OPM has made no announcement regarding extending the open season, as it did in 2006 and 2018. Image: DCStockPhotography/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffPostal employees and retirees are experiencing “serious problems” in attempting to enroll in the new Postal Service Health Benefits program that is replacing the FEHB for them starting in January, the American Postal Workers Union has said.
“Some of these issues took a week to be partially corrected, while others are still not fixed. The initial issues included incorrect premium rates for at least one postal plan, incomplete carrier and plan option names in the Plan Comparison tool, and problems with the provider search tool. The most pressing problem currently is with Login.gov and the actual enrollment process which does not link employees’ postal and OPM identities and accounts,” it said in a letter to OPM.
“As a result, employees are unable to enroll in any PSHBP plan electronically. The work-around the Postal Service has devised of faxing forms to the Postal Service’s HR department is itself going to add uncertainty and days to the enrollment process which negatively impacts the PSHB carriers being able to complete their work of issuing membership cards and enrolling individuals in their plans before January 1st. It is unclear when or if these problems will be corrected,” it said.
The union asked that the ongoing open season for selecting 2025 coverage in the PSHB be extended by a week beyond its expiration date of December 9. It noted that the open season of 2006 was extended because of delays in publishing plan information and in 2018 in anticipation of a potential government shutdown (which did not occur until later).
OPM’s IG has raised concerns about customer service for Postal Service employees and retirees in their transition from the FEHB to the new PSHB in October. It said that OPM “does not have comprehensive documented plans, policies, and procedures for the operation” of the customer support function in the upcoming open season and beyond.
OPM maintained it has a robust customer service plan ready for Open Season. It has so far made no announcement regarding extending the open season this year.
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