Same-sex domestic partners now have the opportunity to apply for coverage under the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP).
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued a proposed regulation September 14, 2009, to allow same-sex domestic partners to apply for coverage under the FLTCIP. The final regulation was published June 1, 2010, expanding the definition of “qualified relative” to include same-sex domestic partners of eligible federal and U.S. Postal Service® employees and annuitants. As with all “qualified relatives,” same-sex domestic partners will be subject to full underwriting.
To apply for FLTCIP coverage, a same-sex domestic partner must indicate on the FLTCIP application that the Declaration of Domestic Partnership form has been submitted to the Human Resources Shared Service Center (HRSSC).
Following are the procedures for same-sex domestic partners to apply for Long Term Care Insurance:
n Eligible individuals must provide documentation that they meet the definition of “domestic partnership.”
n This documentation is a Declaration of Domestic Partnership form (see page 4). No documentation other than this form is required.
n An employee or his/her same-sex domestic partner must file the declaration form with the HRSSC (or to the appropriate retirement system for annuitants).
n The HRSSC will provide a receipted copy to the employee for his/her records and file the form in the employee’s electronic official personnel file.
n Agencies do not have to ask for proof of the partnership.
n Applicants should not send the declaration form to the FLTCIP insurer or administrator.
n On the application for FLTCIP coverage, the eligible individual will attest that he or she has submitted (either directly or through his or her partner) a form affirming the domestic partnership to the HRSSC or retirement system.
Same-sex domestic partners can access an updated copy of the FLTCIP full underwriting application at www.ltcfeds.com. Long Term Care Partners, the FLTCIP administrator, will begin accepting applications from same-sex domestic partners immediately. Employees should contact the HRSSC for the Declaration of Domestic Partnership form at 877-477-3273, option 5.
As a reminder, the FLTCIP is medically underwritten, and applicants must answer questions about their health on their application. Certain medical conditions, or combinations of conditions, will prevent some people from being approved for coverage. If approved, the effective date of coverage will be the first day of the month following the application approval date.
For more information about the FLTCIP, go to www.ltcfeds.com or call 800-LTC-FEDS (800-582-3337), TTY 800-843-3557.
— Compensation and Benefits,
Human Resources, 9-23-10
