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PAYROLL OFFICE LETTER

U. S. Office of Personnel Management

Number: P-97-14 Date: November 10, 1997 

Subject: 1998 OPEN SEASON INFORMATION 

This letter transmits the information to be used by agency payroll offices for the upcoming

Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program open season.

OFFICAL EMPLOYEE WITHHOLDING AND AGENCY CONTRIBUTION RATES FOR 1998

(EXHIBIT A);

The 1998 premium rates are effective with the first full pay period beginning after

December 31, 1997. These are the official rates and the only ones to be used for

withholdings and contributions for pay periods beginning after December 31, 1997. Please

update your systems accordingly.

The rates for 1998 are available in four media:

1) A printed copy of the rates are included with this letter as EXHIBIT A.

2) Premium rates and plan addresses for 1998 are available for download on OPM

ONLINE, our electronic bulletin board. You may reach OPM ONLINE by modem on

(202) 606-4800. Instructions for accessing OPM ONLINE can be found in Payroll

Office Letter 95-02 dated January 20, 1995. Select "A" for Retirement and Insurance

Forum.

3) The OPM web site has the rates that you can download. The OPM Home Page

can be accessed via http://www.opm.gov/asd. Look for Payroll Office Letter 97-14 to

access the rates.

4) A 3.5" diskette in ASCII format. To request a copy of the diskette, please call us

on (202) 606-0680 or send an email to finance@opm.gov.
CHANGES IN ENROLLMENT CODES 

This table provides a listing of health plan enrollment codes that will change beginning with

the first full pay period in 1998. These enrollment codes are not available because of

terminations, mergers and consolidations or changes in plan service areas. These events

require payroll office action unless employees choose a different health plan during

open season.

Plan Name Old Code New Code Reason For Change

Aetna US Healthcare (consolidation of ZR NK

Aetna - NJ & US Healthcare - Del and - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Merger/consolidation

NJ) XK P3 of health plans

Aetna US Healthcare (formerly Aetna ZY, US V8 Consolidation of

HP Mid-Atlantic) service/enrollment

area

Aetna US Healthcare (consolidation of F3 2U Merger/consolidation

Aetna HP - GA & US Healthcare - GA) of health plans

Aetna US Healthcare(consolidation of CT, 4J KL

Aetna HP - PA & US Healthcare - PA) - - - - - - - - - KJ - - - - - - - - Merger/consolidation

SU of health plans

BlueChoice M4 9G Assignment of new

enrollment code

Community Health Plan/Kaiser SM K1 Merger/consolidation

Permanente of health plans

NOTE: SEE END OF EXHIBIT FOR

VERMONT RESIDENTS

PacifiCare of California (merged with CQ CY Merger/consolidation

FHP Health Care) of health plans

HealthAmerica Pennsylvania 1N 26 Consolidation of

service/enrollment

area

Healthkeepers (formerly HMO Virginia) V7, 4V X8 Consolidation of

service/enrollment

area

Healthsource Georgia (merged with 2H 7H Merger/consolidation

Healthsource Savannah) of health plans
Plan Name Old Code New Code Reason For Change

