2021 Health Benefits Open Season
November 9, 2020 through December 14, 2020 is Health Benefits Open Season. This is an opportunity for Letter Carriers and retirees to make changes to their health coverages for 2021. Active career carriers and CCA’s who are presently not covered in the Federal Employee Health Benefit program [FEHB] may sign up during the open season for the coming year.
The NALC Health Benefit Plan provides Letter Carriers with excellent coverages and extra benefits with an extensive network of providers and facilities utilizing the CIGNA Open Access Plan, which determines the Preferred Provider Network. To find out if your doctor or care facility is part of the network go to the www.nalchbp.org and find the link on the first page for the providers in your area.
Premium rates, deductibles, and copays in the NALC Plan are one of if not the most favorable to a Letter Carrier’s budget as well. That is because it was started by the carriers, and run by carriers. You may compare plans by going to the Office of Personnel Management website at www.opm.gov and compare up to 3 plans at once. In doing so you will find just how good the NALC plan is.
These are the premium rates for active career carriers. All rates are per pay period.
High Option: Self Only $91.47
Self and Family: $190.88
Self plus one: $219.45
The NALC Consumer Driven Plan and the Value Option Plan are lower premium, higher deductible plans offered as options to carriers. While the coverages are not as extensive as the High Option plan, any one who is in good health, young and just starting in their careers may find that these plans could work for them. The rates are…
CDHP Self Only $52.45
Self and Family: $121.84
Self Plus One: $115.72
Value Option Self Only: $43.05
Self and Family: $100.04
Self Plus One: $94.97
Retirees have the same opportunity to change their FEHB coverages for the coming year. It is important to know that as a retiree or annuitant it is NOT recommended to join the CDHP or the Value Option Plan. This is because the fees and coverages in the plans don’t match up with the Medicare coverages you would receive, meaning you would have greater out of pocket costs. The High Option Plan is the choice for retirees. Retired carriers and their annuitants also may compare coverages at the OPM website. The rates are monthly, and non-postal. These are the High Option rates only.
Self Only: $205.47
Self and Family: $430.49
Self Plus One: $491.06
It is important to note that in the High Option plan for both active and retirees the Self and Family is a lower premium rate than the Self Plus One option. Whether you are looking for coverage for just yourself and your spouse, or yourself and one child you are NOT required to choose Self Plus One. You ARE able to choose Self and Family and save yourself some premium costs.
CCA’s newly hired have only the non-career Health Plan available to them through the USPS. If a CCA has served one year or more they may sign up for any plan in the FEHB system. If this is the case it’s recommended that you don’t. The non-career plan offered through USPS requires the USPS to contribute to the premium costs. A CCA in the FEHB plan has to cover the entire premium charge. Please wait until being converted to career before getting into a FEHB plan.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding health benefits call Branch 6000 and leave a message for your fulltime officer and I will get back to you. I am also available at the branch most Wednesday evenings between 5:30 PM and 8:30PM. Please stay well and safe for yourselves and your families.
