Federal Long Term Care Insurance Open Season.
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SUMMARY: The Office of Personnel Management, in conjunction with LTC
Partners, LLC\sm\, is announcing an Open Season for eligible persons to
submit applications for coverage under the Federal Long Term Care
Insurance Program (FLTCIP). LTC Partners is an organization formed by
John Hancock Life Insurance Company and Metropolitan Life Insurance
Company to administer the FLTCIP.
DATES: Open Season will run from July 1 through December 31, 2002.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: You may call 1-800-LTC-FEDS (1-800-
582-3337) (TDD: 1-800-843-3557) or visit www.ltcfeds.com for
information on applying during Open Season.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Long-Term Care Security Act (Pub. L.
106-265) directs the Office of Personnel Management to conduct an Open
Season for eligible persons to apply for coverage in the Federal Long
Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) no later than October 1, 2002. An
early enrollment period was conducted between March 25 and May 15,
2002. Open Season will begin on July 1, 2002 and will continue through
December 31, 2002.
LTC Partners has already begun a wide-ranging educational campaign
to inform the Federal Family about what long term care is, how long
term care insurance can protect against the high cost of long term
care, and to explain the various features of the FLTCIP. This campaign
will continue throughout the Open Season, and encompasses print media,
satellite broadcasts, a web site, toll-free telephone access to long
term care insurance specialists, and education meetings.
The specific provisions of the Open Season are as follows:
Eligible persons: Persons eligible to apply for coverage under the
FLTCIP are those specified in the FederalLong-Term Care Security Act (5
U.S.C. 9002) as eligible for coverage. The eligible groups are Federal
civilian and Postal employees and annuitants; members of the uniformed
services; retired members of the uniformed services; their spouses and
adult children; and the parents, stepparents, and parents-in-law of
employees and members of the uniformed services.
There is no difference in eligibility requirements between early
enrollment and the Open Season.
Underwriting requirements: Federal civilian and Postal employees,
members of the uniformed services, and their spouses, will be subject
to abbreviated underwriting.
Underwriting involves evaluating responses to questions regarding
health status and other information. If you apply for the unlimited
benefit period, you will be asked additional questions. The
underwriting process may also include a review of your medical records
and/or a personal interview.
The opportunity for this eligible group to apply with abbreviated
underwriting ends on December 31, 2002.
All other eligible persons will be required to submit full
underwriting applications. If you are subject to full underwriting, you
must answer more questions about your health status. The underwriting
process may also include a review of your medical records and/or a
personal interview.
Benefits available: During the Open Season, the full array of
benefit options will be available. Coverage options available during
the Open Season that were not available during early enrollment are:
A facilities-only plan
An unlimited benefit period
A weekly, rather than daily, benefit amount
If you were approved for coverage during early enrollment, you can
apply to change your coverage during the Open Season. You must resubmit
an application and continue to meet the underwriting requirements for
your eligible group.
Billing age: Premiums are based on your age as of July 1, 2002, no
matter when during the Open Season you apply. However, if you were
approved for coverage during early enrollment, and wish to change
coverage during the Open Season, you retain your billing age from early
enrollment.
Premiums: Premiums vary depending on your age and the coverage
options you choose. LTC Partners will provide premium quotes in print
material and on their website at www.ltcfeds.com. You can also call the
toll-free number to receive a personalized quote.
Enrollees may pay their premiums in one of three ways:
Payroll/annuity deduction;
Automatic deduction from a bank account; or
Direct bill.
The premiums of a qualified relative may be paid through Federal
payroll/annuity deduction, even if the person from whose pay or annuity
deductions will be made does not apply (or is not approved) for
coverage.
Payroll deduction was not an available option for premium payment
during early enrollment. If you enrolled for coverage during early
enrollment, you can switch to payroll deduction by calling LTC Partners
to request the appropriate form. The form also will be available to
download on the web site.
Effective date: The effective date of coverage for an Open Season
enrollment is the later of October 1, 2002, or the first day of the
month that is after the date LTCPartners approves your application for
coverage. A Federal civilian or Postal employee or member of the
uniformed services also must be actively at work on the coverage
effective date for coverage to become effective.
You must meet all of the following conditions to be considered
actively at work:
You are reporting for work at your usual place of
employment or other location to which Government business requires you
to travel; and
You are able to perform all the usual and customary duties
of your
[[Page 43692]]
employment on your regular work-schedule; and
You are not absent from work due to sickness, injury,
annual leave, sick leave or any other leave. (You are not considered to
be on leave on your alternate work schedule's scheduled day off.)
For a member of the uniformed services, actively at work means that
you are on active duty and are physically able to perform the duties of
your position.
If your coverage effective date is on a weekend or holiday, you
must be actively at work on the last workday before your coverage
effective date for your coverage to become effective. If you are not
actively at work on your coverage effective date, you must contact LTC
Partners with this information. LTC Partners will give you a revised
coverage effective date, which is the first day of the month after you
returned to being actively at work. You must meet the actively at work
requirement on the revised coverage effective date for coverage to take
effect. Your coverage will not go into effect until you meet the
actively at work requirement on your coverage effective date.
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 9008.
Office of Personnel Management.
Kay Coles James,
Director.
[FR Doc. 02-16467 Filed 6-26-02; 12:59 pm]
BILLING CODE 6325-50-P