Heritage National HP 3T 4T Consolidation of

service/enrollment

area

Heritage National HP 3I, 3K, 3L, 3J Consolidation of

service/enrollment

area

Heritage National HP 3X 4T Assignment of new

enrollment code

HMOBlue ZK, ZL GM Consolidation of

service/enrollment

area

HMO-CNY CE, 4E EB Consolidation of

service/enrollment

area

HMO Health Ohio MD None Reduction of

service/enrollment

area

HMSA's Community Health Program F6 9Q Assignment of new

enrollment code

Humana Health Plan (merged with GQ 75 Merger/consolidation

Humana HealthChicago) of health plans

Kaiser Mid Atlantic (merged with 50 E3 Merger/consolidation

Humana Group Health) of health plans

Keystone Blue ZT, ZU EF Consolidation of

service/enrollment

area

Keystone Health Plan Central ST, Z3 S4 Consolidation of

service/enrollment

area

PacifiCare of Oklahoma N1 2N Consolidation of

service/enrollment

area

PacifiCare of Texas (merged with FHP VN, T6, 4F GF Consolidation of

of Texas) service/enrollment

area
Plan Name Old Code New Code Reason For Change

Partners HMO ZM RN Consolidation of

service/enrollment

area

Principal HC of Kansas City N3 None Reduction of

service/enrollment

area

SecureCare of Iowa 3S 3Q Consolidation of

service/enrollment

area

United HC of Florida 1X None Reduction of

service/enrollment

area

United HealthCare of Louisiana S6 None Reduction of

(formerly Community Health Network of service/enrollment

Louisiana) area

United HealthCare of Louisiana S8 RY Consolidation of

(formerly Community Health Network of service/enrollment

Louisiana) area

United HealthCare Select (merged with FJ FP Merger/consolidation

United HealthCare HMO) of health plans

Wellcare of New York ZV X4 Consolidation of

service/enrollment

area

Vermont residents enrolled in Community Health Plan/Kaiser Permanente, enrollment code

K1, must have their enrollment transferred to enrollment code 8M unless the employee

chooses a different health plan during open season.

 

PLANS THAT HAVE DISCONTINUED ENROLLMENT 

The following presents the 24 health plans that have ceased participation in the Program

effective December 31, 1997. They will not be available for Federal employees and

annuitants, effective with the first full pay period in 1998. Do not accept enrollments for

these plans. Individuals currently enrolled in a discontinued plan must enroll in an

alternate plan of their choice during open season. Failure to do so could result in

serious financial hardship resulting from the loss of health benefits coverage. Please

take the necessary steps to ensure that all current members enrolled in these plans are

informed of their need to enroll in another plan during the open season.
Plan Name Old Code New Code

