APWU News – 08/03/2018 – On July 30, 2018, the Postal Service notified the APWU that there will be a special enrollment period for PSEs to enroll in the USPS Health Benefits Plan.  The enrollment period will be open from August 20, 2018 through October 4, 2018.  Coverage will become effective on October 13, 2018.

This special enrollment is being conducted in accordance with the settlement agreement, RE: Workforce Benefits Fund.  The settlement calls for the Postal Service to make additional contributions to USPS Health Benefits Plan for self plus one and family enrollments for PSEs.  With these changes, it is necessary for the Service to offer eligible PSEs the opportunity to enroll.

Each eligible PSE will be receiving a letter from the Postal Service giving enrollment deadlines, enrollment methods, and plan premiums.  The letter will instruct the employees to go the https://liteblue.usps.gov/uspshbp to learn about the plan.  Enrollment will be through PostalEASE via liteblue, self-service kiosks in some offices, or by calling the HRSSC at 1-877-477-3273.

This enrollment is for the USPS non-career health benefits plan and should not be confused with the APWU Consumer Driven Option (CDO) plan.  Enrollment will not be open for the APWU CDO plan during this special enrollment.

PSEs are eligible for enrollment in the APWU CDO plan after completing their first 360-day appointment.  PSEs may enroll in the APWU CDO plan within 60 days of being appointed to a second term as a PSE or during regular Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) open season held in November and December of each year after meeting eligibility requirements.