G.  OTHER OPTIONS.  OPM has asked the insurance industry to offer proposals that consider additional options such as limited payment plans, spousal discounts, and policy downgrades. 

1. Limited Payment Plans.   Participants may be offered the option of paying higher premiums for a limited number of years so that they would have a paid-up policy after several years.                        

2. Spousal Discounts.  Spouses may receive a discount if both apply for and receive coverage at the same time.  Another option being considered for spouses is a joint policy, where spouses could each have their own pool of money and also share a pool of money with each other.     

3.  Policy Downgrades.  Enrollees may be offered the option of downgrading their policy rather than having to abandon it should circumstances arise where they can no longer afford to pay the original premium. 

4.  Other Group LTC Plans.  NARFE members who find that the LTC plan offered by OPM is too expensive because of their age or who may be unable to qualify due to the underwriting restrictions, may want to consider other insurance plans.  Plans worth investigating are available from the Worldwide Assurance for Employees of Public Agencies (WAEPA - www.waepa.org) and the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP - www.aarp.org).   

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