Office of Personnel Management

Retirement and Insurance Group

1920 1954 1959 

 

1986 

Benefits Administration Letter

Number: 95-403 Date: August 25, 1995 

SUBJECT: 1995 FEHB Open Season: Ordering and Distribution

_________________________________________________________________

OVERVIEW

_____________________________________________

 Open Season Open season material is prepared by OPM for

 Material use by employees and other FEHB enrollees

during open season and throughout the year.

The following material will be used during

the 1995 open season:

 1. FEHB Guides. These booklets are

prepared for various groups of

enrollees. They contain a comparison

chart giving general information about

the plans and the premium rates. They

also contain the FEHB Customer

Satisfaction Survey results.

 2. Plan brochures. These brochures are the

statements of benefits, exclusions, and

limitations.

 3. Material for the visually impaired.

 4. SF 2809 (Health Benefits Registration

Form) and SF 2809-A (Federal Employees

Health Benefits Program Information for

Federal Civilian Employees and U.S.

Postal Service Employees).

_____________________________________________

 Shipping and Printing contractors will continue to use

 Packaging color-coded shipping labels to distinguish

between FEHB Guides and plan brochures. FEHB

Guides will have goldenrod shipping labels;

plan brochures will have pink shipping

labels. FEHB Guides and plan brochures will

be packaged in groups of 25 and boxed at up
Benefits Administration Letter 95-403

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to 150 Guides per container.

_________________________________________________________________

FEHB GUIDES

_____________________________________________

 Names and 1. 1996 FEHB Guide 1995 Open Season for

 Numbers Federal civilian employees (RI 70-1). 

This guide will be used by most

employees. The rates shown are the

enrollee's share of the biweekly and

monthly premiums. [The corresponding

guide for Postal employees is RI 70-2.] 

RI 70-1 is printed in black ink on white

paper.

2. 1996 FEHB Guide 1995 Open Season for

Federal civilian employees in positions

outside the continental United States

(This includes the States of Alaska and

Hawaii, and the Islands of Guam and

Puerto Rico) (RI 70-7). This guide

includes all fee-for-service plans and

those prepaid plans in Hawaii, Puerto

Rico, and Guam (including Palau and the

Commonwealth of Northern Mariana

Islands). RI 70-7 is printed in blue

ink on white paper.

3. 1996 FEHB Guide 1995 Open Season for

Certain temporary employees (Those

eligible to enroll in FEHB under 5

U.S.C. 8906a) (RI 70-8). This guide

shows the full biweekly and monthly

premium rates (without a Government

contribution) for all plans. RI 70-8 is

printed in black ink on buff paper.

4. 1996 FEHB Guide 1995 Open Season for

Individuals eligible to enroll for: 

Temporary continuation of coverage and

Coverage under the spouse equity law or

similar statutes providing coverage to

former spouses (RI 70-5). This guide

shows the monthly premium rates for

enrolled former spouses (total premium)

and for persons eligible for TCC (total

premium plus 2% administrative add-on). 

RI 70-5 is printed in black ink on green

paper.
Benefits Administration Letter 95-403

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_____________________________________________

 How Do Agencies OPM will arrange to have supplies of the FEHB

 Get the Guides? Guides shipped to each agency's designated

distribution point(s).
Benefits Administration Letter 95-403

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In addition, the RI 70-1 will be available on

OPM Mainstreet. If possible, we will also

upload other FEHB Guides to OPM Mainstreet.

_____________________________________________

 How Many Do The quantity is based on information provided

 Agencies Get? by headquarters Insurance Officers in their

response to OPM's request to update

population data sent to each agency in May.

For RI 70-1, the quantity is equal to 60% of

the number of eligible employees.

OPM has reduced the quantity of RI 70-8

agencies will receive this year. For 1996,

your shipment will be reduced to an amount

equal to 60% of eligible employees.

 _____________________________________________

 What Do Agencies RI 70-1 and RI 70-8 will not be printed in 

 Do with Them? sufficient quantities to distribute a

personal copy to each employee. Before open

season begins, agencies must notify employees

of the availability of RI 70-1 and RI 70-8. 

Employees should be instructed to contact

their agency to obtain a copy of RI 70-1 and

RI 70-8 if they are considering making a

change during open season.

Agencies should hold a quantity of RI 70-1

and RI 70-8 in reserve for use during 1996.

