Same-Sex Partners Included in Open Enrollment Period for Federal Long-Term Care Insurance

By Chris Geidner -

On Monday, April 4, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) launched the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) Open Season.
The program, which OPM director John Berry said in a release "gives enrollees security and peace of mind as they plan for the cost of long term care," is now open to same-sex domestic partners. This is the first "open season" period when same-sex partners have been eligible for the coverage.
Per the release:

During the FLTCIP Open Season, all current Federal and U.S. Postal Service (USPS) employees and active members of the uniformed services and their spouses will have the opportunity to apply for coverage with abbreviated underwriting, which means that a minimal number of health questions will be asked during the application process.  This is an option not offered during year-round enrollment.  In keeping with President Obama's June 17, 2009 memorandum Federal Benefits and Non-Discrimination, same-sex domestic partners of Federal and USPS employees can also apply with abbreviated underwriting.

The details for same-sex domestic partners include a separate page on the FLTCIP to provide information about the specific requirements. The site notes:

Domestic partnership is defined as a committed relationship between two adults of the same sex in which the partners:

1. Are each other’s sole domestic partner and intend to remain so indefinitely;
2. Have a common residence, and intend to continue the arrangement indefinitely;
3. Are at least 18 years of age;
4. Share responsibility for a significant measure of each other’s financial obligations;
5. Are not married to anyone else;
6. Are not a domestic partner of anyone else;
7. Are not related in a way that, if they were of opposite sex, would prohibit legal marriage in the State in which they reside; and
8. Will certify they understand that willful falsification of information within the documentation may lead to disciplinary action, loss of insurance coverage and/or the recovery of the cost of benefits received related to such falsification and may constitute a criminal violation under 18 U.S.C. 1001.

OPM notes that the open season will run from April 4 to June 24, 2011, which is the first FLTCIP Open Season since 2002.
Federal employees should review the FLTCIP site.
Read the full release from OPM below the jump.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 5, 2011

OPM Launches Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program Open Season

Washington, DC – The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) launched the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) Open Season which will run from April 4 to June 24, 2011.  This is the first FLTCIP Open Season since 2002.
“The Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program gives enrollees security and peace of mind as they plan for the cost of long term care,” said OPM Director John Berry.  “I encourage current Federal and postal service employees, uniformed personnel, and their qualified relatives to learn about this important benefit.”
During the FLTCIP Open Season, all current Federal and U.S. Postal Service (USPS) employees and active members of the uniformed services and their spouses will have the opportunity to apply for coverage with abbreviated underwriting, which means that a minimal number of health questions will be asked during the application process.  This is an option not offered during year-round enrollment.  In keeping with President Obama's June 17, 2009 memorandum Federal Benefits and Non-Discrimination, same-sex domestic partners of Federal and USPS employees can also apply with abbreviated underwriting.
The FLTCIP is the largest employer-sponsored long term care program in the country, with over 225,000 current enrollees.  Please note, certain medical conditions, or combinations of conditions, will prevent some people from being approved for coverage.  If accepted into the program, employees pay 100 percent of the cost.
For additional information on the FLTCIP Open Season or to apply, please visit http://www.opm.gov/insure/ltc/index.asp, or www.ltcfeds.com, or call Long Term Care Partners at 1-800-LTCFEDS (1-800-582-3337).

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