The inspector general charged with overseeing the federal government’s dedicated HR agency is warning that the system undergirding the U.S. Postal Service’s new employer-sponsored health benefits program could fail as a result of the Trump administration’s hiring freeze and efforts to drastically reduce the size of the federal workforce. The Postal Service Health Benefits Program, … Read more
The Postal Service Health Benefits program faces “critical resource issues” and the OPM has not ensured that the underlying system “will remain fully staffed, supported and funded” in light of OPM’s downsizing and reorganization, an inspector general audit has said. OPM further does not have “a contingency plan to ensure continuity of operations for the … Read more
ATTN: Postal annuitants who make health insurance premium payments via the National Finance Center (NFC) ONLY: The NFC is preparing to send the first bill for 2025 premiums on July 1. Annuitants who have not paid any premiums yet for 2025 will be receiving bills for the year to date. You will receive coupons or … Read more
Ruralinfo note: Although this is from the NALC, I still feel it is good information to know.. NALC Headquarters has been made aware of some of our members receiving invoices from USPS regarding non-payment of health benefit premiums. These should not be ignored, and each instance should be individually investigated and grieved if the invoice … Read more
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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 — 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
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
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
Postal Service employees who want to save on future medical expenses have several options to choose from during this year’s open season, which is underway through Monday, Dec. 9. Employees who enroll in a high-deductible health plan may be eligible to contribute to a health savings account (HSA). An HSA allows an employee to pay … Read more
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
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