Two More Senators Join the Growing Outrage Over FLTCIP Premiums

Two more lawmakers are calling for action to address the sharp increase announced for federal employees who participate in the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program.

Senators Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) and Ben Cardin (D-MD) are the latest lawmakers to express their anger over the sharp increases to the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP).

The Senators recently sent two letters to both acting OPM director Beth Cobert as well as the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

In the letter to OPM, the Senators said they were “flabbergasted” to learn that premiums are increasing an average o 83% under FLTCIP. They went on to question the integrity of the insurer for the program, John Hancock Life and Health Insurance Company.

They also wanted to know what steps OPM is taking to ensure this situation never comes up again.

In the letter to the Senate Committee, the Senators called for a hearing into the situation, noting that this is not the first time that OPM has “gotten it wrong,” referring to two occasions when the agency announced major premium increases for program participants, one of those which is the one this year.

Mikulski and Cardin are just the latest in the growing chorus of lawmakers who are calling for action on the premium increases.

Congressmen Don Beyer and Gerry Connolly called for action last month, followed by Congresswoman Barbara Comstock (R-VA). And then later Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) pressured OPM for answers on the situation.

The National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE) is also applying pressure to Congress, saying it has heard from its members who are upset about the situation.

OPM has previously released information for current FLTCIP enrollees with options for how they can deal with the premium increases. To see the letter OPM distributed, see OPM Reminds FLTCIP Participants About Upcoming Rate Increase.

About the Author

Ian Smith is one of the co-founders of FedSmith.com. He has over 20 years of combined experience in media and government services, having worked at two government contracting firms and an online news and web development company prior to his current role at FedSmith.