NARFE Sends a Letter to OPM Regarding FLTCIP Premium Increases

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In July, NARFE National President Ken Thomas sent a letter to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) urging the agency to explore providing enrollees the option of a partial refund in response to an upcoming increase in premiums for the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP).

Recently, enrollees were sent letters informing them of OPM’s intent to renew its contract with the program’s insurer, John Hancock, and that they should expect premium increases in connection with the renewal. While OPM is taking actions in response to the situation, which Thomas commended, he argued that “those actions do not promise a satisfactory remedy for FLTICP’s failure to live up to its agreement with enrollees. Enrollees did not sign up for an essentially unlimited cycle of premium to retain it, or perhaps hold onto reduced coverage for the same price.

increases” Unfortunately, the current circumstance would force enrollees to either lose the value of their coverage entirely (by canceling), pay extremely elevated premiums (from when they first enrolled)

NARFE will continue to represent our members as we work with OPM and Congress to find solutions to the premium increase.

—BY JOHN ROBERT AYERS, POLICY AND PROGRAMS ASSISTANT

ADVOCACY FROM P.9

RETIRE Act, H.R. 521, would allow federal first responders and other public safety officers who suffer from an on-the-job disabling injury to remain in the same retirement system they qualified for prior to injury. Public safety officers pay a higher percentage of their salary toward their annuity rate to retire after 20 years of service at age 50, or after 25 years of service at any age, with mandatory separation from service at age 57. In order to gather support, NARFE’s advocacy team urged its members to contact their representatives through our toll-free phone number: 1-800456-8410 option 5. Additionally, on July 12, Thomas sent a letter on behalf of its members urging Congress to pass the bill, arguing, “Our nation’s federal responders should not have to face additional hardship for sacrifices made for this nation.” H.R. 521 passed in the House with overwhelming support, 417-0, the same day. Now it moves to the Senate for further consideration.

—BY HANNAH MCLAIN, GRASSROOTS AND PROGRAMS ASSISTANT,