The PSHB Program is a new, separate program within the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program, administered by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
The PSHB Program will provide health insurance to eligible Postal Service employees, Postal Service annuitants, and their eligible family members starting on January 1, 2025. The PSHB Program will replace the FEHB Program coverage for these groups, as well as Postal Service claimants and death benefit beneficiaries receiving FECA compensation benefits.
This change impacts ONLY Postal Service claimants. There is no change for non-Postal Service claimants.
For an overview of the PSHB Program, visit OPM’s PSHB website.
For information specific to Postal Service FECA claimants, visit the “Special Populations” section of that website.
FECA Circular 25-01, Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program, has additional information pertaining the implementation of PSHB for Postal Service claimants.
What does this mean for you?
All Postal Service claimants and beneficiaries who are enrolled in a 2024 FEHB plan will have their enrollment transferred to a PSHB plan beginning on January 1, 2025.
OPM will automatically enroll claimants/beneficiaries into a 2025 PSHB plan that has equivalent/similar benefits and cost-sharing to the 2024 FEHB plan option in which they were enrolled for the 2024 plan year. If the claimant’s current FEHB plan is not part of PSHB, OPM will enroll them in the lowest cost nationwide plan.
The FECA program is not a part of this automatic plan enrollment process.
For more detailed information regarding this automatic enrollment, visit the “Automatic Enrollment in PSHB” section of OPM’s website.
OPM will be mailing letters to all affected Postal Service claimants beginning the week of October 21, 2024 advising them of the plan that has been selected for them and providing instructions on how to select a different PSHB plan.
Reminder – OWCP’s periodic and death benefit payments are paid on a 28-day cycle, which means there are thirteen payments, per year. To calculate the amount of your 2025 plan year premiums as provided by OPM you would multiply the bi-weekly amount by two or multiple the monthly amount by twelve and divide by thirteen.
If you wish to keep the PSHB plan that was automatically chosen for you by OPM, no action is needed.
How can I change my PSHB Plan?
If you wish to choose a different PSHB plan that the one automatically chosen for you by OPM, you can do so during the Federal Benefits Open Season (November 11 through December 9, 2024).
The PSHB System (maintained by OPM) must be used to make any changes to your PSHB plan now and in the future (e.g. if you have a Qualifying Life Event that allows a change).
The FECA program cannot accept Form SF 2809 (Health Benefits Election Form) or Form SF 2810 (Notice of Change in Health Benefits Enrollment) for any Postal Service claimant. All changes must be processed through OPM’s PSHB system.
FECA staff cannot assist with the selection of a PSHB plan.
When will the new PSHB plan be effective?
The new PSHB Plans will be effective on 1/1/25.
For Postal Service claimants and beneficiaries already receiving FECA compensation on the Periodic Roll (every 28 days), the FECA program will use the PSHB plan information provided by OPM to update all payment records and deductions for PSHB premiums will begin with the Periodic Roll cycle December 29, 2024-Janaury 25, 2025.
For Postal claimants receiving compensation on the Daily Roll, FECA will begin deductions for PSHB effective with any payments starting on 1/1/25, using the PSHB plan code confirmed by the Postal Service on submitted Form CA-7s.
What if I need help accessing the PSHB Portal?
OPM has a Customer Service Line available at: 844-451-1261
Customer Service Representatives can provide support and respond to inquiries related to the following issues:
- Access, password and login issues for the PSHB System
- Technical website issues with the PSHB System
- How to enroll or submit changes to benefit plans
- Qualifying Life Event (QLE) reporting and uploading supporting documentation
The FECA program will continue to address other non-PSHB enrollment questions but cannot assist with the issues outlined above.
Am I required to enroll in Medicare Part B?
No. Under the PSHB Program, all Postal claimants are considered employees and are not required to enroll in Medicare Part B to maintain enrollment in PSHB, regardless of their Medicare eligibility status.
For those Postal claimants who choose to enroll in Medicare Part B, the PSHB plan will be considered the primary payer and Medicare will be secondary.
The FECA program does not have discretion to change whether Medicare is the primary or secondary payer because such coordination of benefits is governed by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Medicare Secondary Payer regulations. OPM provides guidance on secondary payer rules in the “Special Populations” section of their website.