OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR 

UNITED STATES
 

OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT
 

WASHINGTON, DC 20415-1000
 

November 10, 2003 

MEMORANDUM FOR HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES 

FROM: KAY COLES JAMES 

DIRECTOR 

Subject: Long Term Care Insurance Information in Retirement Seminars 

Federal Departments and Agencies regularly provide retirement seminars for their employees 

who are wisely planning for the future. OPM strongly believes that agency-sponsored retirement 

seminars are an exceptional venue for focusing attention on benefits sponsored by the Federal 

Government. Because the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) is relatively 

new, I am requesting your assistance in ensuring that your retirement seminars include 

information that accurately presents all of its features. 

Importance of long term care insurance in retirement planning 

Every Federal employee's retirement planning should include consideration of long term care insurance 

as a means to protect retirement assets against the potentially high cost of long term care. I strongly 

believe in this form of protection and was the first person to enroll in the FLTCIP last year. 

Many agencies have traditionally included the generic topic of long term care insurance in their 

retirement seminars. With the advent of the only long term care insurance program sponsored by the 

Federal Government for the Federal family, it is appropriate for agency retirement seminars to provide 

specific information on the FLTCIP, including information on applying for coverage. However, it is 

equally important that these seminars provide accurate information on the Program by persons 

specifically trained to do so. 

Role of Long Term Care Partners 

As part of its responsibilities to administer the FLTCIP, Long Term Care Partners has personnel 

available to make FLTCIP presentations at agency retirement seminars nationwide at no cost to 

agencies. They are fully qualified to provide detailed information on the FLTCIP, to distribute 

Information Kits and applications, to answer specific questions about the Program, and provide one-onone counseling to your employees who request such assistance. Long Term Care Partners then can 

provide such employees personalized assistance with customizing a plan and completing their 

applications. 

Participation of other long term care insurance representatives 
The Federal Government now sponsors an excellent long term care insurance program for the 

Federal family. As a result of the advent of FLTCIP, OPM strongly encourages having a 

representative of Long Term Care Partners at retirement seminars sponsored by Federal 

agencies. You, of course, may be approached by representatives from other insurance plans to present 

information on long term care and long term care insurance. We encourage Federal employees to 

compare the FLTCIP with other long term care insurance plans so that they can make decisions that 

meet their individual needs. However, we believe that a representative of Long Term Care Partners 

should be available at such presentations to answer questions and ensure that the unique features of the 

Federal Program are accurately presented. 

We know of several instances where outside agents and financial planners have presented incomplete 

and inaccurate information on the FLTCIP to Federal employees at agency-sponsored retirement 

seminars. In these instances, Federal employees have not been well-served, and, as a result, may 

unknowingly made decisions to their own detriment. Again, while we strongly believe Federal 

employees should be informed consumers so that they can make their own best decisions, it is also 

important that they have the opportunity to learn about the FLTCIP that was designed specifically for 

them in a professional and accurate manner. 

Contact information 

We are sending a Benefits Administration Letter to your human resources offices, with the details on 

how to contact the Long Term Care Partners account management team to arrange participation in their 

retirement seminars. 

I greatly appreciate your cooperation in ensuring that your employees receive complete and accurate 

information on this valuable Program. 

cc: Chief Human Capital Officers