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Webinar – USPS Retirement Health Benefits

Postal Service employees may participate in an upcoming webinar that will address benefits that are available after retirement. The session, “USPS Retirement Health Benefits: Medicare, Dental and Vision,” will be held Wednesday, March 19, from noon to 1 p.m. Eastern. Representatives from Aetna, a provider of health plans for federal employees, will lead the discussion. … Read more

House Budget Plan May Put Federal Employee Benefits on Table for Cuts

The House Budget Committee has approved a budget outline that would require substantial cuts to numerous government programs, including most likely federal employee retirement and health insurance benefits. The budget “resolution” now moves to floor voting in the House, where it would take virtual unanimity among Republicans to pass—which has not been the case in … Read more

FSA debit cards to arrive soon

USPS employees who are enrolled in the new flexible spending account program administered through Inspira Financial will receive their FSA debit card soon. To activate the debit card, employees must use the last digits of their employee identification number, not the last four digits of their Social Security number.  

The PSHBP/FEHBP transition and your Jan. 17 paycheck

NALC posted this, but I am fairly sure it will affect all employees.  Just beware that your check may look different   NALC active members should note that today’s (Jan. 17) paycheck will feature prorated health insurance deductions since it covers workdays in both December (covered by your FEHB plan) and January (covered by your … Read more

NOTICE: 2025 Enrollment for Rural Carrier Benefit Plan (RCBP) Members

ATTENTION RCBP Members: The Rural Carrier Benefit Plan is still receiving and processing enrollment requests from OPM for the new Postal Service Health Benefit (PSHB) plan effective 1/1/25. If you need medical care and have not yet received your ID card in the mail, please contact Aetna Customer Service at 1-800-638-8432. ID cards can also … Read more

FSA expenses for 2024 should be submitted to FSAFEDS

Inspira Financial will replace FSAFEDS as the Postal Service’s flexible spending account program administrator, beginning Wednesday, Jan. 1. All claims for 2024 must be submitted to FSAFEDS no later than Wednesday, April 30. Claims submitted to Inspira Financial for 2024 will be rejected. Employees who have questions regarding the change should email the USPS Benefits and Wellness … Read more

Want to change your health benefits? Act now

Postal Service employees who want to change their health coverage or enroll in a new plan must act now. Open season, the annual period when USPS employees can make benefits changes, ends Friday, Dec. 13, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern. This is the deadline to enroll in or make changes to the Postal Service Health Benefits … Read more

Open season has been extended through Dec. 13

Open season — the once-a-year opportunity for Postal Service employees to make changes to their health benefits or enroll in a new plan — has been extended through Friday, Dec. 13, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern. The extension covers the Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program, flexible spending accounts, the Annual Leave Exchange and the USPS … Read more

Here are some FYIs about High-deductible health plans (HDHPs)

High-deductible health plans are one of the options available to Postal Service employees during this year’s open season. Here are some facts about the plans, also called HDHPs: • HDHPs generally offer lower premiums than other plans. This means you’ll have less money taken out of your paycheck. • HDHPs offer greater flexibility. While HDHPs have higher annual deductibles … Read more

Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program Open Season Extended Through Friday, December 13, 2024

Open Season Extension Announcement In order to provide  Postal Service employees and Postal Service annuitants with additional time to review and/ or change their health insurance enrollment during this inaugural Postal Service Health Benefits Program (PSHBP) year, OPM is extending Open Season through Friday, December 13, 2024, for the PSHBP.  This extension does not include the Federal Employees … Read more

The ABCs of health care – Here are some terms to know this open season

To help USPS employees navigate their way through this year’s open season benefits enrollment period, here are some important definitions for sometimes confusing health insurance terminology: • Copayment: This is a fixed amount paid for certain covered health care services. • Coinsurance: This is similar to a copayment but refers to a percentage paid for some covered health care … Read more

Important Information for PSHB Annuitants Regarding Drug Coverage

Some postal annuitants may not be aware of a significant change from last year regarding their prescription drug coverage choices. Under the Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) program, Medicare-eligible annuitants must retain their Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (MPDP) coverage, or lose prescription drug coverage under their PSHB plan altogether. This rule is different for the … Read more

What’s the difference between an HMO and a PPO?

The Postal Service wants employees to understand the four types of health plans available during this year’s open season. The plan types are: • Health maintenance organizations, or HMOs, which provide care from in-network physicians and hospitals located in particular geographic or service areas; • Preferred provider organizations, or PPOs, which offer fee-for-service plans that … Read more

USPS has a new flexible spending accounts administrator

A flexible spending account may be a good option for Postal Service employees who wear eyeglasses, visit the dentist more than twice a year, or have other needs. Flexible spending accounts, or FSAs, allow employees to set aside money on a pretax basis to pay for health care and dependent care expenses. USPS employees can … Read more