ATTENTION RETIREES!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Open Season Is (Nov. 11) NOVEMBER 12– Dec. 9 Open Season is the annual enrollment period for health benefits. Outside a qualifying life event (QLE), this is the only time to enroll or make changes to your benefits. New this Open Season is the Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2025. Changes to your benefits can be made (Nov.11) NOVEMBER 12TH through Dec. 9 using the new Postal Service Health Benefits System (PSHBS). A link to the PSHBS can be found on keepingposted.org. The USPS Open Season Virtual Fair kicks off Nov. 3, with an Open Season 101 seminar presented by the Benefits and Wellness team. The seminar covers how your benefits work together and explains the new benefits programs. The virtual fair also provides an opportunity to visit PSHB provider booths attend presentations from health and dental insurance carriers, Medicare, Social Security, Thrift Savings Plan, CHECKBOOK’s Guide to Health Plans for Federal Employees and more. For the fair schedule and Open Season benefits programs, go to keepingposted.org. Reminder regarding the Medicare Part B Special Enrollment Period: If you were an eligible annuitant who chose to enroll in Medicare Part B during the recent Special Enrollment Period, please note the following: 1. Open Season is an opportunity to select a health benefits plan that works in conjunction with your Medicare coverage. 2. Review plan options carefully, to include premium reimbursement rebate incentives. 3. Your Medicare Part B coverage will be effective on January 1, 2025. 4. If, after reviewing the PSHB plan information, you want to rescind your Medicare Part B enrollment, you can request a termination from the Social Security Administration until December 31, 2024. It is best to cancel as soon as possible to avoid an inadvertent payment of Medicare Part B premiums. If your request to cancel Medicare Part B enrollment is made after January 1, 2025, you will no longer be eligible for the PSHB Program unless a Medicare Part B exception applies. You will also be responsible for any Part B and PSHB premiums due through the month of termination. If you have questions regarding termination of Part B or if you would like to terminate your Part B enrollment, call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213. TTY users call 1-800-325-0778. Login.gov: This Open Season, a login.gov account will be required to access the new Postal Service Health Benefits System (PSHBS). The PSHBS must be used to make changes or enroll in a health benefits plan under the new PSHB Program. Login.gov is a secure sign-in service. Creating an account can be done in a few steps. Visit login.gov for more information and to create an account. Open Season begins Nov. 11 and will be here in a few days. Don’t wait to create your login.gov account. Important information coming to your mailbox: You will receive a “Crosswalk” guide on which plan under the new PSHB program is most comparable to your current Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) plan. You should review the plan identified for you to ensure that it is the most advantageous for your coverage needs. If you are satisfied, no action needs to be taken. You and your covered dependents will be transitioned to the new PSHB plan identified for you. Please be sure to check your mail for this guide. USPS RETIREE E-NEWSLETTER November 2024 Frequently Asked PSHB Questions Question: How do I enroll in a health plan if I do not want the plan that has been identified for me in the “crosswalk” letter? Answer: To enroll in a health plan, you will need to first establish a login.gov account. This account is required to access the Postal Service Health Benefits System (PSHBS). Utilize CHECKBOOK’s Guide to Health Plans for Federal Employees and Retirees to view and compare plans. After determining the plan that is best for you, make the change using the Postal Service Health Benefits System (PSHBS) which is the new enrollment platform for PSHB.