Washington, DC - The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) announced that over 45,000 members of the federal family applied for coverage and were enrolled in the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) during the Open Season that ended on June 24, 2011. Enrollment in FLTCIP increased by 20 percent. With 270,000 enrollees, FLTCIP remains the largest employer-sponsored long term care insurance plan in the United States.
"The Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program's Open Season was extremely successful," OPM Director John Berry. "We've seen strong support for the Program in federal agencies, and ultimately in the number of people who applied and were accepted into the Program. OPM is proud of the success of the FLTCIP - one of the most flexible, inclusive, and affordable long term care insurance programs, designed to help employees plan ahead for their needs as they age."
During Open Season, same-sex domestic partners (SSDP) of federal employees were afforded the opportunity to apply with abbreviated underwriting, granting them the same rights as spouses for the purposes of applying for FLTCIP coverage. Over 300 SSDP applications were received during the Open Season.
The just-concluded, highly successful Open Season follows other recent improvements to the Program including:
· OPM and Long Term Care Partners (LTCP), which administers the Program, developed a new, enhanced set of benefits, called FLTCIP 2.0, which provides services, such as greater home health care coverage sought by current members.
· Despite a rate hike in premiums for most members, over 98 percent of those members chose to continue to participate in the Program, demonstrating their commitment to protecting their futures through the financial protection of long term care insurance.
· As documented in a recent Government Accountability Office report, OPM has increased its oversight of program operations, most especially improving the accuracy and clarity of communications to members.
Federal and U.S. Postal Service employees and annuitants, active and retired members of the uniformed services, qualified relatives, and SSDPs can apply for coverage under the FLTCIP at any time. Premiums are based on the applicant's age at the time of enrollment and on the level of benefits chosen. The plan is comprehensive, flexible, and is tailored to the needs of the federal family.
The FLTCIP is sponsored and regulated by OPM, and is administered by LTCP. For more information about LTCP, please visit www.ltcpartners.com.