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Benefits Programs and Key Dates

During Open Season, you have the opportunity to enroll, cancel, or change your enrollment in a number of benefits pro- grams. The LiteBlue Open Season page (liteblue.usps.gov/openseason) provides more information, resources, and tools to help you evaluate your options and select the right benefits plan. To participate, you must meet eligibility criteria.

 

 

New hires can enroll…

Make changes during Open Season…

To enroll or make changes, go to…

For more

information visit…

Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program

Within 60 days from new hire date.

November 8 through December 13 (11:59 P.M. EST)

PostalEASE at ewss.usps.gov or via one of the following options:

n LiteBlue or Blue: Employee Self-Service Kiosk (available at some facilities);

n Call 877-477-3273, Option 1 (Federal Relay Service: 800-877-8339); or

n Mail the PostalEASE FEHB Worksheet to the HR Shared Service Center.

LiteBlue FEHB page liteblue.usps.gov/fehb

USPS Health Benefits (USPS HB) Plan non-career employees only

Within 60 days from new hire date.

November 8 through December 13 (11:59 P.M. EST)

PostalEASE at ewss.usps.gov or via one of the following options:

n LiteBlue or Blue: Employee Self-Service Kiosk (available at some facilities);

n Call 877-477-3273, Option 1 (Federal Relay Service: 800-877-8339); or

n Mail the PostalEASE USPS HB Plan Worksheet to the HR Shared Service Center.

LiteBlue USPS HB page liteblue.usps.gov/uspshbp

Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP)

Within 60 days from new hire date.

November 8 through December 13 (11:59 P.M. EST)

n BENEFEDS website at benefeds.com or

n Call FEDVIP at 877-888-3337
(TTY: 877-899-5680).

LiteBlue FEDVIP page liteblue.usp.gov/fedvip

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)

Within 60 days from new hire date.

November 8 through December 13 (11:59 P.M. EST)

n FSAFEDS website at fsafeds.com; or

n Call FSAFEDS at 877-372-3337
(TTY: 800-952-0450).

LiteBlue FSA page liteblue.usps.gov/fsa

Annual Leave Exchange (ALE)

N/A

November 8 through December 13 (11:59 P.M. EST)

PostalEASE at ewss.usps.gov or via one of the following options:

n LiteBlue or Blue; Employee Self-Service Kiosk (available at some facilities); or

n Call 877-477-3273, Option 1
(Federal Relay Service: 800-877-8339).

LiteBlue ALE page liteblue.usps.gov/leave

Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)

New employees automatically enrolled with a 3 percent contribution.

Make changes at any time during the year.

PostalEASE at ewss.usps.gov or via one of the following options:

n LiteBlue or Blue;

n Call TSP at 877-968-3778
(TTY: 877-847-4385).

LiteBlue TSP page liteblue.usps.gov/tsp

Commuter Benefits Program

Make changes at any time during the year.

Make changes at any time during the year.

n login.commuterbenefits.com; or

n Call 888-235-9223.

LiteBlue Commuter page liteblue.usps.gov/ commuter

— Compensation and Benefits, Human Resources, 11-4-21

CHECKBOOK’S 2022 ONLINE GUIDE. Checkbook’s online guide to health plans for Federal Employees and Annuitants is available to all Postal Service employees and retirees at no cost. The online guide provides:Real Cost Comparisons: See plans ranked by estimates of actual out-of-pocket costs.Layering of information: Find ansers by looking at a comparison of basic levels of plans or get more, detailed plan information using CHECKBOOK.Dental and Vision Plans: Evaluate FEDVIP plans available to you.Medicare Integration: See how participating in Medicare as a retiree might affect your health plan decisions.

