[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 235 (Wednesday, December 9, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65168-65169]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing 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 john.cutler@opm.gov 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