Postal Retirees are getting screwed when it comes to Medicare and FEHB

Posted on by 21cpw User Post

I made a recent comment on a post that offered the opinion that Postal employees are getting screwed when it comes to Medicare. I said that Insurance companies are getting a “get out of jail free” pass. I based that opinion on what we pay, rather than what we get.

When I first got involved with the APWU, we had an officer that negotiated the premiums we pay for health insurance. That came to an end when Ronald Reagan got elected, and appointed a new OPM Director.

Call me silly, but I am suspicious of the decision to take away our right to be involved in the rate-setting process of our health insurance. I question the amount that we pay into our insurance, and the increase that comes with adding Medicare. We may get additional ‘Bennie’s’ with Medicare, but I question the total amount we are paying.

I credited President Biden’s decision to fill vacant positions on the Board of Governors.
I was happy with the people he chose. I feel that there will be more transparency in the process.

When we went from “Department” to the US Postal “Service”, there was a lot of debate over “service” as opposed to “privatization”. The Congress split the baby and called us a service with a BOG. I see that as a contradiction. You can’t have a service and run it like a business. The BOG and the Congress have run the USPS as a business. They haven’t done a good job. They’ve done a lousy job. Our current PMG has told the BOG to stuff it. We finally have a few members of the Board who may help us out.

Our NEB (National Executive Board) has to tell the BOG that we want them to look at what we pay in the area of insurance premiums. I want them to see if we are being overcharged for either Insurance premiums or Medicare, when they are combined. I feel that the Insurance Companies are making out like bandits. We also need a BOG that looks out for the employees as well as the FIRM.

This site (21CPW) was created as an information sharing site. I know that there are a few people (Richards) who have been around longer than I have. Mike Morris knows Anton Hajjar well. One of our former officers once told me that Biller had a rule that no national officer could post on this site. Retirees are under no such prohibition.

I won’t take offense if your memories are different than mine.

First Name: Daniel
Last Name: Kuralt
Email: drkuralt@comcast.net
Union/Local: APWU – Springfield, MA Area Local 497
Office held if any: None

One thought on “Postal Retirees are getting screwed when it comes to Medicare and FEHB”

  1. Union and NAME of Local/Branch
    MI Postal Workers Union State Retiree Chapter; Flint MI Area Local #271 Retiree Chapter
    Office held, if any
    Retiree Advisor
    Email Address
    allab1937@gmail.com

    Now there’s a voice from the past I haven’t seen or heard for ”a couple” of years. That said; rather amazing, if not validating, some of us old bucks still express similar views. On the subject of Medicare, APWUHP, FEHBP, Medicare Advantage plans; I’ve held similar misgivings when the USPS ”Ministry of Propaganda” (MOP), began showering ”Dear Postal Retiree” quarterly newsletters upon us, oh so benevolently, touting the praises of Medicare Advantage plans in comparison to FEHBP. Dan raises even more relevant questions. We’re likely have been members of the Plan with predecessor NFPOC an d UFPC, administered by Jack Love. When it paid 1st dollar benefits. Now, here we are looking down the barrel of Medicare Integration and a curious web of Members of Congress, PMG DeJoy, Postal Labor, B.O.G., putting their imprimatur on Medicare Integration. Selling it as a good deal all around, although for different motives. I’ve been assured by APWU leadership that; in my circumstance with Medicare A-B, (FEHB) APWU High Option Self+1, it changes nothing , unless I add on the APWU Advantage all for the same, or possibly, lower premium. Personally, I like and prefer to stay right where I’m at until I see how it shakes out until next Open Season. You get what you pay for; in the area of $800. per mo. for Medicare [wife & I] and APWU, aprox. $9K pr. yr. One procedure can exceed that.

    The point being; there’s more questions than answers. Do ”negotiations’ in Congress between PMG DeJoy, the B.O.G. (revised), OPM, Postal Unions as a trade-off to repeal the ’06 PAEA prefunding mandate hinge on Medicare Integration? Retirees 65+ enrolled in Medicare A-B and FEHBP nothing changes unless by choice. Retirees ages 55-64 will be automatically enrolled in Medicare A-B and pay the premium. FEHBP enrollees 65+ automatically enrolled in Medicare AND without penalty, but can opt out(?) Math never my strong suit; someone help me understand just how will this save USPS billions over next 10 years, as well as ‘possibly lower the FEHBP share of premiums for the USPS and retirees. I admit to being stumped. Still looks like a shell game to me. I place my trust is in our APWU leadership. Trust but verify. I’d like to better understand what the end game is for retirees. I’ve stopped speculating. Waiting either for an epiphany or the other shoe to drop.

    One thing I did finally get through my thick skull is; ”Medicare Integration”, and APWU Medicare Advantage administered by United Health, are altogether two distinctly separate things. Unrelated. Yikes! Too soon old, too late smart!

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