Benefits Update

In Reply Refer To: September 21, 2000
Mail Stop 601


MEMORANDUM


Supervisors, Managers, and Team Leaders:  Please ensure that employees 
without access to 
e-mail receive a copy of this message.


To:    All U.S. Geological Survey Employees

From:  Joyce D. Pieritz            (signed)
         Acting Personnel Officer

Subject:    Benefits Update

This e-mail is providing updated information on two benefits areas.

2001 Health Benefit Rates

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has released the 2001 health plan 
rates for those employees who are enrolled in the Federal Employees Health 
Benefits Program.  The listing of these rates can be found on OPM's health 
benefits home page at www.opm.gov/insure.  Because of the increase in 
health benefits premium rates for 2001, it 
is important that employees review their present health plan during the 
open season which will run from November 13, 2000, through December 11, 
2000.  More information will be forthcoming on a future e-mail as 
additional open season information becomes available.  As during last 
year's open season, OPM will have all health plan brochures available for 
downloading on the above website. 

Long-Term Health Care Insurance

On September 19, 2000, President Clinton signed the long-term health care 
insurance bill.  OPM will have until mid-2002 to implement this program. 
Key provisions of the bill are as follows:

        The program will cover employees and annuitants of the Federal 
Government, postal 
        service, and uniformed services.  It will also be extended to 
include parents, in-laws, and
        adult children of Federal employees and annuitants;

        The program will cover those individuals who need assistance in 
daily living activities or
        those who have cognitive problems;

        OPM will provide regulatory authority and oversight of the 
long-term care program;

        The insurance will cover individuals needing nursing home care or 
home health care;

        Because of the size of the Federal group, OPM hopes that premiums 
will be 
        15-20 percent below the private market rates; and

        The "level premium" issue will prevail, which means that an 
individual's premiums are
        based on the person's age at the time he or she purchases the 
policy.

More information on the long-term care program will be provided as it 
becomes available. 

Questions concerning these issues should be directed to your servicing 
personnel office.