RI 70-7 will be printed in the same quantity

as in years past. Before open season begins,

agencies must provide a copy of RI 70-7 to

each eligible employee for whom one of these

guides is applicable.

Throughout calendar year 1996, agencies must

give the appropriate FEHB Guide to new

employees and others who become eligible to

participate in the FEHB Program.

RI 70-5 will also be printed in the same

quantities as in the past. Agencies are

responsible for distributing RI 70-5 to

former spouses and TCC enrollees whose

enrollments they maintain. (Those agencies
Benefits Administration Letter 95-403

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for which the USDA's National Finance Center

maintains these accounts will not have this

responsibility.)

_____________________________________________

 How Do Agencies Additional (limited) quantities will be

 Order More? available upon written request from agency

headquarters Insurance Officers after January

1, 1996. [Due to limited staff, we cannot

fill orders for agency field offices. Agency

field offices must request additional stock

from the agency headquarters Insurance

Officer.] 

The address is OPM/RIS, Forms Analysis and

Design, Room 4H28, Attn: RI-[insert number

of the guide being ordered], Washington, DC,

20415, or FAX 202-606-0910.

Be sure to include an agency contact,

telephone number, and the shipping address.

_________________________________________________________________

PLAN BROCHURES

_____________________________________________

 How Do Agencies Fee-for-service plans will ship a supply of

 Get Fee-for- their brochures to each agency's designated

 service Plan distribution point(s).

 Brochures?

_____________________________________________

 How Do Agencies Agencies must order prepaid plan brochures

 Get Prepaid directly from the plans. OPM will send

 Plan Brochures? agencies a list of plan contacts to use for

this purpose.

The personnel official designated for each

agency installation must determine the number

of employees working at or serviced by the

installation who are eligible to enroll in

each prepaid plan, i.e., the number of

employees located in the plan's enrollment

area. The installation should then contact

each plan and provide the plan with:

 1. a conservative estimate of the number of

eligible employees (be sure to include
Benefits Administration Letter 95-403

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former spouses and TCC enrollees in this

estimate) and

 2. the address to which the plan should

ship the brochures.

After receiving this information, the plan

will ship a supply of brochures directly to

the installation.

_____________________________________________

 How Many Do Fee-for-service plans are given a 

 Agencies Get? distribution list that shows the quantity

they are to ship to each distribution point

(generally 15% of the agency's eligible FEHB

population). Each agency orders prepaid plan

brochures directly from the plan and should

be sent a quantity equal to 15% of the number

of eligible employees. This amount is

computed by the plans at the time of

shipment.

_____________________________________________

 What Should Each employee currently enrolled will receive

 Agencies Do a brochure from his/her plan, along with a

 with Them? notice of the plan's 1996 rates.

Agencies must keep a supply of brochures on

hand for reference and for distribution to

employees who decide to enroll or change

plans. These brochures must be readily

accessible to employees.

! Agencies must maintain close control

over the issuing of plan brochures. 

Employees should be permitted to take

copies home for review. If an employee

enrolls or changes health plans, he/she

should keep the brochure for that plan. 

Other brochures should be returned

promptly to the office.

Wherever possible, agencies must give their

former spouse and TCC enrollees the same

access to brochures as employees. Agencies

must tell their former spouse and TCC

enrollees how to obtain brochures and SF 2809

if they are interested in changing plans. If

the employing office maintaining the former
Benefits Administration Letter 95-403

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spouse or TCC enrollment is unable to fill a

request for a brochure (e.g., if the enrollee

is in an area not served by the plans for

which the employing office has brochures),

the individual should be advised to call the

carrier at the telephone number listed in the

FEHB Guide.

_____________________________________________

 How Do Agencies Agencies must request additional brochures

 Order More? directly from the plans.

_________________________________________________________________
Benefits Administration Letter 95-403

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MATERIAL FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED

_____________________________________________

 What Is 1. 1996 FEHB Guide 1995 Open Season for

 Available? Federal civilian employees (RI 70-10). 

The content of this booklet is the same

as that of the RI 70-1; however, it is

printed in large type on 11 x 17 inch

paper.

2. 1996 Fee-For-Service Plan Cassette Tapes

For Visually Impaired Federal Civilian

Employees. These are tone-indexed

cassette tapes of the brochures for the

open fee-for-service plans.

