Long-term care enrollment continues
7/15/2003 - RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) -- Initial enrollment for long-term-care insurance has ended, but, people can still apply for care, according to Air Force Personnel Center officials here. People eligible include Air Force active-duty, selected Reserve, appropriated-fund civilian employees, retirees and qualified family members.
The insurance does not have an annual open season like many other health-care programs, officials said. The initial open enrollment season was held during 2002 to introduce the program, and officials have not been decided when there will be another open season.
The federal program is a benefit authorized by Congress in September 2000 to help federal employees, including military, defray the rising costs of long-term care. This can include home care, nursing home care or assisted-living facilities for people no longer able to perform normal daily activities because of chronic mental or physical conditions, officials said.
More information on the insurance program and how to enroll is available online at www.ltcfeds.com -- or by calling (800) 582-3337 or TDD (800) 843-3557. Offices are open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EDT weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays.
Employees may enroll at any time under one of two application processes:
-- Full-underwriting application. The majority of employees enrolling will use the full-underwriting application.
-- Abbreviated-underwriting application. The abbreviated-application process is limited to new spouses of current employees within 60 days of marriage and newly hired and rehired employees within 60 days of date of hire. It can also be used by temporary employees converting to permanent appointments within 60 days of appointment.
Employees returning from a nonpay status (including reservists called to active duty) may also enroll using the abbreviated process within 60 days of return to duty. This applies as long as they were in a nonpay status more than three months of the initial open season. If these employees choose not to enroll during their 60 day window, they may still apply later through the full-underwriting process. (Courtesy of AFPC News Service) |
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