Press Releases

Congressman Beyer demanded answers at a House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hearing on the rapidly rising rates for policy holders of the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP). He expressed the anguish of constituents who contacted him about their premium increases, some of which went up by as much as 126 percent, in an exchange with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).

“The sudden FLTCIP rate increases shocked and upset many of my constituents,” said Rep. Don Beyer. “Unfortunately many of their questions remain unanswered. We need to continue to push OPM to fully explain why so little information was communicated to policy-holders sooner, especially when OPM knew years in advance that premium increases would be expected. We need tangible adjustments to ensure the long-term affordability and sustainability of this program.”

Rep. Beyer does not sit on the Oversight Committee, but asked to take part in the hearing because of its significance to his constituents. Fellow Virginia Representative Gerry Connolly, who sits on the Oversight Committee, initially requested the hearing.

Beyer added, “Congress held a hearing in 2009 and nothing improved. Insurers again issued a contract with even worse price shock to beneficiaries. The conversation cannot end with this hearing.”

Northern Virginia is home to the largest concentration of federal employees in the nation, many of whom purchase through FLTCIP.

Video of Rep. Beyer’s exchanges at the hearing can be viewed here.