Last Day for PSEs to Sign Up for Health Benefits

Postal Support Employees (PSEs) represented by the APWU have until June 30, 2016, to enroll in health insurance through the USPS Health Benefits (USPSHB) Plan. Coverage will be effective on July 9, 2016.

Under the terms of an agreement between the APWU and management, the Postal Service will contribute at least $125 per pay period toward the cost of the insurance. “This agreement improves conditions for PSEs who need insurance during their first year of employment,” Dimondstein said. Prior to the agreement, which was announced in April, PSEs were eligible for health insurance under the Federal Employees Health Benefit Plan only after they completed a 360-day appointment.

APWU President Mark Dimondstein is urging PSEs to explore the health insurance option, and he is asking local and state officers to help make sure PSEs know about it.

“This benefit applies to all PSEs, regardless of the number of hours they work,” Dimondstein pointed out. This is significant because the Affordable Care Act requires employers to cover only those workers who work a minimum of 30 hours per week.

After the first 360-day appointment, PSEs can switch to the APWU Consumer Driven Health Plan, where the Postal Service pays 75 percent of total premium costs for self-only, self-plus-one and self-and-family coverage.

To find out more, click here or visit http://liteblue.usps.gov/benefits. By phone, call 1-877-477-3273 and select option 1; TTY 866-260-7507. To enroll by mail, complete the PostalEASE worksheet available on LiteBlue and mail it to: HRSSC Compensation/Benefits, PO Box 970400, Greensboro NC 27497-0400.