[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 125 (Friday, June 28, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43691-43692]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-16467]


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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