The New Contract and the Health Plan

Here are some initial thoughts on how the new contract, which was issued on July 8, will affect the APWU Health Plan, postal workers and their families.

We are thrilled that the USPS will continue to pay 95 percent of the premiums for career employees in the Consumer Driven Option, provided the employees have been in a Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) plan for a minimum of one year.

While the Postal Service’s expressed intent is to require employees to pay a larger and larger percentage of health care premiums going forward, the best value in the FEHB program will become an even more attractive choice for our members in the coming years.

There will be an increase in the percentage of premiums our members will have to pay for all other FEHB health care choices. While holding down costs and providing comprehensive benefits is a tough balancing act, I urge my brothers and sisters to compare both the APWU Consumer Driven Option and the APWU High Option Health Plans to any other FEHB plan.

It is estimated that health care costs will increase approximately 10 percent in 2016, with another 10 percent increase expected in 2017. The increased costs are expected to raise health care premiums for the membership even without the increase in the percentage of the premiums we will have to pay starting in 2017.

The increased health care costs and the reduced amount the USPS will be paying will make the APWU Health Plan even more important to our membership this open season. In this challenging environment, we are working hard to keep co-pays, catastrophic limits and premiums lower than the competition while providing the most coverage possible. The APWU Health Plan is committed to providing comprehensive health care at an affordable price.

I understand that the open season for FEHB health care plans comes at an especially busy time for postal workers. With mail volume exploding and the family and work obligations of the holiday season, it is difficult to find the time to compare health care plans. Unfortunately, you may be paying too much for health coverage or have coverage that does not fit your needs. Please take the time to compare the APWU Health Plan High Option and Consumer Driven Option to your current plan now.

Taking a little time to evaluate your health care needs and expenses can pay big dividends in the coming years. If you are not familiar with our plans, the high option is comparable to Blue Cross and Blue Shield Standard and the Consumer Driven Option is similar to Blue Cross Blue Shield Basic. I encourage you to visit the OPM website and compare. Visit opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/plan-information/compare-plans/.

In our continuing effort to use technology to better serve our members, we have instituted a new feature that gives enrollees in the Consumer Driven Option the ability to attend routine medical appointments from the comfort of home, provided their doctor offers such services.

“Virtual visits” for minor health issues can save our members the time and the hassle associated with in-person visits. I believe this would be a great help to our members for simple appointments that are routine in nature.

We are working diligently to add this feature to the High Option plan.