Overview
Welcome USPS Employees & Annuitants
TakeCare is proud to receive conditional approval to participate in the Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) announced on March 12 that TakeCare was conditionally approved as one of 32 carrier applicants to participate in OPM’s new Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program for U.S. Postal Employees and their families.
Click here to view TakeCare’s media release which includes a link to OPM’s related press release and bookmark this page to stay updated.
What you need to know about the Postal Service Reform Act
You may have heard about the Postal Service Reform Act of 2022. This law does not impact your benefits for 2024. But in 2025, there will be a new Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program.
- Postal Service Health Benefits Program
The Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program will offer health insurance to Postal employees, annuitants and eligible family members starting January 1, 2025.
Click here to learn more on OPM’s website.
- More information is coming
Information on PSHB Program health plan options and premiums will be available in late summer or early fall 2024.
- Open Season
USPS employees and annuitants will be able to choose a health plan in the PSHB Program during 2024 Open Season, running November 11 through December 9, 2024.
Special Enrollment Period for Annuitants
USPS annuitants entitled to Medicare Part A (typically at age 65) prior to January 1, 2024, who have not yet enrolled in Medicare Part B, and their covered, eligible family members may be able to participate in a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for Medicare Part B that started on April 1, 2024 and ends September 30, 2024.
Those who choose to enroll during the SEP will not need to pay a late enrollment penalty—this will be covered by USPS.
Eligibility letters and related forms have been mailed to these annuitants and eligible family members over the last several weeks.
USPS annuitants who’ve misplaced their SEP eligibility notice or did not receive one and believe they are eligible for this enrollment opportunity, are directed to contact the PSHB Navigator Helpline’s toll-free number at 833-712-PSHB (7742) or email retirementbenefits@usps.gov.
In addition, annuitants can get more information about the PSHB program at www.keepingposted.org/postal-service-health-benefits.htm.
Frequently Asked Questions regarding the SEP
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Postal Annuitant Question |
Postal Service Response |
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Will the new PSHB plan info be available before the end of the SEP? |
We don't believe so, BUT if you choose to sign up for Part B during the SEP, you can rescind your enrollment if you decide that you no longer want it once the plans and premiums are released late summer, as long as you rescind it before Dec 31, 2024. |
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How will I be able to make an informed decision about enrolling in Medicare Part B if the new PSHB plan details aren't available until after the SEP closes? |
You have until Dec 31, 2024 to rescind your Part B enrollment if you decide to change once the PSHB plan information has been released. |
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I am not required to enroll in Medicare Part B, but if I do want to sign up, do I have to sign up by Sept 30? If PSHB plan info isn’t available before Sept 30, how can I make a determination if Part B is right for me or not? |
If you want Part B coverage, you must sign up during the SEP which ends Sept 30. If you decide later that Part B isn’t right for you after you’ve reviewed the PSHB plan info, you can rescind your Part B enrollment on or before December 31, 2024. |
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