Long-Term Considerations

If you're planning to sign up for federal long-term care insurance, the Office of Personnel Management is asking you to weigh some important changes that could occur in spring 2009.

OPM has contracts with John Hancock Life Insurance Co. and Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. for the program, which provides assistance to people who need help with the basic tasks of life, such as bathing, dressing and preparing meals. Those agreements end on April 30, 2009, and OPM is in the process of selecting insurers for the next contract period.

Benefits and premiums could change from what is outlined in the information and application kit, OPM cautions. The personnel agency is asking employees to consider the following before applying:

• Your premiums could change under the next contract, whether you apply now or later. If your application is approved, you would be charged the current premium rate through at least April 30, 2009.
• Options and benefits may differ under the next contract. OPM will provide information about any differences after the contract is awarded.
• Applications are underwritten, meaning certain medical conditions or combinations of conditions might prevent you from obtaining coverage. If you are currently in good health, waiting to apply may carry the risk of developing a condition that could make you uninsurable.
• If you are eligible to apply with abbreviated underwriting, that opportunity will expire 60 days after you were hired or became eligible. If you apply after the 60-day period, you will have to do so with full underwriting, which requires you to answer more questions about your health.

It's important to note that the premiums for such coverage can be prohibitively expensive for low-income workers. According to the OPM site, if your assets, excluding your home, are worth less than $30,000, then long-term-care insurance is not cost-effective for you.

Federal employees can apply for long-term care insurance anytime and do not have to wait for the annual health care open season, which will run from Nov. 10 to Dec. 8. Employees who already participate in the program will be subject to premium increases that accompany the new contract.

Volunteer Time

Federal employees could soon be granted administrative leave to volunteer as poll workers in their communities.

A bill (H.R. 6339) introduced in June by Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., would grant civil servants up to six days of leave annually to serve as nonpartisan poll workers. The bill passed out of the House Administration Committee on July 30 and currently awaits a vote by the full chamber.

Federal employees already receive administrative leave to serve on jury duty. Election leave would be similar to court leave, and employees could use the time to train for and work at polling stations.

The bill also would provide grants to state and local governments to recruit and train poll workers.

"Properly trained and engaged poll workers are crucial to the success of any election," Lofgren said. "Since federal employees are among the most dedicated public servants our nation has, this bill gives them the opportunity to serve their communities in a new and fulfilling way."