Advantage Health Plan - Louisana 1A, 2A None

Atrium Health Plan - Wisconsin CV None

CIGNA HC of North Carolina XP, U1 None

CIGNA HC of Pennsylvania XU None

Healthsource CMHC - Massachusetts J1 None

Healthsource Kentucky 8H None

Healthsource Maine MY None

Healthsource North Texas 6H None

HMO Arizona BlueSelect 5T, 5V None

HMOBlue - Tennessee 6C None

MetraHealth of Georgia WE None

MetraHealth of Louisiana X7 None

PACC HMO - Oregon & Washington 2P None

PCA Health Plans of AL WV,XS,XY None

Principal HC Carolinas 1P None

Principal HC of Delaware WS None

Principal HC of Florida 2Z, C2 None

Principal HC Indiana XE None

Principal Louisiana RP None

Prudential HealthCare HMO - Colorado 9C None

QualMed Plans for Health - Colorado MT None

Queen's Island Care - Hawaii F9 None

United HealthCare of AL NY,NJ,NL None

US Healthcare - Virginia 1U None
NEW HEALTH PLANS FOR 1998

State Plan Name Code General Location

AL VIVA Health Plan 4B Birmingham area

AR QCA Health Plan 8Q Little Rock area

FL Aetna US Healthcare 8A Tampa Bay/Jacksonville/Orlando

FL Beacon Health Plans 4K Palm Beach, Dade, Broward,

Orange, Seminole, & Osceola

counties

IL Mercy Health Plans/Premier 7M Southwest IL

IL OSF Health Plans 9F Boone, Bureau, DeKalb, Fulton,

Henderson, Henry, Kane, Knox,

LaSalle, Livingston, McDonough,

McHenry, McLean, Mercer, Ogle,

Peoria, Stark, Stephenson,

Tazewell, Warren, Winnebago, &

Woodford counties

KS Exclusive Healthcare 8K Kansas City area

LA Vantage Health Plan 7V Caldwell, East Carroll, Franklin,

Jackson, Lincoln, Madison,

Morehouse, Ouachita, Richland,

Tensas, Union, West Carroll, &

Winn parishes

ME NYLCare Health Plans - ME 9M All of Maine

MO Exclusive Healthcare 8K Kansas City area

MO Mercy Health Plans/Premier 7M East, Central, Southwest MO

MS Integrity Health Plan of MS 4G Central/Northern Mississippi

NC QualChoice-North Carolina 7Q Northwestern NC

NJ Physicians Health Services 7B All of New Jersey

of NJ

NV Exclusive Healthcare 7E Las Vegas/Reno 

OH HealthAssurance HMO 5X Belmont, Jefferson, Mahoning, &

Trumbull counties

OH SummaCare 5W Northern Ohio

OK CommunityCare HMO 7C South central Oklahoma
 

State Plan Name Code General Location

OK Foundation HealthPlan 6G Most of Oklahoma

PR United HealthCare of Puerto 7U All of Puerto Rico

Rico

SD Mutual of Omaha of South 8S Greater Sioux Falls area

Dakota

TN Aetna US Healthcare 6J Nashville/middle TN areas

TN American Medical Security 4U Knoxville, Nashville, and Memphis

Health Plan areas

TX Aetna US Healthcare 5B Houston/San Antonio areas

TX Certus HealthCare 3Y Aransas, Bee, Cameron, Hidalgo,

Jim Wells, Kleberg, Nueces, and

San Patricio counties.

TX Exclusive Healthcare 6E Dallas/Ft. Worth

TX WellChoice 3Z San Antonio area

WA First Choice Health Plan 5G Seattle area

WI Green Bay Health Protection 4L Northeast WI

Plan

WI North Central Health 8R Central/Northcentral WI

Protection Plan

WV HealthAssurance HMO 6L Barbour, Brooke, Doddridge,

Hancock, Harrison, Lewis, Marion,

Marshall, Monongalia, Ohio,

Preston, Taylor, Upshur, and

Wetzel counties

WV Super Blue HMO 8T The cities of Charleston,

Parkersburg, Morgantown,

Beckley, Clarksburg, Wheeling,

Lewiston, Freemont, and Bluefield
PLANS THAT WILL CHANGE NAMES IN 1998

Aetna and US Healthcare plans are merging and being renamed as Aetna US Healthcare for

1998. 

State Old Plan Name Code New Plan Name

AL, MS PrimeHealth AA PrimeHealth of Alabama

AZ Partners Health Plan-AZ TD, HealthPartners Health Plans

(merging with) Samaritan Health QS, 

Plan 2S

CA Kaiser of Southern California 62, Kaiser California

(merging with) Kaiser of 59

Northern California

CO FHP Colorado D6 PacifiCare of Colorado

CO Frontier Community HP 6F Aetna US Healthcare

GA PCA Health Plans of Georgia WU HPC Health Plans of Georgia

KS,MO MetraHealth of Kansas City 4M United HealthCare of Midwest

KY Healthwise of Kentucky DU United HealthCare of Kentucky

LA Community Health Network of S6,S8,R United HealthCare of Louisiana

Louisiana Y

MD Chesapeake Health Plan BL United HealthCare of the MidAtlantic

MN HealthPartners Select 53 HealthPartners Classic

MN,ND Northern Plains Health Plan 2R Altru Health Plan

NC Maxicare North Carolina Q5, TA Maxicare North Carolina

(merging with) Maxicare South

Carolina

NC PHP - North Carolina XM United Health Care of NC

NY MetraHealth of New York 3M United HealthCare of New York

OH FHP of Ohio R8 PacifiCare of Ohio

OR HMO Oregon 7A Regence HMO Oregon

PA Geisinger Health Plan N9 Penn State Geisinger Health

Plan

PA Prudential HealthCare HMO - VV Prudential HealthCare HMO -

Philadelphia Pennsylvania
 

State Old Plan Name Code New Plan Name

SC Maxicare North Carolina TA, Q5 Maxicare North Carolina

(merging with) Maxicare South

Carolina

TN Heritage National Healthplan of 4T Heritage National Healthplan

Tennessee

TX MetraHealth of Texas U3 United HealthCare of Texas

UT FHP-UTAH KU PacifiCare of Utah

VA US Healthcare Z1 Aetna US Healthcare

VA HMO Virginia X8 Healthkeepers

PLANS WITH CHANGES IN ENROLLMENT AREAS AND NEW ENROLLMENT CODES.

