[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 235 (Wednesday, December 9, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65168-65169]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-29359]


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OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT


Notice of Extension of Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program 
Special Decision Period for Current Enrollees

AGENCY: U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

ACTION: Notice of extension of federal long term care insurance program 
special decision period for current enrollees.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is announcing an 
extension of the limited Special Decision Period for current enrollees 
in the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) who have the 
automatic compound inflation option. The initial deadline for changes 
under the Special Decision Period was December 14, 2009. It has been 
extended through February 15, 2010 for some enrollees with automatic 
compound inflation and through March 15, 2010 for other enrollees who 
are being individually notified by mail of the extension of their 
Special Decision Period. Both sets of enrollees are subject to premium 
increases if they retain their current coverage. Abbreviated 
underwriting requirements have also been extended. The effective date 
of premium increases for automatic compound inflation option enrollees

[[Page 65169]]

has been extended from January 1, 2010 to March 1, 2010.

DATES: The Special Decision Period for FLTCIP enrollees with the 
automatic compound inflation option began October 1, 2009 and has been 
extended through February 15, 2010 for some enrollees and through March 
15, 2010 for other enrollees. The latter group will be individually 
notified by mail regarding an error in the initial information packet 
they received from Long Term Care Partners pertaining to premium 
changes and available options. They are being provided a second 
information packet and additional time to make their decisions. The 
effective date of premium increases for enrollees with the automatic 
compound inflation option has been extended from January 1, 2010 to 
March 1, 2010. There are no changes to the Special Decision Period and 
effective dates for enrollees with the future purchase option.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Enrollees may call 1-800-LTC-FEDS (1-
800-582-3337) (TTY: 1-800-843-3557) or visit www.ltcfeds.com. For 
purposes of this Federal Register notice only, the contact at OPM is 
John Cutler, Senior Policy Analyst, Strategic Human Resources Policy 
Division, at [email protected] or (202) 606-0004.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 1, 2009, OPM published a Federal 
Register Notice announcing a limited Special Decision Period for 
current enrollees in the Federal Employees Long Term Care Insurance 
Program. That notice may be found at 74 FR 50845: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-23727.pdf.
    The limited Special Decision Period is solely for current 
enrollees. Provisions in the October 1, 2009 Federal Register notice 
pertaining to underwriting, billing age, and premiums (other than the 
changes noted below) remain the same, as do other provisions in that 
Notice. For example, enrollees who make coverage changes outside of the 
Special Decision Period may be subject to full underwriting, as 
specified in Sec.  875.403, and different premium calculation rules.
    Underwriting requirements: Underwriting requirements remain 
unchanged, except that for a special decision period coverage change to 
become effective, the active workforce member must be actively at work 
at least one day during the calendar month immediately before the 
coverage effective date. For example, for an effective date of March 1, 
2010, the active workforce member must be actively at work at least one 
day during the month of February 2010.
    Effective date of changes to premium: The effective date of premium 
increases for enrollees with the automatic compound inflation option 
will be March 1, 2010, or the first day of the month following approval 
of the request, whichever is later. However, if coverage changes result 
in a premium decrease, the premium decrease will be effective January 
1, 2010. Billing will be adjusted retroactively as needed for coverage 
decreases requested after January 1, 2010.
    For enrollees with the future purchase option who choose to accept 
the regular biennial future purchase option offer or to change their 
coverage, the effective date of any changes remains January 1, 2010.
    Effective date of changes to coverage: The effective dates of 
coverage changes specified in the Federal Register notice issued 
October 1, 2009 remain unchanged. Coverage changes that do not require 
underwriting will be effective January 1, 2010, regardless of when the 
enrollee submits the Special Decision Period request. Coverage changes 
requiring underwriting will be effective January 1, 2010, or the first 
day of the month following approval of the request, whichever is later.

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 9008; 5 CFR 875.402.

Office of Personnel Management.
John Berry,
Director.
[FR Doc. E9-29359 Filed 12-8-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6325-39-P