United States 

Office of 

Personnel Management 

The Federal Government’s Human Resources Agency

Retirement and Insurance Service 

Benefits Administration Letter 

Number: 00-214 Date: July 31, 2000 

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

Enrollees of Health Alliance Benefit Plan (Code FX) to Change Enrollment 

This is to advise you that the Health Alliance Benefit Plan (Code FX) in the states of Illinois and 

Indiana, will lose all of its primary providers in the Peoria service area of central Illinois as of 

December 31, 2000. This service area will no longer be offered through Health Alliance under 

the FEHB Program. The counties affected in the Peoria service area are Fulton, Henry, Knox, 

Marshall, Peoria, Putnam, Stark, Tazewell, Warren, and Woodford. 

We are therefore authorizing an opportunity for Health Alliance Benefit Plan enrollees in the 

affected counties to change their enrollment. 

The opportunity to change enrollment will begin immediately and continue through the last day 

of the pay period which includes September 23, 2000. The effective date of all enrollment 

changes will be the pay period beginning on or after September 24, 2000. Enrollees who do 

not change plans, will be covered only for emergency services after December 31, 2000.

The Plan has sent notices to affected enrollees advising them of the provider network 

terminations. The letter to enrollees states that Peoria, Tazewell, and Woodford counties would 

remain in the Program, however, after the letter was sent out, the remaining providers in those 

counties made the decision to withdraw from the Peoria service area. We have attached a copy 

of that letter for your information. 

_______________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Civil Service Federal Employees Federal Employees Federal Employees 

Retirement Group Life Health Benefits Retirement 

System Insurance Program System 
Note: If enrollees are uncertain whether or not they are affected, please have them contact 

Health Alliance at 1-800-851-3379. 

 

Thank you for your cooperation in this matter. 

Attachment 

Abby L. Block, Chief 

 Insurance Policy 

 And Information Division 

2 
April 27, 2000 

Dear Health Alliance Subscriber: 

For the last five years, Health Alliance Medical Plans and Methodist Medical Center have worked in 

partnership to bring managed care coverage plans to residents of nine counties in central Illinois. We recently 

received notification from Methodist Medical Center and their associated physicians that they wish to limit 

their participation in our provider network for fully insured plans to only Peoria, Tazewell and Woodford 

counties. Although we continue to enjoy a good working relationship, these providers have made what they 

believe to be a necessary decision based on their business strategy and the needs of their organizations. 

The decision renders the Health Alliance provider network for most of members residing in Fulton, Henry, 

Knox, Marshall, Putnam and Stark counties inadequate to serve their needs. This letter serves as 

notification that only emergency benefits will be available after December 31, 2000 unless you select a 

Health Alliance primary care physician in Peoria, Tazewell or Woodford County. Enclosed are listings of 

primary care physicians that are available and primary care physicians that will be terminating on 

December 31. 

Our Premier Choice plan is not affected by this network change. 

We regret the inconvenience this change causes, but it’s our goal to assist you in this transition in whatever 

way we can. We will be working very closely with your employer regarding the availability of other 

potential Health Alliance policies. 

If you have questions or wish to discuss it further, please contact your benefits manager or employer. Or 

you can call our Customer Service Representatives at 1-800-851-3379, extension 8100. They will be 

happy to help in whatever way they can. 

Sincerely, 

Jeffrey C. Ingrum 

Chief Executive Officer 

Enclosure