2010 Open Season and Other Benefits and Payroll Election Opportunities

Note: Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) expire at the end of each year, but they can be renewed during FSA Open Season.

Annual Leave Exchange (ALE) for next year’s leave requires an election during this ALE Open Season.

Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) catch-up contributions expire at the end of each year, but elections can be made at any time.

Benefit Program

Note the deadlines...

Find out about eligibility and options...

Prepare for and make your elections...

Comments

Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program

Opens: 11/08
Closes: 12/14
5:00 p.m. CT

Qualifying Life Event (through HRSSC)

Guides to Benefits Updates coming soon.

n Career Employees

n Postal Inspectors & OIG Employees

n Noncareer Employees

Prepare PostalEASE FEHB Worksheet

Use PostalEASE

n Beginning January 1, 2011, children will be covered by their parent’s FEHB Self and Family enrollment until their 26th birthday (plus a 31-day extension of coverage).

n Your health plan will send you instructions for adding your child(ren). If you do not receive instructions by November 15, contact your plan’s customer service number on your ID card.

n You must enter dependents if electing a new Self and Family plan.

n Individual plan brochures are available at www.opm.gov/insure/health or by calling the health plan.

Coming to you in the mail: Guide to Benefits (program summary) with Health Reform Changes for Federal Benefit Programs and PostalEASE FEHB Worksheet.

Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP)

Opens: 11/08
Closes: 12/13
11:59 p.m. ET

Qualifying Life Event (through BENEFEDS, not HRSSC)

Guide to Dental & Vision Insurance Program

n If you are eligible to participate in FEHB, you are eligible to enroll in FEDVIP, even if you are not enrolled in FEHB.

n USPS does not contribute.

n You pay full cost of premiums on a pre-tax basis.

n You may enroll in a dental plan, a vision plan, or both.

n You may enroll in a plan for Self Only, Self Plus One, or Self and Family coverage.

n The new health care law does not change the age or unmarried requirement for dependents in FEDVIP.

Coming to you in the mail: FEDVIP Guide.

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

Opens: 11/08
Closes: 12/26
5:00 p.m. CT

Qualifying Life Event (through HRSSC)

FSA Brochure
Update coming soon

Prepare

PostalEASE FSA Worksheet

Use

PostalEASE

FSA Customer Service Center: 800-842-2026

Employees who are deaf/hard of hearing call via 711 (TRS).

n Health Care FSA maximum is $5,000.

n Dependent Care (day care) FSA maximum is $5,000.

n Changes as of January 1, 2011, for Health Care FSA:

n Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs and medicines are not eligible without a prescription (except insulin) — OTC supplies are still eligible without a prescription.

n Qualified dependents now include children who are not your tax dependents until 12/31 of the year before they turn 27.

n Changes as of January 1, 2011: The new fax number for claims is 915-231-1709, and new claims address is:

United Healthcare
FSA Customer Service Center
PO Box 981506
El Paso, TX 79998-1506

Coming to you in the mail: Post cards, leaflet, and brochure.

Annual Leave Exchange (ALE)

Opens: 11/15
Closes: 12/15
11:59 p.m. CT

Letter mailed to eligible employees

Prepare

PostalEASE ALE Worksheet (mailed to eligible employees)

Use

PostalEASE

n Most career nonbargaining unit employees from Rate Schedule Codes (RSCs) D, E, F, S, U, V, and Z may exchange from 8 to 128 hours in whole-hour increments if their annual leave balance is at least 160 hours as of close of business on December 31, 2010.

n Bargaining unit employees from RSCs C, G, K, M, N, P, T, and Y may exchange from 8 to 40 hours in whole-hour increments if their annual leave balance is at least 440 hours and if they have used less than 75 hours of sick leave for the leave year as of close of business on December 31, 2010.

n For bargaining unit employees, the lump sum is calculated on salary as of January 1, 2011, and included in the January 21, 2011, paycheck. For nonbargaining unit employees, the lump sum is calculated on salary as of January 15, 2011, and included in the February 4, 2011, paycheck. These lump sum payments are taxable in 2010.

Coming only to eligible employees in the mail: Letter about annual leave exchange.

Allotments/

Net-to-Bank (Direct Deposit)

Any time

Processed at 3:00 p.m. CT, 2nd Wednesday of pay period

Prepare PostalEASE Net-to-Bank Worksheet

Use

PostalEASE

n You must provide your financial institution’s routing number and your account number.

Thrift Savings Plan

Regular Contributions

Any time

Processed at 3:00 p.m. CT, 2nd Wednesday of pay period

www.tsp.gov

Prepare PostalEASE TSP Worksheet

Use

PostalEASE

n The IRS annual limit on elective deferrals for 2011 remains $16,500. FERS employees who want to maximize contributions while avoiding the loss of USPS matching contributions should make a whole dollar contribution per pay period equal to the announced maximum divided by 26.

n Contribution elections for 2011 will be accepted beginning at 3:30 p.m. CT on December 15, 2010.

Coming to you in the mail: TSP enrollment information letter and PostalEASE TSP Worksheet.

TSP 50+

Catch-Up Contributions

Any time

Processed at 3:00 p.m. CT, 2nd Wednesday of pay period

www.tsp.gov

Prepare

PostalEASE TSP 50+ Catch Up Worksheet

Use

PostalEASE

n The IRS annual limit for those age 50 or older during 2011 remains $5,500.

n Catch-up contribution elections for 2011 will be accepted beginning at 3:30 p.m. CT on December 15, 2010. You must certify that your regular TSP contributions will reach the IRS maximum.

Coming only to eligible employees in the mail: TSP enrollment information catch-up letter and PostalEASE TSP Catch-up Worksheet.

TSP Investment Choices

Have TSP acct. no. or Custom User ID