United States

Office of

Personnel Management Washington, DC 20415-0001 

 

TO ALL FEDERAL ENROLLEES OF TOTAL HEALTH CHOICE ENROLLMENT 

CODE 4A 

Total Health Choice, Enrollment Code 4A, will no longer participate in the Federal 

Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program after July 19, 2005. If you are an employee, 

you must transfer to another participating health plan immediately to continue to 

receive health benefits under the FEHB Program. 

A special open enrollment period is effective immediately and continues through 

July 9, 2005. Please contact your personnel office to obtain a 2005 Guide to Federal 

Employees Health Benefits Plans. You may request brochures directly from the health 

plans at the phone numbers appearing in the Guide. You may also visit our 2005 FEHB 

web site (www.opm.gov/insure) to view a plan’s brochure or the FEHB Guide to help you 

choose a health plan. 

IF YOU ARE AN EMPLOYEE

You should take a copy of this letter to your personnel office and complete a new Health 

Benefits Registration Form (SF 2809). Coverage under your new health plan must begin no 

later than the last full pay period in July 2005. 

IF YOU ARE AN ANNUITANT

If you are an annuitant under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) or the Federal 

Employees’ Retirement System (FERS), you should call the Retirement Information 

Office’s toll-free number 1-888-767-6738 Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to 7:30 pm 

Eastern Time to make an enrollment change. Please have available your CSRS or FERS 

annuity claim number and your social security number when calling. If you have impaired 

hearing, call 1-800-878-5707. Coverage under your new plan will begin on 

July 1, 2005. 

If you do not select a new plan during the special open enrollment, OPM will enroll you in 

the Standard Option of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan. This action is 

to ensure your continued coverage and eligibility to participate in the FEHB Program. If 

Standard Option Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the plan you want, do not wait for us to 

enroll you. If you elect Blue Cross and Blue Shield during the open enrollment period, you 

will receive your plan identification card sooner. 

TRANSITIONAL CARE UNDER THE PATIENTS BILL OF RIGHTS 

If you (or a family member) have a chronic or disabling condition, or are in the second or 

third trimester of pregnancy, you may be able to continue seeing your specialist for up to 90 

days from this notice or through the end of post-partum care. The plan that enrolls a new 

member from a plan that leaves the FEHB Program must pay for or provide remaining 

transitional care. Contact your new health plan so it can help coordinate your care. We 

apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your cooperation. 
Subject: Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program: Opportunity 

for Enrollees of Total Health Choice, Enrollment Code 4A, to Change 

Enrollment 

Total Health Choice, Enrollment Code 4A, will no longer participate in the Federal 

Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program effective July 19, 2005. 

Total Health Choice enrollees in Code 4A must change to another participating plan 

in order to continue to receive benefits under the FEHB Program. Enrollees who do 

not change plans will have no benefits for the remainder of the 2005 benefit year. The 

opportunity to change enrollment will begin immediately and continue through 

July 9, 2005. The effective date of all enrollment changes will be the beginning pay 

period in which the enrollee makes the change, but no later than July 11, 2005. 

Agencies may accept belated enrollment changes, however, the effective date of all 

enrollments accepted after July 9, 2005 must be effective no later than the last full pay 

period in July. Effective dates for agencies that have pay periods other than 

bi-weekly pay periods must be no later than July 1, 2005. 

The Plan will send a letter to enrollees advising them of this opportunity to change 

enrollment. We have attached a copy of that letter for your information. 

Thank you for your cooperation in this matter. 

Frank D. Titus 

 Assistant Director 

Insurance Services Programs 

Attachment