The following presents plans which will add significant parts of enrollment areas and create

new enrollment codes in 1998. Please review this list carefully, as some require payroll

office actions.

Iowa

Health Alliance HMO will expand its current service and enrollment area to include the

Central Iowa area. This new geographic area will have a separate enrollment code

(7X). 

South Carolina

Maxicare North Carolina will expand its current service and enrollment area to include

the counties in the Greenville-Spartansburg and Columbia areas. This new

geographic area will have a separate enrollment code (TA).

Texas

FIRSTCARE will expand its current service and enrollment area to include Bell,

Bosque, Brazos, Burlson, Burnet, Coryell, Falls, Freestone, Grimes, Hamilton, Hill,

Houston, Lampasas, Lee, Leon, Limestone, Llano, Madison, McLennan, Milam, Mills,

Navarro, Robertson, San Saba, Somervell, Walker, and Washington counties. This

new geographic area will have a separate enrollment code (6U).

Wisconsin

Compcare will expand its current service and enrollment area to include Northwest

and Northcentral Wisconsin. This new geographic area will have a separate

enrollment code (6X). 
PLANS WITH CHANGES IN ENROLLMENT AREAS NOT REQUIRING ANY PAYROLL

OFFICE ACTION.

Alabama

PrimeHealth of Alabama, code AA, has added the counties of Autauga, Bibb, Blount,

Bullock, Chilton, Clarke, Colbert, Coosa, Cullman, Dallas, Elmore, Escambia,

Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Lowndes, Macon,

Madison, Marion, Marshall, Montgomery, Morgan, Shelby, St. Clair, Talladega,

Tallapoosa, Tuscaloosa, Walker, Winston, and Washington. 

Arkansas

Prudential HC HMO-Arkansas, code VY, has added the counties of Benton, Carroll,

Crawford, Logan, Madison, Sebastian, and Washington.

Arizona

Health Plan of Nevada, code NM, has added Mohave county.

California

Omni Healthcare, code HN, has added Del Norte, Humbolt, Merced, San Francisco,

San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Sonoma counties.

 

Florida

Healthplan Southeast, code 3E, will expand to include the cities of Gainesville/Ocala,

Jacksonville, Panama City, Pensacola, and Tallahasse.

 

PCA Health Plans of Florida, code PJ, has added Columbia, DeSoto, Putnam, and

Union counties.

Georgia

Prudential HealthCare HMO- Atlanta, code EZ, will expand to include the counties of

Floyd and Hall.

Illinois

United HealthCare Select, code H8, will expand to include Williamson county. BCI,

code 3B, eliminated Vermilion county from its service area. Current enrollees in the

discontinued areas who do not change health plans during open season will have to

travel to the plan's remaining service area to obtain medical care in order to receive

full benefits from the plan for 1998.
Indiana

Aetna US Healthcare, formerly Aetna HP-Midwest, code XC, will expand to include

the Indianapolis area.

Physicians HP of Northern Indiana, code DQ, will expand to include Kosciusko and

Wabash counties.

Prudential HealthCare HMO-Cincinnati, code S3, will expand to include Dearborne

county.

Prudential HealthCare HMO-Indiana, code 2I, will expand to include Allen, LaPorte,

Morgan, and St. Joseph counties.

Kansas

Prudential HC HMO-Kansas City, code 1K, will expand its service area to include 

Shawnee county.

United HC of the Midwest, code 4M, will expand its service area to include the Topeka

area.

Kentucky

Aetna US Healthcare, formerly Aetna HP-Ohio, code RD, will expand to include

eleven new counties.

Bluegrass Family Health, code 2B, will expand to include Adair, Green, Morgan,

Pulaski, and Taylor counties.

United HC of Ohio, code VC, will expand to include Central/Northeast/South Central 

Ohio. 

 

Massachusetts

Matthew Thornton Health Plan, code NX, will expand to include the remaining cities

and towns in the counties of Essex, Middlesex, and Suffolk. The service area will

expand to include the communities of Brookline, Dedham, Dover, Hull, Milford, Milton,

Needham, Norwood, Quincy, and Wellesley. 

