While I was planning on writing this weeks article about Medicare, it has come to my attention that quite a few people are trying to use PostalEASE to make changes to their healthcare. Unfortunately this quite frankly simple and easy tool is no long available to us, specifically for healthcare changes. You may still use it for all the other tools. 

Postal Employees wanting to make changes to their Health Plan need to do so by creating a login.gov account, by first visiting health-benefits.opm.gov. If technologically averse, by filling out and faxing in form SF 2809. While the form itself is 18 pages, you only need to fill out the last two. You can also make changes via phone, by calling the PSHB Helpline at 844-451-1261. I imagine if making changes over the phone, you will need to know your PIN number.

*** If you don’t know your PIN, there is a self-service reset option on Liteblue, but it will come to you via mail. So don’t waste time if you want to use this option.***

If you and technology are friends (or merely acquaintances), creating the login.gov account is fairly simple. I would recommend doing it on your phone, since to verify your identity,it will ask you to take a picture of your driver’s license. Otherwise, it will want you to go to a Post Office to verify your identity, and none of us want to go to the Post Office in our off time. 

If you had a Flex Spending Account with FSAFEDS this year, you will already have a login.gov account. Part of the reason the Post Office switched carriers this year was because FSAFEDS was hacked, and midway through the year, all account holders were required to use login.gov to access their account afterwards. 

***Even if you already have a login.gov account, you need to use the OPM link  get to the correct prompt to link to the Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB).***

*Fun bonus fact, you can also link you Social Security Account to see where you stand as far as work credits, review your earnings history for a fun trip down memory lane of how poor you used to be (or alternatively wonder where all your money went), and (hopefully) fanaticize about retirement* 

If you have technical issues with your Login.gov account, Login.gov operates a 24/7 contact center via phone at (844) 875-6446 or website contact form.

***If/when you switch to the APWU CDO, you are going to see the full amount for the premiums, not the discounted amount that members who are career and have had a Federal plan for a year are entitled to. The Health Plan is aware of this problem. The CEO of the Health Plan met with OPM on 11/13/2024 to request that the APWU rate be displayed. We don’t yet have an update on the status of this request.***

Please keep in mind that in addition to being the Health Plan Coordinator, I am also a Steward and Auto clerk, during the busiest time of the year for postal workers. If I look a bit frazzled, it’s because I am! I can safely say that this goes for pretty much all of our Stewards and Officers this time of year. Please help us help you by telling a supervisor that you need to see a steward if you think you have a grievance. This helps to get us off the floor so we can devote our full attention to your issue. Sadly, unlike Batman, we cannot stalk the plant looking for violations. We were not left millions by our parents and have to work for a living. 

Unions, much like the government, work best when people are involved. We need the membership to keep us informed of what is going on, and to write statements. It is never a waste of anyone’s time to get a correct answer. Misinformation runs amok on the floor and it hurts everyone. 

Good luck and as always, I am happy to help! 

https://apwu.org/news/magazine/year-end-review

Finally, as was promised! The Medicare Article! 

As many of you are aware, the changes are happening to our health care because of the Postal Service Reform Act (PSRA) of 2022. This new law also made changes in Medicare requirements for eligible current postal workers and retirees. Medicare (which is through the federal government, is not to be confused with Medicaid (through the state government) 

What is Medicare? 

Medicare is a federal health insurance program for: 

Annuitants (i.e. Retirees)

The PSRA is designed, in part, to promote Medicare integration. Beginning Jan. 1, 2025, the PSRA requires certain Medicare-eligible Postal Service annuitants to enroll in Medicare Part B to keep their PSHB coverage in retirement. 

After Jan. 1, 2025, annuitants who are enrolled in Medicare Part B must stay enrolled to keep PSHB coverage, unless an exception applies. 

Medicare health plans (more specific coverage  information available for Medicare Parts  A and B here.) You can also root around on the Medicare.gov website, but I personally found it a bit hard to navigate. 

Part A (Hospital Insurance) - If you or your spouse worked at least 10 years in Medicare-covered employment, you qualify for premium-free Part A coverage. Most Postal Service employees, retirees and covered eligible family members are entitled to Medicare Part A at age 65 without additional cost. It covers inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing facility care, nursing home care, home health care and hospice. If you receive Social Security Benefits prior to your 65th birthday, you should be automatically enrolled. 

Part B (Medical Insurance) – You are charged a monthly premium for Medicare Part B. For more information on rates, visit Medicare.gov. It covers certain doctor services, outpatient care, preventive services and medical supplies. You may also pay a penalty if you do not sign up for Part B when you first become eligible. There is NO CAP to this penalty, and you will pay it as long as you have the Medicare Part B plan, so be vigilant! 

There are some exceptions to the Medicare Part B enrollment requirement under the PSHB Program. You may be responsible for providing proof of eligibility for the applicable exception(s) to the designated agency. They are :

-Residing outside of the United States and its territories. You are required to follow the policy and procedure set forth by the Postal Service to be eligible for this exception. This exception requires that an annual certification be submitted to the Postal Service with proof of residency. 

-Annuitants who are enrolled in healthcare benefits provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

- Eligibility for health services provided by the Indian Health Service. 

Part C (Medicare Advantage plans) – Medicare Advantage plans are Medicare- approved plans from a private company that offers an alternative to Original Medicare (Parts A and B) that provides health and drug coverage. CAREFUL WITH THESE. Private plans are required by law to let you know they are not part of a Government plan. If you see the phrase *Non Government Entity* be wary. 