_____________________________________________

 How Do Agencies OPM will arrange to have supplies of RI 70-10

 Get RI 70-10? shipped to each agency's headquarters

distribution point based on the quantities

indicated in response to OPM's request for

headquarters insurance officers to update

FEHB population data, which was sent to each

agency in May. This amount should be

sufficient for open season use, as well as

for distribution to visually impaired

employees who become eligible to enroll

during 1996.

Additional copies may be ordered in writing

by the agency headquarters Insurance Officer. 

The address is OPM/RIS, Forms Analysis and

Design, Room 4H28, Attn: RI 70-10,

Washington, DC, 20415, or FAX 202-606-0910.

Be sure to include an agency contact,

telephone number, and the shipping address.

_____________________________________________

 How Do Agencies Cassette tapes will be available directly

 Get Cassette from the plans upon written request from 

 Tapes? agency Headquarters Insurance Officers. 

Attached is the list of plan contacts to use

for ordering the cassette tapes.

_____________________________________________

 Agency All Federal agencies at the headquarters and

 Responsibilities installation levels should take affirmative
Benefits Administration Letter 95-403

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steps to seek out visually impaired employees

and to communicate the availability of the

large-print FEHB Guide and the cassette

tapes.

_________________________________________________________________

SF 2809 (HEALTH BENEFITS REGISTRATION FORM) AND SF 2809-A

(FEDERAL EMPLOYEES HEALTH BENEFITS PROGRAM INFORMATION FOR

FEDERAL CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES AND U.S. POSTAL SERVICE EMPLOYEES)

_____________________________________________

 How Do Agencies Agencies must order SF 2809 and SF 2809-A

 Order These? directly from GSA supply centers, just as

they order other OPM-issued Standard Forms. 

SF 2809 and SF 2809-A are available from

GSA/Federal Supply Service using the normal

FEDSTRIP/MILSTRIP procedures. Contact your

purchasing or acquisitions office for your

agency's procedures.

SF 2809 and SF 2809-A are not available from

GSA Customer Service Centers or from OPM.

_____________________________________________

 What Is the The National Stock Number (NSN) for SF 2809

 Cost? is 7540-01-231-6227, and the price is

approximately $9.16 per hundred.

! Please note that the August 1992 edition

is the only version of SF 2809 that can

be used.

The NSN for SF 2809-A is 7540-00-130-8501,

and the price is approximately $3.25 per

package of 25. The June 1990 version is the

latest edition.

_____________________________________________

 What Should Agencies must keep sufficient quantities of

 Agencies Do SF 2809 available to handle requests.

 with Them? Employing offices should give an SF 2809 to

employees and former spouse and TCC enrollees

who are enrolled in plans that will not be

participating in the Program after December

31, 1995.

Agencies must give an SF 2809-A to each

employee who enrolls or changes enrollment,
Benefits Administration Letter 95-403

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as well as to new employees and others who

become eligible to participate in the FEHB

Program during the year. Agencies should

also give this booklet to other employees

requesting information about the FEHB

Program.

_________________________________________________________________
Benefits Administration Letter 95-403

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PREMIUM RATES

_____________________________________________

 Notification OPM announces premium rate changes each year

in a press release. Agency payroll offices,

however, must not use these rates to update

their payroll systems.

OPM's Office of Financial Control and

Management will issue a Payroll Office Letter

providing the official enrollee withholding

and Government contribution rates and other

information relevant to payroll offices. 

This Letter will also provide agencies with

information on obtaining an IBM-compatible

floppy disk containing the 1996 FEHB rates.

_________________________________________________________________

Abby L. Block, Chief

Insurance Policy 

 and Information Division

Attachment
Benefits Administration Letter 95-403

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Open Fee-For-Service Plan Audio Cassette Coordinators

Plan Contact Phone Fax 

 

Blue Cross and Marcia McDowell (202)942-1293 (202)942-1263

Blue Shield

Alliance Larry Lindsey (202)939-6369 (202)939-6389

APWU Carroll Midgett (301)622-5554 (301)622-5713

GEHA Jane Overton (816)257-3330 (816)257-6946

Mail Handlers Mary Beth Lynch (301)517-2059 (301)517-2127

NALC Dave Lorenz (703)729-4677 (703)729-8109

Postmasters Linda Griffin (703)683-1664 (703)683-2937