Michigan

Care Choices, code KZ, eliminated Clinton, Eaton, Ingham, Monroe, and Shiawassee 

counties from its service area. Current enrollees in the discontinued areas who do 

not change health plans during open season will have to travel to the plan's remaining

service area to obtain medical care in order to receive full benefits from the plan for

1998.
Mississippi

United HealthCare of MS, code QV, eliminated George, Hancock, Harrison,

Jackson, Pearl River, and Stone counties from its service area. Current

enrollees in the discontinued areas who do not change health plans during

open season will have to travel to the plan's remaining service area to obtain

medical care in order to receive full benefits from the plan for 1998. 

Prudential HealthCare HMO-Memphis, code UB, will expand to include Marshall

county.

PrimeHealth of Alabama, code AA, will expand to include George, Hancock, Harrison,

Jackson, Pearl River, and Stone counties.

United HealthCare of MS, code QV, will expand to include six counties in southwest

Mississippi.

 

Missouri 

BlueChoice, code 9G, will expand to include the City of St. Louis and the Central and

Southwest counties of the state.

United HealthCare Choice, code VB, will expand to include the counties of Chariton,

Knox, Lewis, Linn, Monroe, Pettis, Saline, Schuyler, Scotland, Shelby, and Sullivan.

United HealthCare Choice, code VB, eliminated Barry, Christian, Greene, Howell,

Lawrence, McDonald, Taney, and Webster counties from its service area. Current

enrollees in the discontinued areas who do not change health plans during open

season will have to travel to the plan's remaining service area to obtain medical care

in order to receive full benefits from the plan for 1998. 

United HealthCare Select, code H8, will expand to include the counties of Cape

Girardeau, Mississippi, Scott, Texas, and Wright. 

United HealthCare Select, code H8, eliminated Barry, Cass, Christian, Clay, Dade, 

Dallas, Greene, Jackson, Jasper, Johnson, Lafayette, Lawrence, McDonald, Newton,

Platte, Stone, and Webster counties from its service area. Current enrollees in the

discontinued areas who do not change health plans during open season will have to

travel to the plan's remaining service area to obtain medical care in order to receive

full benefits from the plan for 1998. 

New Mexico

FHP New Mexico, code P2, eliminated San Juan county from its service area. Current

enrollees in the discontinued areas who do not change health plans during open

season will have to travel to the plan's remaining service area to obtain medical care

in order to receive full benefits from the plan for 1998. 
New York

Oxford Health Plans (NY), code GC, will expand to include Dutchess County.

WellCare of New York, code X4, will expand to include Westchester County. 

 

North Carolina

Partners HP of North Carolina, code EQ, will expand to include Ashe, Caldwell,

Franklin, Granville, Polk, Stanly, and Vance counties.

WellPath Select, code 2E, will expand to include the North Carolina counties of Burke,

Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Guilford, Iredell, Lee, Rowan, Stanly, Stokes, Surry, and

Yadkin. 

Ohio

Prudential HealthCare HMO-Cincinnati, code S3, will expand to include Brown,

Clarke, Clinton, Greene, Miami, and Montgomery counties.

Prudential HealthCare HMO-Northern Ohio, code Q9, will expand to include Portage 

and Stark counties.

 

United HC of Ohio, code 3U, will expand to include Northern Kentucky.

Aetna US Healthcare, formerly Aetna HP-Ohio, code RD, will expand to include 32

new counties in Ohio.

Pacificare of Ohio, code R8, will expand to include Brown county.

Oklahoma

Healthcare Oklahoma, code 6U, will expand to include the Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and

Lawton areas.

Prudential HC HMO - Tulsa, code RS, will expand to include additional zip codes 

in Mayes, Pawnee, Wagoner, Okmulgee, Rogers, and Osage counties.

 

Oregon

PacifiCare of Oregon, code SS, will expand to include Columbia County.

PacifiCare of Oregon, code SS, eliminated Douglas, Josephine and Lincoln counties 

from its service area. Current enrollees in the discontinued areas who do not change

health plans during open season will have to travel to the plan's remaining service

area to obtain medical care in order to receive full benefits from the plan for 1998. 