***Both the High Option and Consumer Driven Option coordinate with Medicare and have their own benefits, but the High option is more advantageous. More about those specific benefits next week!***

Part D (Prescription coverage) – A standalone prescription drug plan with Medicare that helps cover the cost of prescription drugs. Medicare Part D will be included in all PSHB plans for Medicare eligible participants. You will not have to pay a separate premium for prescription coverage. Each PSHB plan will specify how your prescription coverage works in combination with Medicare Part D. If you drop part D, you WILL NOT have prescription coverage under the PSHB plan. You can re-enroll during open enrollment however. 

Still have questions? Of course you do! Medicare can be complicated and has what feels like 40 billion rules. This article is not meant to be exhaustive. While information on the workroom floor can be scant or, more likely, highly inaccurate, there is a lot of information available on LiteBlue. As a matter of fact, most of the information in this article was blatantly plagiarized from a booklet available on Liteblue. To find my source material, log in to your Liteblue account and go to MyHR. From there go to the Pay & Benefits tab, and then scroll down until you see the Postal Service Health Benefits link. Click on it. Scroll to the PSHB resources link. Click on that and then scroll further down until you see the heading “PSHB tools.” The third link under this heading is my source material. There is a lot more information on there than I was able to put in this article. I see you all on your phones, so I know you have time to research! An educated membership is an empowered one. 

Keepingposted.org has all sorts of useful links and information for your burning Medicare questions as well. Medicare can be complicated! Make your life easier and reach out to retirementbenefits@usps.gov or call (833) 712-7742 for answers to your retirement questions. 

Speaking of Retirement, keep in mind that, for whatever reason, Retirement is NOT a Qualifying Life Event. This means that any changes you wish to make to your insurance coverage will need to happen either during Open Enrollment or during a Qualifying Life event (Marriage, Divorce, birth or death, etc.)Becoming eligible for Medicare IS a Qualifying Life Event. Visit  OPM for a more exhaustive list of events that allow you to change insurance coverage. 

If you have been enrolled in the FEHB/PSHB Program from your first opportunity to enroll or for the full five years of service immediately preceding retirement, you may carry your coverage into retirement. All 5 years are not required to have been on the same plan. 

As I said above, next week I will cover some benefits that the APWU health plans have for Medicare! Remember that Open Enrollment ends December 9th, and it will be here much faster than you think it will be. 

Kayla Reynolds

Medicare and APWU Health Plans

Both the High Option (HO) and Consumer Driven Option (CDO) have Medicare benefits without enrolling in the UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage Plan. 

Please keep in mind that once you retire, you no longer receive the APWU discount on the CDO option, but as long as you stay an APWU member at the retiree rate (36 dollars per year), you do not need to pay the $35 yearly associate fee charged to non-members. Keep in mind that the following information is for retired employees.

CDO benefits 

New for 2025 you can use your PCA dollars to cover the Medicare Part B premium, and you can receive Medicare Prescription drug coverage (Part D) at no extra cost. If you are a retired CDO member, you will be automatically enrolled in the UnitedHealthcare Part D plan. It includes a $2,000 out of pocket maximum for prescription drugs, which uses the total cost of the drug. (what the insurance pays plus what you pay). This means that your drug costs would be covered at 100% after meeting this amount. It also includes home delivery service. For more details call the UnitedHealthcare Medicare Rx Part D at 888-201-4265 Monday thru Friday 8 am to 8pm local time)

HO benefits

Even if not enrolled in the APWU Health Plan Medicare Advantage (Part C) you will be automatically enrolled in the ExpressScripts Medicare for the APWU Health Plan. It has the same benefits as the CDO option, with the $2,000 cap on out-of-pocket expenses and home delivery service. For details about this plan, call Express Scripts Medicare at 844-818-8790 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or visit apwuhp.com. 

UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage Plan for APWU Health Plan. 

**To enroll in this plan you must have the High Option and have both Medicare Parts A and B***

Benefits Include 

It also includes fitness membership through Renew Active, which is free through fitness centers participating in their nationwide network. 

You can also receive home health care through their UnitedHealthcare Healthy at Home program. This provides support you may need after an inpatient hospital or skilled nursing facility stay. You can receive home-delivered meals, transportation to medical appointments and pharmacy, and in-home non-medical personal care to assist with daily activities, all at no additional cost. 

It also has hearing aid benefits through their UnitedHealthcare Hearing program. You must contact UHC Hearing and use a UHC hearing provider for this coverage. There are 6,500+ hearing providers nationwide, and you can receive a hearing exam and access to one of the widest selections of prescription and non-prescription hearing aids at significant savings. You’ll also receive personalized care and follow-up support from experienced hearing providers. 

For more information or to enroll, call a Customer Service Advocate at 855-383-8793 TTY 711, 8am – 8pm local time, Monday through Friday, or visit retiree.uhc.com/apwuhp.

As always, visit keepingposted.org and  apwu.org/retirees for more information on retirement or how to stay involved after retirement. Retirees can provide a vital service by being a voice in the community or mentoring younger members. If you are interested in being more involved regardless of your employment status, please reach out to us!

2025 contribution limits — The Internal Revenue Code places specific limits on the amount that you can contribute to employer-sponsored plans like the TSP each year. See how the contribution limits have changed.

New in 2025: higher catch-up limit for ages 60, 61, 62, and 63

Beginning January 1, 2025, participants age 60, 61, 62, and 63 who are eligible for catch-up contributions will have a higher catch-up limit than the regular catch-up limit. In the years participants turn 64 and older, the catch-up limit will be the lower, regular catch-up limit amount.

This change is part of the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2022 (SECURE 2.0).