[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 51 (Friday, March 15, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11723-11724]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-6198]


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OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT


Notice of Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program Early 
Enrollment

AGENCY: Office of Personnel Management.

ACTION: Notice of Federal Long Term Care Insurance Early Enrollment.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Personnel Management, in conjunction with LTC 
Partners, is announcing an early enrollment for eligible persons to 
submit applications for enrollment in the Federal Long Term Care 
Insurance Program. LTC Partners is an organization formed by the John 
Hancock and Metropolitan Life Insurance Companies to provide long term 
care insurance to eligible persons under this Program.

DATES: Early enrollment will run from March 25 through May 15, 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: You may call 1-800-LTC-FEDS (1-800-
582-3337) or visit www.ltcfeds.com for information on applying during 
early enrollment.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program 
early enrollment is an opportunity for eligible persons to submit 
applications for enrollment before the open season begins on July 1, 
2002. Early enrollment is designed for persons who are already 
knowledgeable about long term care insurance and do not need the 
extensive educational campaign that LTC Partners will undertake before 
and during the open season.
    In our contacts with potential applicants ever since the Program 
was announced, we realized that there were

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a significant number of persons who were very familiar with the various 
aspects of long term care insurance, and wanted to purchase the 
insurance as soon as possible. We decided to provide an early 
enrollment opportunity for this group of applicants, so they would not 
have to wait until the open season to apply for coverage.
    The specific provisions of early enrollment are as follows:
    Eligible persons: Persons eligible for early enrollment are those 
specified in the Federal Long Term Care Insurance law (5 U.S.C. 9002) 
as eligible for coverage. The eligible groups are Federal civilian 
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 will be no difference in 
eligibility requirements between the early enrollment period and the 
open season.
    Underwriting requirements: Federal civilian employees, members of 
the uniformed services, and their spouses will be required to submit 
applications with short form underwriting. The short form contains 
several questions regarding health status.
    All other eligible persons will be required to submit applications 
with long form, or full, underwriting. If you are subject to full 
underwriting, you must answer more questions about your health status. 
It may also include a review of medical records and/or a personal 
interview.
    Benefits available: Under early enrollment, a limited number of 
benefit options will be available. Benefit levels will be described in 
printed material provided by LTC Partners and on their Web site at 
www.ltcfeds.com. More options will be made available during the open 
season that begins in July. You will be able to change to a different 
benefit level during that open season if you wish, and still retain 
your ``billing age'' from early enrollment.
    Billing age: Premiums are based on your age at the time LTC 
Partners receives your application for coverage (your ``billing age''). 
Billing age rules will be different for the open season.
    Premiums: Premiums vary depending on your age and the level of 
coverage you choose. Premiums will be provided by LTC Partners in print 
material and on their Web site at www.ltcfeds.com.
    During early enrollment, premiums may be paid in one of two ways. 
You may request direct billing for premiums, or you may have premiums 
automatically deducted from a bank account. Payroll deductions will not 
be available until the open season. You may switch to payroll 
deductions at any time after they become available.
    Effective date: The effective date of an enrollee's coverage under 
early enrollment is the later of May 1, 2002, or the first day of the 
month that is on or after the date LTC Partners approves your 
application for coverage.

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 9008.

Kay Coles James,
Director.
[FR Doc. 02-6198 Filed 3-14-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6325-50-P