Regence HMO Oregon, formerly HMO Oregon, code 7A, will expand to include

Gilliam, Morrow, and Sherman counties.
Pennsylvania

Oxford Health Plans (PA), code 3W, will expand to include Berks County.

South Carolina

WellPath Select, code 2E, will expand to include Chester, Greenville, Lancaster,

Spartanburg, and York counties.

Kaiser of North Carolina, code QT, will expand its service area to include the Rock Hill

area.

Tennessee

Prudential HealthCare HMO - Memphis, code UB, will expand to include Crockett and

Dyer counties.

Prudential HealthCare HMO - Nashville, code UA, will expand to include Smith and

Trousdale counties

United HealthCare of TN, code QR, eliminated the Nashville area from its service 

area. Current enrollees in the discontinued areas who do not change health plans

during open season will have to travel to the plan's remaining service area to obtain

medical care in order to receive full benefits from the plan for 1998. 

Texas

NYLCare Health Plan of the Southwest, code V2, will expand to include Bowie, Cass,

Harrison, and Marion counties. 

HMO Blue, code 4Y, will expand to include Bastrop and El Paso counties.

HMO Blue, code 4Z, will expand to include the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex;

Central/South/Southeast/Northeast Anderson County, Cherokee and Smith counties.

PacifiCare of Texas, formerly FHP of Texas (code 4F), code GF, eliminated Austin,

Brazoria, Brazos, Chambers, Colorado, Grimes, Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty,

Matagorda, Newton, Orange, Polk, San Jacinto, Tyler, Walker, Waller, Washington,

and Wharton counties from its service area. Current enrollees in the discontinued

areas who do not change health plans during open season will have to travel to the

plan's remaining service area to obtain medical care in order to receive full benefits

from the plan for 1998. 

Utah

IHC SelectMed, code 6S, will expand to include Cache County.
Vermont

MVP Health Plan, code VW, will expand to include Addison, Franklin, Grand Isle,

Lamoille, and Washington counties.

Virginia

CIGNA HealthCare of the Mid-Atlantic, code XF, will expand to include Frederick and

Warren counties. 

 

Washington

NYLCare HP of NorthWest, code 8N, will expand to include Clallam, Cowlitz, Grays

Harbor, Kitsap, Lewis, Mason, Okanogan, Pend Orielle, Spokane, Stevens, and

Thurston counties.

PacifiCare of Washington, code WB, eliminated Adams, Grant, and Lincoln counties

from its service area. Current enrollees in the discontinued areas who do not change

health plans during open season will have to travel to the plan's remaining service

area to obtain medical care in order to receive full benefits from the plan for 1998. 

West Virginia

CareLink, code 4C, eliminated Barbour, Doddridge, Harrison, Lewis, McDowell,

Mercer, Monongalia, Pocahontas, Preston, Taylor, Upshur, and Webster counties

from its service area. Current enrollees in the discontinued areas who do not change

health plans during open season will have to travel to the plan's remaining service

area to obtain medical care in order to receive full benefits from the plan for 1998. 

Health Plan of the Upper Ohio Valley, code U4, will expand to include Doddridge,

Lewis, Gilmer, and Upshur counties. 

 

Wisconsin

Group Health Cooperative of South Central WI, code WJ, will expand to include 

all of Jefferson County; Dodge County zip codes 53579, 53094, and 53036; Walworth

County zip code 53190; and Rock County zip codes 53190 and 53563.

Unity Health Plans, code W4, eliminated Monroe and Outagamie counties from its 

service area. Current enrollees in the discontinued areas who do not change health

plans during open season will have to travel to the plan's remaining service area to

obtain medical care in order to receive full benefits from the plan for 1998. 
HEALTH PLANS WHICH WILL REDUCE SIGNIFICANT PARTS OF ENROLLMENT

AREAS AND WILL ELIMINATE ENROLLMENT CODES IN 1998. 

Florida

United HC of Florida eliminated the Pensacola region (code 1X) from their service

area. Current enrollees in the discontinued area who do not change health plans

during open season will not have health benefits for 1998. The 1X enrollment code

will not be valid for 1998.

