Civil Service

Retirement

System

Federal Employees’

Group Life

Insurance Program

Federal Employees

Health Benefits

Program

Federal Employees

Retirement

System

Long Term

Care Insurance

Program

United States

Office of 

Personnel Management

The Federal Government’s Human Resources Agency

Retirement and Insurance Service

Benefits Administration Letter

 

Number: 01-214 Date: August 8, 2001

Subject: Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program: Opportunity for HIP 

Health Plan of Florida Enrollees, Enrollment Code K7, to Change 

Enrollment

HIP Health Plan of Florida recently notified us that they will not operate in the Tampa, Florida 

area after October 31, 2001. 

We are authorizing an opportunity for HIP of Florida enrollees in code K7, to change their 

enrollment to another participating plan. Counties in code K7 include Hernando, 

Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas.

The opportunity to change enrollment will be begin August 13, 2001, and continue through 

October 6, 2001. The effective date of all enrollment changes will be the first day of the pay 

period following the one in which an enrollee makes the change, but no later than October 31, 

2001. Enrollees who do not change plans will not have coverage after October 31, 2001. 

The Plan will send the attached notice to affected enrollees. 

Thank you for your cooperation in this matter. 

Abby L. Block, 

Assistant Director 

 for Insurance Programs

Attachment 
2

HIP Health Plan of Florida (Enrollment Codes K71 and K72)

We are sending this notice to inform you that HIP Health Plan of Florida will no longer operate 

in the Tampa Bay area (K71 and K72) as of November 1, 2001. You will no longer have 

access to providers who participate with HIP Health Plan of Florida in the following Florida 

counties: Hernando, Hillsborough, Pasco, or Pinellas. 

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has authorized a special open 

enrollment period from August 13 – October 6, 2001, to give you the opportunity to 

choose a new health plan. We will continue to provide benefits until the effective date of 

your enrollment change.

Patients’ Bill of Rights 

Members who are seeing a specialist for a chronic or disabling condition or are in the second 

or third trimester of a pregnancy, have a right to continued treatment for up to 90 days of care 

(or treatment through the end of post-partum care) after receiving a notice that a health plan is 

leaving the FEHB program. We are providing this information to you so that you have time to 

make arrangements for continued care. 

Employees

If you are an employee, please contact your personnel office to enroll in a new health plan 

no later than October 6, 2001. The effective date of your new health insurance coverage will 

be the first day of the pay period after the date that you select a new health plan but no later 

than October 31, 2001. Enrollees who do not change plans will not have coverage after 

October 31, 2001.

Retirees

If you are a retiree under the Civil Service Retirement System or Federal Employees’ 

Retirement System, you should call toll free 1-888-767-6738 to make your enrollment change 

as soon as possible. Your enrollment change will be effective the first of the month after we 

receive your request. If you have impaired hearing, call 1-800-878-5707 to make your change. 

Please have your CSRS or FERS annuity claim number and your social security number 

available when you call. If you are a retiree of another Federal retirement system, you 

should contact that system to select a new health plan. 

If you do not select another plan by October 31, 2001, OPM will automatically enroll you in 

the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan, Standard Option. This will assure your 

continued coverage under the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program. You will 

still have an opportunity to make an Open Season selection for your 2002 coverage from 

November 12, 2001 through December 10, 2001.