First, the Federal Health Benefits Open Season provides an opportunity for career mail handlers to make any necessary changes to their health insurance coverage through the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP).  During this open season, employees may make any one, or a combination of, the following changes to their health insurance: enroll if not enrolled; cancel enrollment; change from one plan to another or from one option to another; and change from Self to Self and Family, or from Self and Family to Self.  All of these open season changes may be made using PostalEASE, which may be accessed online at https://liteblue.usps.gov or by calling 1-877-477-3273, option 1.

Of particular interest to Mail Handler Assistants, effective in January 2014, MHAs are eligible for health insurance under the USPS Plan.  Coverage is subsidized by the Postal Service through an employer contribution of $125 per pay period.  Thus, for the 2014 Plan Year, self-only coverage for an MHA will require an employee contribution of $50 per pay period.  The additional costs for family coverage are charged to the MHA, and thus the subsidized rate for family coverage during the 2014 Plan Year will be $260 per pay period.  An MHA reappointed to a second 360-day term is alternatively eligible for coverage under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, but the full cost of such coverage would be the responsibility of the MHA.  The FEHBP Open Season period is scheduled for November 11 through December 09, 2013 at 5 p.m. Central Time.

Also currently available to all FEHBP eligible Mail Handlers, as well as all other federal and career postal employees, are supplemental dental and vision insurance programs offered through the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP).  These plans are optional, with all premiums paid by the employee without any subsidy from the Postal Service.  Questions can be addressed to the customer service representatives at 1-877-888-3337, or you can find more information, including enrollment details, at www.benefeds.com.  The FEDVIP Open Season period starts on November 11, and expires on December 9, 2013.

Supplemental dental and vision plans also are sponsored by the Mail Handlers Benefit Plan (MHBP) and may be used by career Mail Handlers who are members of the NPMHU even if they do not enroll in health insurance sponsored by the MHBP. More information on the MHBP supplemental plans is available at the MHBP website, www.mhbp.com, or at 1-800-254-0227.

Second, Flexible Spending Accounts allow career employees to set aside a portion of their pre-tax earnings for certain types of out-of-pocket health care expenses and dependent care expenses that may be incurred during the next year.  FSAs are an excellent opportunity for all mail handlers to save money for health care and dependent care, and all members are urged to investigate this program if you expect to have eligible expenses in these areas.  The FSA Open Season runs from November 11, 2013 through December 09, 2013. If you don’t have an FSA, perhaps this is the year to try. Start small, if you like.  But you can put up to $2,500 into a Health Care FSA and/or up to another $5,000 per family into a Dependent Care FSA.  Using the FSA Program can give you significant tax savings. In basic terms, the FSA gives you a percentage discount (depending on your tax rate) on all of your out-of-pocket health care costs, such as braces, eyeglasses, hearing aids, deductibles, co-payments, prescription medication, and certain other expenses not covered by health insurance.  The same is true for your dependent care costs, which can include day care at a center or from a private sitter, late pickup fees from child care, nursery school, and summer day camp, or adult day care for an elderly parent.  The amount of money you put into an FSA is entirely up to you. Be advised, however, that you must utilize all of the funds in your FSA, or you lose that money under rules adopted by the Internal Revenue Service.  Also remember that you have additional time after December 31 of each year (until March 15 of the following year) before any unspent money in an FSA would be lost.  Also, you should be aware that if you are enrolled in a “High Deductible Health Plan,” the rules are different.  You should read the brochure carefully if that is the case, and you may also want to consult your tax professional.  Complete your enrollment through PostalEASE by visiting https://liteblue.usps.gov or by calling 1-877-487-3273; questions should be directed to the FSA Customer Service Center at 1-800-842-2026.  Again, the FSA Open Season runs from November 11, 2013 through December 09, 2013 at 5:00 pm Central time.

Third, eligible career employees may use the Annual Leave Exchange Option to receive a lump-sum payment in their paychecks in early January 2014 in exchange for a portion of the annual leave that otherwise would be advanced to them at the beginning of the 2014 leave year.  To be eligible, Mail Handlers must have an annual leave balance of 440 hours at the end of the 2013 leave year and have used less than 75 hours of sick leave during the 2013 leave year.  Mail Handlers who meet the eligibility criteria and want to exercise this option under the Annual Leave Exchange Option must use PostalEASE to make elections beginning on November 15, 2013, but by no later than December 15, 2013 at 11:59 pm (Central Time).