The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has released a list of conditionally approved carriers for the new Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) program debuting in 2025.
32 carriers have received OPM’s approval but are contingent upon successful benefits and rate negotiations.
PSHB carrier applicants represent a mix of fee-for-service plans and health maintenance organizations. Their service areas vary from nationwide to specific regions. Federal employees will recognize the names since they all have been providing insurance through the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program for years.
Conditionally Approved Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program Carriers
| Carrier Name | Plan Type |
|---|---|
| Aetna: HDHP, Aetna Direct, Aetna Advantage | Health Maintenance Organization |
| Aetna: Open Access HMO and Aetna Saver | Health Maintenance Organization |
| Aetna: CDHP and Value | Health Maintenance Organization |
| American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Health Plan | Fee-for-Service |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) Service Benefit Plan | Fee-for-Service |
| Capital Health Plan | Health Maintenance Organization |
| CareFirst BlueChoice | Health Maintenance Organization |
| Government Employees Health Association (GEHA) Employee Organization | Fee-for-Service |
| Government Employees Health Association (GEHA) Indemnity Benefit Plan | Fee-for-Service |
| Health Alliance Plan of Michigan | Health Maintenance Organization |
| HealthPartners | Health Maintenance Organization |
| Hawaii Medical Service Association (HMSA) | Health Maintenance Organization |
| Independent Health Association, Inc. | Health Maintenance Organization |
| Kaiser Permanente – Colorado | Health Maintenance Organization |
| Kaiser Permanente – Fresno California | Health Maintenance Organization |
| Kaiser Permanente – Hawaii | Health Maintenance Organization |
| Kaiser Permanente – Northern California | Health Maintenance Organization |
| Kaiser Permanente – Northwest | Health Maintenance Organization |
| Kaiser Permanente – Southern California | Health Maintenance Organization |
| Kaiser Permanente – Washington Core | Health Maintenance Organization |
| Kaiser Permanente – Washington Options Federal | Health Maintenance Organization |
| Kaiser Permanente – Georgia | Health Maintenance Organization |
| Kaiser Permanente – Mid-Atlantic | Health Maintenance Organization |
| Mail Handlers Benefit Plan | Fee-for-Service |
| Medical Mutual of Ohio | Health Maintenance Organization |
| National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Health Benefit Plan | Fee-for-Service |
| Rural Carrier Benefit Plan | Fee-for-Service |
| TakeCare | Health Maintenance Organization |
| Triple-S Salud | Health Maintenance Organization |
| UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company, Inc. – Choice Plus Primary | Health Maintenance Organization |
| UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company, Inc. – Choice Plus Primary WF | Health Maintenance Organization |
| UPMC Health Plan | Health Maintenance Organization |
“The Postal Service Health Benefits Program will offer robust health benefits for Postal employees and their families,” said OPM Director Kiran Ahuja. “I want to thank the carriers for their interest in supporting the health care needs of our federal workforce. This program improvement is only possible thanks to carrier participation and the tireless work of USPS and our OPM team.”
What is the Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program?
OPM is currently working on establishing the PSHB program as required by the Postal Service Reform Act that became law last year.
The PSHB program will include health benefits plans available only to United States Postal Service (USPS) employees, Postal Service retirees (annuitants), and their eligible family members.
Starting January 1, 2025, these individuals will have to get their federal health benefits coverage from the PSHB program because eligibility for enrollment or coverage under the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program will end on December 31, 2024.
According to OPM, the PSHB Program will cover roughly 20 percent of the total FEHB population.
Postal Service members will be able to view coverage details and make changes during the annual 2024 Open Season. Most Postal Service employees and annuitants will be offered 2025 PSHB plans equivalent to their 2024 FEHB plan options.
Per the Postal Service Reform Act, if an enrollee’s FEHB carrier is not participating in PSHB, that individual will be automatically enrolled in the lowest-cost, nationwide PSHB plan that is not a high-deductible health plan and does not charge an association or membership fee. All such automatic enrollments will be a PSHB plan of the same enrollment type (self only, self and family, or self plus one) as the 2024 FEHB plan.
OPM has a list of frequently asked questions about the Postal Service Health Benefits Program on its website.
