United States 

Office of 

Personnel Management 

The Federal Government’s Human Resources Agency

Retirement and Insurance Service 

Benefits Administration Letter 

Number: 01-207 Date: March 1, 2001 

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

Certain Enrollees of Aetna U.S. Healthcare, Enrollment Code NG, to change 

Enrollment 

Aetna U. S. Healthcare, enrollment code NG, has notified us of a recent provider network change 

in Terrebonne, Assumption and LaFourche parishes in Louisiana. Two hospitals, Thibodaux 

Regional Medical Center and Terrebonne General Medical Center, have canceled their 

participation in the Aetna U.S. Healthcare network. This means members do not have adequate 

access to hospital services. 

We are authorizing an opportunity for certain Aetna members enrolled in code NG to change 

enrollment. Members eligible for the opportunity to change must live, work or obtain health care 

services in Terrebonne, Assumption or LaFourche parishes. The opportunity to change 

enrollment will begin immediately and continue through March 31, 2001. Agencies may accept 

belated changes if necessary. The effective date of all enrollment changes will be the first day of 

the pay period following the one in which an enrollee makes the change, but no later than April 

8, 2001. Enrollees in Terrebonne, Assumption and LaFourche parishes, who do not change 

plans, will have no benefits for the remainder of the 2001 contract year. 

The Plan is sending the attached notice to all affected enrollees advising them of the provider 

network disruption and the opportunity to change enrollment. 

If enrollees are uncertain whether or not they are affected by the provider network disruption, 

please have them contact Aetna at 1-800-537-9384. Enrollees who have a chronic or disabling 

condition, or are in the second or third trimester of pregnancy, should contact their new plan to 

arrange transitional care. 

Thank you for your cooperation in this matter. 

Abby L. Block 

Assistant Director 

 for Insurance Programs 

Attachment

_______________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Civil Service Federal Employees Federal Employees Federal Employees 

Retirement Group Life Health Benefits Retirement 

System Insurance Program System 
2

United States

Office of 

Personnel Management Washington, D.C. 20415 

In Reply Refer To: Your Reference: 

Date: February 27, 2001 

TO CERTAIN FEDERAL ENROLLEES OF AETNA U.S. HEALTHCARE, INC.

The Office of Personnel Management asked Aetna U.S. Healthcare, Inc. to mail this important notice 

to you. 

Aetna U. S. Healthcare provider contracts (enrollment codes NG1 and NG2) with two hospitals, 

Thibodaux Regional Medical Center and Terrebonne General Medical Center have been terminated. 

This change caused participating physicians to lose admitting privileges to these hospitals for members 

enrolled under the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program. If you are enrolled in codes 

NG1 and NG2 and live, work or obtain health services in Terrebonne, Assumption or LaFourche 

parishes in the state of Louisiana, you do not have adequate access to hospital services. You MUST

transfer to another participating health plan IMMEDIATELY to continue to receive benefits 

under the FEHB Program for the remainder of contract year 2001.

A special open enrollment period is effective immediately and continues through March 31, 2001. 

Please contact your personnel office to obtain a 2001 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 2001 FEHB web site (www.opm.gov/insure) to view a plan’s brochure 

or the FEHB Guide to help you choose a health plan and learn about your transitional care rights. 

 IF YOU ARE AN EMPLOYEE 

Please take a copy of this letter to your personnel office and complete a new Health Benefits 

Registration Form (SF 2809). The effective date of all enrollment changes will be the first day of the 

pay period following the one in which you make the change, but no later than April 8, 2001. 

 IF YOU ARE AN ANNUITANT

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

System (FERS), should call toll free at 1-888-767-6738 between Monday through Friday from 7:30 

am – 7:30 pm E.S.T to make their enrollment changes. Please have your CSRS or FERS annuity claim 

number and your social security number when calling our toll-free number. If you do not make a new 

election, we will enroll you in Standard Option of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan. 

 This is in order to ensure your continued coverage and eligibility to participate in the FEHB Program. 

If Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the plan you want, rather than waiting for us to enroll you, make that 

selection now, and you will receive your ID cards faster. If you are an annuitant of another Federal 

retirement system, you must contact that system for assistance. Coverage under your new plan can 

be made retroactive to February 1, 2001.

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

U.S. Office of Personnel Management 

Office of Insurance Programs