United States 

Office of 

Personnel Management 

The Federal Government’s Human Resources Agency

Retirement and Insurance Service 

Benefits Administration Letter 

Number: 00-218 Date: October 10, 2000 

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

Enrollees of PacifiCare of Ohio, Inc., Enrollment Code R8, to Change 

Enrollment 

PacifiCare of Ohio, Inc., enrollment code R8, will no longer participate in the FEHB Program 

after December 31, 2000. 

We are authorizing an opportunity for PacifiCare of Ohio enrollees to change their enrollment. 

The opportunity to change enrollment will begin immediately and continue through December 

29, 2000. All enrollees must change their enrollment to another participating plan. You must 

ensure that enrollees do not enroll in plans that will not be offered in 2001. Please refer to 

Benefits Administration Letter (BAL) 00-404 for a list of these plans. 

 

The effective date of the new coverage will be the pay period beginning on December 31, 

2000. Enrollees who do not change their enrollment by December 29, 2000, will not have 

benefits after December 31, 2000. 

Since this opportunity to change enrollment overlaps the regular open season, you must identify 

your employees enrolled in this plan, to ensure these changes are not processed as a regular 

open season change resulting in a year 2001 effective date. 

Please note that the plan has sent notices to enrollees alerting 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. 

Abby L. Block, Chief 

 Insurance Policy 

 and Information Division 

Attachment 

 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Civil Service Federal Employees Federal Employees Federal Employees 

Retirement Group Life Health Benefits Retirement 

System Insurance Program System 
11260 Chester Road

Suite 800

Cincinnati, Ohio 45246

Tel. 800.824.0428

October, 2000 

Dear Federal Employee or Retiree: 

This is to inform you that you need to choose a new health plan for 2001. The PacifiCare of Ohio 

plan (Enrollment Code R81 Self Only and R82 Self and Family) is terminating its Federal 

Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program contract and will not be offered to federal enrollees 

and retirees next year. 

PacifiCare will continue to provide benefits until midnight December 31, 2000. 

To continue receiving health benefits coverage under the FEHB Program, you need to change to another 

health plan. You can make that change during a special opportunity period between October 9 and 

December 29, 2000. 

 

Employees: Please contact your personnel office and enroll in a new health plan by no later than 

December 29, 2000. The effective date of your new health plan will be December 31, 2000. If you do 

not change your enrollment by that date, you will not have any health benefits coverage in 2001. 

Retirees: Please contact your retirement system and request materials to help you select a different 

health plan. This information will tell you how to request health plan brochures and how to change your 

enrollment to a new health plan. You will need to select a new health plan during this special opportunity 

period. If we do not receive your enrollment change by the December 29, 2000, your enrollment 

will be transferred to the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan. The effective date of 

your new health plan will be January 1, 2001. 

If you are a Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) or Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) 

retiree and need additional information, you should call the Retirement Information Office toll- free on 1-

888-767-6738. If you have impaired hearing, call the Retirement Information Office toll-free TDD number 

at 1-800-878-5707. Please have your annuity claim number and your social security number available 

when you call. Please also include these numbers in any correspondence. Retirees of other Federal 

retirement systems should contact their specific retirement system for additional help. 

If you have questions regarding your health care benefits, you may contact the PacifiCare Customer Service 

Department at 1-800-824-0428. Representatives are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 

PM EDT to answer any questions or concerns you may have. 

Sincerely,

Thomas D. Anthony 

President and CEO