Kansas

Principal HC of Kansas City eliminated Douglas, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson,

Johnson, Leavenworth, Miami, Shawnee and Wyandotte counties (code N3) from its

service area. Current enrollees in the discontinued area who do not change health

plans during open season will not have health benefits for 1998. The N3 enrollment

code will not be valid for 1998.

 

Louisiana

United HealthCare of Louisiana (formerly Community Health Network of Louisiana) 

eliminated the New Orleans area (S6) from its service area. Current enrollees in the

discontinued area who do not change health plans during open season will not have

health benefits for 1998. The S6 enrollment code will not be valid for 1998.

 

Missouri

Principal HC of Kansas City eliminated Cass, Clay, Clinton, Dekalb, Henry, Jackson,

Johnson, Lafayette, Platte, and Ray counties (code N3) from its service area. 

Current enrollees in the discontinued area who do not change health plans during

open season will not have health benefits for 1998. The N3 enrollment code will

not be valid for 1998.

Ohio

HMO Health Ohio eliminated the Northwest and Southwest regions (code MD) from its

service area. Current enrollees in the discontinued area who do not change health

plans during open season will not have health benefits for 1998. The MD enrollment

code will not be valid for 1998.
SPECIAL SITUATIONS REQUIRING PAYROLL OFFICE ACTIONS.

Enrollees in this plan under the 1997 enrollment code shown below should check their plan

brochure to determine which 1998 code they should be under. Employees in this 1997

enrollment code who should change codes, but do not, will have to travel to the area served

by their enrollment code to obtain medical care in order to receive full benefits from the plan.

 

Plan Name 1997 CODE 1998 CODES

Humana Medical Plan - Florida P5 7F

 (Orlando)

 (Jacksonville) P5

Plan Name 1997 Code Part Being Transferred 1998 Code 

Foundation Health, A 5C Palm Beach County 5E

Florida Health Plan

Foundation Health, A 5C Charlotte, Lee, Martin, 5D

Florida Health Plan and St. Lucie counties

ADDRESSES FOR HEALTH PLANS (EXHIBIT B).

Benefits Administration Letters in the 400 Series (e.g. BAL 97-402, BAL 97-403, etc.) contain

additional information about the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program and

the upcoming open season.

TIMELY PROCESSING OF ENROLLMENT DOCUMENTS

Several carriers participating in the FEHB Program have expressed difficulty in reconciling

their enrollment records with agency payroll offices. The principal vehicle upon which the

carriers rely to maintain an accurate roster is the Health Benefits Registration Form

(SF2809). Section S19-2 of the FEHB Handbook for Personnel and Payroll Offices requires

that the SF2809 be processed in a timely manner and not accumulated by agencies for more

than one week before forwarding to the carriers. In addition, it is critical that agencies ensure

that the "losing" and "gaining" carriers receive timely copies of the SF2809. Your accurate

and timely processing of SF2809's during the open season will help decrease the number of

enrollment discrepancies encountered during the reconciliation process.
PAYROLL OFFICE ADDRESSES

We used the address we have on file for your payroll office to mail this letter. If this address

is incorrect or needs updating, please notify us promptly by writing to:

 U.S. Office of Personnel Management

 Retirement and Insurance Group

 Financial Management Division, Room 3H35

 1900 E Street, N.W.

 Washington, D.C. 20415-0001

INQUIRIES

Each agency is required to designate a Health Benefits Officer who functions as OPM's point

of contact with the agency and acts as spokesperson for the agency on health benefits

matters. We request that agencies involve their Health Benefits Officer in any matter they

would like to bring to our attention. If you have a matter related to the financial

administration of the health benefits program which you would like to discuss with us, please

contact our Financial Management Division on (202) 606-0680 or via email,

finance@opm.gov.

 Sincerely,

Robert A. Yuran, Chief

Financial Policy Staff

Retirement and Insurance Service 

Enclosures (2) 

Please note - Contact us by phone or email to request Enclosures:

Exhibit A - 1998 FEHBP rates.

Exhibit B - Addresses for Health Plans.