Postal Bulletin 22634 – 10/5/23 – On March 31, 2024, the Postal Service™ will revise the Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM), part 520, by adding new section 521.8 to reflect the Postal Service establishing the Postal Service Health Benefits Education Program (PSHBEP), as required under the Postal Service Reform Act of 2022. Although the Postal Service will not publish these revisions in the ELM until March 31, 2024, these regulations are effective immediately.
In implementing the PSHBEP, the Postal Service will notify and provide information to Postal Service annuitants and employees about the Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program, respond to inquiries from employees and annuitants about PSHB, consult with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the U.S. Social Security Administration regarding Medicare enrollment, and conduct navigator activities.
These regulations establish the activities conducted under the PSHBEP. The Postal Service will provide information to employees and annuitants via mailings, seminars, online platforms, text messaging, and other media. Additional information will be sent to employees and annuitants as it becomes available. Employees and annuitants will have access to educational videos on the PSHB Program and Medicare beginning November 2024. Specific plan information will be made available in 2024 before the Open Season period.
For eligible annuitants, a 6-month PSHB Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for Medicare Part B will begin on April 1, 2024, and end on September 20, 2024. The Postal Service will send notifications to eligible annuitants and covered family members regarding the PSHB SEP, including when and how to enroll for Medicare Part B. The notifications will include information on SEP eligibility, when the SEP will take place, and how eligible annuitants and covered family members may enroll in Medicare Part B during the SEP.
Notifications will also include information on how the Postal Service will pay the late-enrollment penalty for eligible annuitants and covered family members who enroll in Medicare Part B during the SEP.
From PEN:
The PSHB Special Enrollment Period (SEP) is great for many but what about those of us who are already paying a late-enrollment penalty for Medicare Part B? I am paying a 30% penalty because I enrolled 3 years after turning age 65. I had FEHB B/C coverage and B/C coverage under my wife’s employer. So, I could not afford to pay for Medicare as well. After she retired, I enrolled in Medicare Part B then. How is it fair to require those of us who are already enrolled in Part B and paying the late enrollment penalty to continue paying this penalty while others get a free ticket – how in the world is that fair. I have asked USPS and OPM this question and cannot get a response.
USPS states, “Notifications will also include information on how the Postal Service will pay the late-enrollment penalty for eligible annuitants and covered family members who enroll in Medicare Part B during the SEP.” PEN: This is more than likely not true – just like they (USPS) never paid the yearly payment under the PAEA – POSTAL ACCOUNTABILITY AND ENHANCEMENT ACT.
Concerning the above note from PEN – if you were covered under your wife’s employer plan, you do NOT have to pay a penalty if you signed up for part B as soon as she left her employer plan.
Thanks Randy. When I turned age 65 I was covered under my federal blue cross and my wife’s blue cross. So, as I said, I did not enroll in Part B because we could not afford to pay for all 3 health insurance plans. She retired 3 years after MY 65th birthday and lost her insurance coverage and I then enrolled in Part B Medicare and Part A. You are correct – IF I had been copvered under her plan I could have avoided the penalty.