<node id="74251">
  <nid>74251</nid>
  <type>news</type>
  <uid>
    <user id="27317"><![CDATA[27317]]></user>
  </uid>
  <created>1323956584</created>
  <changed>1475896250</changed>
  <title><![CDATA[Long-Term Care Enrollment Discontinues on Dec. 31]]></title>
  <body><![CDATA[<p>The Institute’s group long-term care insurance carrier, John Hancock, 
recently informed the Georgia Tech Benefits office that enrollment for 
this coverage will be discontinued effective January 1, 2012. John 
Hancock has advised Georgia Tech that they will no longer accept new 
entrants to the Institute policy due to the low interest rate 
environment that is expected to continue for an extended period.</p><p><strong>If
 you wish to apply for this group long-term care insurance coverage, 
your application must be postmarked no later than December 31, 2011.</strong></p><p>Please
 note, the decision not to accept new entrants does not in any way 
affect employees or dependents who already have this coverage. John 
Hancock will continue to provide ongoing service to insureds under our 
policy. At this time, the Georgia Tech Benefits team does not have any 
additional information about whether or when long-term care insurance 
may be available again in the future.</p><h2>Frequently Asked Questions</h2><p><strong>1. Why is John Hancock closing down enrollments under our Group long-term care policy?</strong></p><p><em>According
 to John Hancock, this decision was prompted by the historically low 
interest rate environment that is expected to continue for an extended 
period of time.</em></p><p><strong>2. Will employees who are newly eligible be able to enroll after December 31, 2011?</strong></p><p><em>No. The decision to cease new enrollments applies to all applicants.</em></p><p><strong>3. For applicants who need to go through underwriting, does the underwriting need to be completed by December 31, 2011?</strong></p><p><em>No.
 The enrollment application must be postmarked by December 31, 2011, but
 underwriting activities may take place in early 2012.</em></p><p><strong>4. Will insureds be able to purchase optional inflation additions or other coverage increases after December 31, 2011?</strong></p><p><em>Yes.
 The discontinuance of new enrollments does not affect inflation 
additions and other coverage increases or changes available under the 
policy.</em></p><p><strong>5. Does this impact John Hancock's ability to pay claims?</strong></p><p><em>No.
 John Hancock will continue to service all current insureds, and any 
current or future claims will not be affected by this action. John 
Hancock continues to be highly rated by the five rating agencies, and 
ratings are a comprehensive measure of the financial strength of an 
insurance company.</em></p><p><strong>6. Who should I call if I have further questions?</strong></p><p><em>Please call the John Hancock customer service line at <strong>1-888-354-6498</strong></em><em>.</em></p>]]></body>
  <field_subtitle>
    <item>
      <value><![CDATA[]]></value>
    </item>
  </field_subtitle>
  <field_dateline>
    <item>
      <value>2011-12-15T00:00:00-05:00</value>
      <timezone><![CDATA[America/New_York]]></timezone>
    </item>
  </field_dateline>
  <field_summary_sentence>
    <item>
      <value><![CDATA[]]></value>
    </item>
  </field_summary_sentence>
  <field_summary>
    <item>
      <value><![CDATA[<p>The Institute’s group long-term care insurance carrier, John Hancock, 
recently informed the Georgia Tech Benefits office that enrollment for 
this coverage will be discontinued effective January 1, 2012. John 
Hancock has advised Georgia Tech that they will no longer accept new 
entrants to the Institute policy due to the low interest rate 
environment that is expected to continue for an extended period.</p><p><strong>If
 you wish to apply for this group long-term care insurance coverage, 
your application must be postmarked no later than December 31, 2011.</strong></p><p>Please note, the decision not to
 accept new entrants does not in any way affect employees or dependents 
who already have this coverage. John Hancock will continue to provide 
ongoing service to insureds under our policy.</p>]]></value>
    </item>
  </field_summary>
  <field_media>
      </field_media>
  <field_contact_email>
    <item>
      <email><![CDATA[benefits@ohr.gatech.edu]]></email>
    </item>
  </field_contact_email>
  <field_location>
    <item>
      <value><![CDATA[]]></value>
    </item>
  </field_location>
  <field_contact>
    <item>
      <value><![CDATA[]]></value>
    </item>
  </field_contact>
  <field_sidebar>
    <item>
      <value><![CDATA[]]></value>
    </item>
  </field_sidebar>
  <field_boilerplate>
    <item>
      <nid><![CDATA[]]></nid>
    </item>
  </field_boilerplate>
  <!--  TO DO: correct to not conflate categories and news room topics  -->
  <!--  Disquisition: it's funny how I write these TODOs and then never
         revisit them. It's as though the act of writing the thing down frees me
         from the responsibility to actually solve the problem. But what can I
         say? There are more problems than there's time to solve.  -->
  <links_related> </links_related>
  <files> </files>
  <og_groups>
          <item>64303</item>
      </og_groups>
  <og_groups_both>
      </og_groups_both>
  <field_categories>
      </field_categories>
  <core_research_areas>
      </core_research_areas>
  <field_news_room_topics>
      </field_news_room_topics>
  <links_related>
          <link>
      <url>http://www.ohr.gatech.edu/benefits</url>
      <title></title>
      </link>
      </links_related>
  <files>
      </files>
  <og_groups>
          <item>64303</item>
      </og_groups>
  <og_groups_both>
          <item><![CDATA[Human Resources]]></item>
      </og_groups_both>
  <field_keywords>
          <item>
        <tid>4288</tid>
        <value><![CDATA[benefits]]></value>
      </item>
          <item>
        <tid>91</tid>
        <value><![CDATA[enrollment]]></value>
      </item>
          <item>
        <tid>2775</tid>
        <value><![CDATA[human resources]]></value>
      </item>
          <item>
        <tid>15471</tid>
        <value><![CDATA[long-term care]]></value>
      </item>
      </field_keywords>
  <field_userdata>
      <![CDATA[]]>
  </field_userdata>
</node>
