The Postal Service Reform Act of 2022 (PSRA) was signed into law in April 2022. Since then, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), in conjunction with the Postal Service, has been working to implement the new Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program, as required under the new law.
PSHB is a new, separate program within the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program and will be administered by OPM. Coverage under the PSHB Program will be effective January 1, 2025.
Enrolling in the PSHB Program
You are required to select a health insurance plan in the PSHB Program during the 2024 open season period, which will run from November 11, 2024, to December 9, 2024. If you do not actively select a PSHB plan, you will be automatically enrolled in a comparable PSHB plan.
PSHB plan options and premium information will be available in fall 2024. Information on how and where to enroll will be available as we approach the 2024 open season.
Integration With Medicare
The PSHB Program requires certain annuitants to enroll in Medicare Part B to continue PSHB coverage in retirement. If you are an annuitant as of January 1, 2025, and did not enroll in Medicare Part B, you ARE NOT required to enroll in Medicare Part B to continue your health insurance coverage in the new PSHB Program. Your participation in Medicare Part B is voluntary.
If you are an annuitant as of January 1, 2025, and are already enrolled in Medicare Part B as of that date, you ARE required to remain enrolled in Medicare Part B to continue coverage under PSHB.
Special Enrollment Period
If you are an annuitant entitled to Medicare Part A (typically at age 65) as of January 1, 2024, and did not enroll in Medicare Part B, you and your covered, eligible family members may be able to participate in the special enrollment period (SEP) for Medicare Part B that starts on April 1, 2024.
Those who choose to enroll during the SEP will not need to pay a late enrollment penalty. Eligibility letters will be sent to annuitants and eligible family members in early 2024.