United States

Office of

Personnel Management

The Federal Government’s Human Resources Agency

Retirement and Insurance Service

Benefits Administration Letter

 

Number: 99-220 Date: November 4, 1999 

Subject: Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program: Termination of

Harvard Pilgrim Health Care of New England, Code 70

This is to advise you that Harvard Pilgrim Health Care of New England, Inc. (HPHCNE), Code 70, an

HMO serving all of Rhode Island and certain adjacent towns in the State of Massachusetts, is under

rehabilitation by the State of Rhode Island and will no longer participate in the FEHB Program,

effective December 31, 1999 (12 midnight).

Employees may not newly enroll in HPHCNE. In addition, we are authorizing a special open

season for employees enrolled in the plan to allow them to choose new plans. Employees who

wish to maintain FEHB coverage must enroll in new plans during this special open season. This

open season is effective immediately and will continue through December 18, 1999. Agencies

are, however, asked to apply this cut-off date liberally if necessary.

HPHCNE will send its enrollees a letter on Office of Personnel Management (OPM) stationery

(see attachment), advising them of this special open season. Only Federal enrollees enrolled in

HPHCNE, Code 70, are eligible to enroll in another health plan during this special open season. 

Federal enrollees enrolled in Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Inc., Code 68, are not eligible for this

special open season. 

Because the plan will cease operations on December 31, 1999, enrollment changes made during this

open season should be made effective the pay period beginning on or after November 1, 1999, and

no later than December 19, 1999. Since this special open season overlaps the regular open season,

agencies will need to identify their employees enrolled in Code 70, to ensure that these changes are

not processed as a regular open season change resulting in a year 2000 effective date.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Civil Service Federal Employees Federal Employees Federal Employees

Retirement Group Life Health Benefits Retirement

System Insurance Program System
2

It is important to note, enrollees in HPHCNE, Code 70, will retain their new Plan selection for

both calendar years 1999 and 2000. Therefore, they should pay particular attention to the benefits

and premiums for both calendar years, 1999 and 2000.

Lastly, please be aware that the United Healthcare of New England, Inc., enrollment Code VF,

will not participate in the FEHB Program in calendar year 2000.

Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

Abby L. Block, Chief

Insurance Policy Division

 and Information Division

Attachment
United States

Office of

Personnel Management Washington, D.C. 20415

TO ALL FEDERAL ENROLLEES OF

 HARVARD PILGRIM HEALTH CARE OF NEW ENGLAND, INC.

This important notice is being sent to you by Harvard Pilgrim Health Care of New England, Inc. (HPHCNE) at the

request of the United States Office of Personnel Management (OPM). 

HPHCNE, enrollment code 70, is under rehabilitation by the State of Rhode Island and will no longer participate in the Federal

Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program, effective December 31, 1999. To continue to receive benefits under the FEHB

Program, you MUST transfer to another participating health plan IMMEDIATELY. 

We have scheduled a special open enrollment period effective immediately and continuing through December 18, 1999. Be

advised that the effective date of the change will be in calendar year 1999. Because your new health plan selection will not

change for calendar year 2000, it is important to consider the new health plan’s premium and benefits for both calendar years

1999 and 2000. Please contact your personnel office to obtain a 2000 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 2000 FEHB web site (www.opm.gov/insure) to view a plan’s brochure. Only Federal enrollees enrolled in Harvard

Pilgrim Health Care of New England are eligible to enroll in another health plan during this special open season.

Please be aware that United Healthcare of New England, Inc., enrollment code VF, will not participate in the FEHB Program

in 2000.

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 will be able to continue seeing your specialist. The plan that gets 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.

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). The effective date of the new coverage you choose will be the first day of the pay period beginning on or

after November 7, 1999 and no later than December 19, 1999. If you do not enroll by that date, you will not have

any health benefits coverage for 2000.

IF YOU ARE AN ANNUITANT

Annuitants under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) or Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS),

should call the toll-free number at 1-888-767-6738 to make their enrollment changes. Please have available your CSRS

or FERS annuity claim number and your social security number when calling our toll-free number. If you are an

annuitant of another Federal retirement retiree system, you must contact that system for assistance. Coverage under

your new plan will be made retroactive to November 1, 1999 or December 1, 1999. 

We apologize for the inconvenience, and thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

U.S. Office of Personnel Management

Office of Insurance Programs