United States Office of Personnel Management The Federal Government's Human Resources Agency Retirement and Insurance Service Benefits Administration Letter Number: 01-214 Date: August 8, 2001 Subject: Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program: Opportunity for HIP Health Plan of Florida Enrollees, Enrollment Code K7, to Change Enrollment HIP Health Plan of Florida recently notified us that they will not operate in the Tampa, Florida area after October 31, 2001. We are authorizing an opportunity for HIP of Florida enrollees in code K7, to change their enrollment to another participating plan. Counties in code K7 include Hernando, Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas. The opportunity to change enrollment will begin August 13, 2001, and continue through October 6, 2001. 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 October 31, 2001. Enrollees who do not change plans will not have coverage after October 31, 2001. The Plan will send the attached notice to affected enrollees. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.   Abby L. Block Assistant Director    for Insurance Programs Attachment Download Letter as PDF File: 2001 Benefits Administration Letters   |    Benefits Officers Resource Center Home Page   |    Insurance Programs Home Page   |    OPM Home Page

HIP Health Plan of Florida (Enrollment Codes K71 and K72) We are sending this notice to inform you that HIP Health Plan of Florida will no longer operate in the Tampa Bay area (K71 and K72) as of November 1, 2001. You will no longer have access to providers who participate with us in the following Florida counties: Hernando, Hillsborough, Pasco, or Pinellas. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has authorized a special open enrollment period from August 13 - October 6, 2001, to give you the opportunity to choose a new health plan. We will continue to provide benefits until the effective date of your enrollment change. Patients' Bill of Rights Members who are seeing a specialist for a chronic or disabling condition or are in the second or third trimester of a pregnancy, have a right to continued treatment for up to 90 days of care (or treatment through the end of post-partum care) after receiving a notice that a health plan is leaving the FEHB program. We are providing this information to you so that you have time to make arrangements for continued care. Employees If you are an employee, please contact your personnel office to enroll in a new health plan no later than October 6, 2001. The effective date of your new health insurance coverage will be the first day of the pay period after the date that you select a new health plan but no later than October 31, 2001. Enrollees who do not change plans will not have coverage after October 31, 2001. Retirees If you are a retiree under the Civil Service Retirement System or Federal Employees' Retirement System, you should call toll free 1-888-767-6738 to make your enrollment change as soon as possible. Your enrollment change will be effective the first of the month after we receive your request. If you have impaired hearing, call 1-800-878-5707 to make your change. Please have your CSRS or FERS annuity claim number and your social security number available when you call. If you are a retiree of another Federal retirement system, you should contact that system to select a new health plan. If you do not select another plan by October 31, 2001, OPM will automatically enroll you in the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan, Standard Option. This will assure your continued coverage under the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program. You will still have an opportunity to make an Open Season selection for your 2002 coverage from November 12, 2001 through December 10, 2001.

Page modified 29 August 2001