This is Kayla Reynolds, your friendly neighborhood APWU Health Plan Rep, reporting back from Baltimore and the 39thAnnual Open Season Seminar! As always, there was ton of information and I’ll attempt to sum up what I felt were the biggest points of interest below. In the coming weeks, I’ll highlight some benefits of the High and Consumer Driven options (both old and new) that I believe are underutilized by the membership. Please note that I only represent the APWU health plans. I’m happy to help anyone with questions, but I am only familiar with what our own plans offer. While I can’t speak to specific coverage under other providers, I would be more than happy to point anyone in the right direction. 

Postal Employee Health Benefits (PSHB)

All Postal Employees are being moved over to PSHB. Make sure your address is correct with the USPS, as Crosswalk letters  with OPM letterhead will be sent out starting October 28, 2024. It will show you what plan you currently have under FEHB (Federal Employee Health Benefits) and which is the most comparable under PSHB. Both the High Option and Consumer Driven Option from the APWU Health Plan will be available under PSHB. If you want to stay in the plan, you do not have to do anything and you should be automatically moved over. If you do want to switch your plan, you can do so over Open Season, which starts November 11, and goes through December 9, 2024. 

ID Cards

Another reason to be sure your address is correct is that everyone will be getting new ID cards, these cards will have a new group number and the new address of the Health Plan, which moved its location last month. 

Effective dates

Rather than starting the first full pay period of the new year, as has been the case in the past, these new plans will be effective January 1, 2025, and the premiums will be prorated. This change is occurring because of the requirements in the Postal Reform Act.

Still waiting OPM for finalized Postal Benefits

Most if not all insurance plans are still waiting on OPM to be able to release full Postal Employee benefits. More information will be coming out on November 1, 2024. While this is understandably frustrating, all the information should be available in time for Open Season. The information on the various sites I’ve linked should be updated on November 1st as well. 

Medicare/Retirement Questions

Because everyone’s situation is different, anyone with questions about  Retirement and/or changes in Medicare requirements is encouraged to visit keepingposted.org, call 833-712-7742, or email retirementbenefits@usps.gov. Keepingposted.org has recorded seminars and will still have some live seminars scheduled before the end of Open Season (December 9, 2024).

While we all hope this shift will be seamless, it would be reasonable for there to be bumps in the road. Please be vigilant and keep an eye on your deductions to be sure your information is correct. 

Dental and Vision benefits

The Dental and Vision benefits website has been movedfrom benefeds.com to benefeds.gov. You should be automatically redirected if you type in the old website, and your current login information should work. The High Option has some dental coverage (preventative and minor), while the Consumer Driven does not have specific dental coverage. You can submit to the PCA for reimbursement, and there will be a new discount dental program called Careington Dental Discount Network for CDO members in 2025. You must use a participating dentist, and can look for one nearby by using the website. The APWU does have its own dental plan through the Voluntary Benefits Plan and plan details can be found at the APWU HP website. This is not considered a federal plan. If you elect to sign up for this dental plan and don’t cancel your federal plan you will end up paying for two dental plans. 

Flex Spending Accounts

The Flex Spending Account servicer will be changed from FSAFEDS to Inspira Financial. Any money that is in your current FSA account is use or lose. Eligible expenses for your current FSA must have a claim service date no later than December 31, 2024. All claims must have been submitted by April 30, 2025. Any funds not claimed by then will be forfeit. Inspira Financial was the FSA servicer in the past, and has the benefit of also having a debit card. You can either use the debit card for eligible expenses directly, or submit to the plan for reimbursement. The FSA is separate from your health insurance. If you did not put forth the effort to sign up for an FSA on FSAFEDS.gov, then this is not something you need to worry about.

Remember! Plan details for all PSHB can/will be able to be found at OPM.gov. If you scroll to the “Enrollment and Open Season” heading you will find links for auto-enroll information, and plan premiums. Please keep in mind that the premiums displayed by OPM do not include contractually bargained discounts for the APWU CDO plan. Cost sharing for most insurance plans is 72%, whereas the Post Office covers 95% of the premium for qualifying APWU members on the CDO plan.

https://apwu.org/news/usps-policies-programs/updates-usps-eagle-clean-e4776-pilot-program-maintenance-craft

REMINDER, 

This Saturday 10/12 5-9PM is the union function at the Mardi Gras casino! Come out and have a good time with your local members!

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