To find the right health plan: Go to liteblue.usps.gov/planselection and click the link for CHECKBOOK’s Guide to Health Plans. On the Let’s Get Started page, select: The ZIP Code™ where you will primarily be receiving health care services; your enrollment category. Identify the plan that’s best for you and your family. To Change your health plan coverage during Open Season: Visit the LiteBlue Open Season page or Blue homepage under Essential Links. Use employee self-service kiosks. Call the Employee Service Line at 1-877-477-3273, select option 1. Complete and submit a Posta/EASE FEHB worksheet to HR Shared Service Center: By Fax: 1-651-456-6610. By Mail: USPS/HRSSC, FEHB/USPS HB Open Season PO Box 970402, Greensboro, NC 27497-0402. The Posta/EASE worksheet is available at https://liteblue.usps.gov.openseason. For more information, contact the HR Shared Service Center at 1-877-477-3273, select option 5 (Federal Relay Service 1-800-877-8339).

Understanding Types of Health Plans.Consumer-Driven Health Plans (CDHPs): Lower premiums. Higher deductibles. Most plans come with a pre-tax health reimbursement arrangement (HRA) to assist with costs.Ideal if you are healthy most of the time and rarely need health care services.Not ideal if you are managing a lot of healthcare expenses.High Deductible Health Plans (HDHPs): Lower premiums. Higher deductibles. Most plans come with a pre-tax health savings account (HSA) to assist with costs. Consumers can choose physicians and providers. If you rarely go to the doctor, you can save more on your annual health care costs.Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs): In-network benefits only. Must use doctors that contract with health maintenance organizations. Visits to providers outside of network are typically not covered by insurance. Must have a primary care physician (PCP). Usually limited to a specific geographical area. Need a referral to see any other health care provider except in an emergency.

9 Health Coverage Terms. Understanding the Basics.1. Premium2. Provider3. Network4. Co-payment5. Deductible6. Co-Insurance7. Allowed Amount8. Out-of-Pocket Limit.9. Balance Billing.

Flexible Spending Accounts. Use pre-tax dollars to cover eligible health and dependent care expenses: Current employees can sign up for an FSA at www.FSAFEDS.com during Open Season. New employees may enroll up to 60 days from their enter-on-duty date, but before October 1, or wait for Open Season. You must re-enroll every year to continue the benefits.Reimbursement Options: Direct Deposit - Your reimbursement will be deposited directly into your bank account. Check - A check will be mailed after a claim has been processed. Payment is sent directly to your provider. Did you know: The money you contribute to FSA is not subject to payroll taxes, so you pay less in taxes and take home more of your paycheck. FSAFEDS offers on line tools to help calculate how much money you can save each year. For a list of eligible expenses, visit:www.fsafeds.com/support/eligibleexpensesContact Info: To enroll or contact FSAFEDS go to www.FSAFEDS.com or call 1-877-372-3337 TTY Line: 866-353-8058.

Visit the Cirtual Benefets Fair during Open Season. Register at benefeds.com; November 8-December 13. Live chage Available: November 12, November 19, December 1, and December 8.

Flyer: Annual Leave Carryover: We increased the maximum annual leave carryover for career non-bargaining employees to 640 hours and for career bargaining employees to 520. We increased the Annual Leave Exchanged maximum to 168 houtd got Leave year 2022.

Effective January 1, 2022, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield will be the new administrator of the USPS Health Benefit Plan. The USPS Health Benefit Plan is available to eligible non-career employees. You are eligible for the plan if you are a non-career employee. If you are already enrolled in the USPS Health Benefits Plan, you will automatically be transferred to the new plan. No action is required if you are currently enrolled in the plan. Enrollment is from 11/8/2021 to 12/13/2021); Within 60 days of hire, or When you have a qualifying life event. To sign up: Use Postal EASE (ewss.usps.gov), or Call the HR Shared Service Center at 877-477-3273 and select Option l. You may also contact the HRSSC for eligibility and other benefits questions. Explore other health insurance options as a non-career employee. Visit CHECKBOOK’s Guide to Health Plans for Federal Employees through LiteBLUE®. For more information, visit: https://liteblue.usps.gov/uspshbp. For Additional Information: visit: www.carefirst.com/usps

 

 

 




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