Until May 15, federal workers and retirees, as well as active and retired military, can enroll early in the Federal LTC Program. (Regular enrollment will be from July 1 to December 31.) It’s anticipated that the Federal LTC will become the largest such group program.

Under the federal law establishing the LTC Program (P.L. 106-265), the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is responsible for administering it. To underwrite the insurance sold, OPM selected LTC Partners, a consortium created by Metropolitan Life and Boston-based John Hancock.

Premiums for the Federal LTC are paid totally by the employee/retiree which is consistent with the most group programs of this type. The premiums are age-related, meaning that the policy for a 40 year-old usually costs less than one for a 60 year-old, which again is the standard practice.

“It will be interesting to see what level of participation will be achieved and particularly among the retirees,” comments Insurance Coordinator Cheryl Stillman. “As we saw with the state’s dental insurance survey, consumer interest drops markedly if premiums become too costly.”

Included, in this fiscal year’s budget, was a provision creating a special commission to study the future of long term health care in the Commonwealth and, in part, develop legislation to address the health care needs of the state’s elder population. Senator Harriette Chandler, who co-chairs the Public Service Committee, was a sponsor of this legislation.

At this time, the state’s Group Insurance Commission (GIC) is also conducting a feasibility study on LTC insurance.