Black Magic
Member
If you are signing up for PSHB you will need to connect PSHB to your new login.gov account. going to opm.gov/pshb and logging in as "other then admin" , i know it does not make sense .
PSHB
- Thread starter Black Magic
- Start date
Twistofcain
Well-known member
Can anybody compare the rural carrier benefit plan against the postal service benefit plan?
Tired carrier
Well-known member
From what I’ve seen, by the time you pay your premiums and your union dues there are better plans out there. Of course I’m retired so I canned the union. I was tired of paying dues for 40 years and constantly getting screwed.
I've been retired for 4 years now!! I've been out of the loop for years. We've been on the BCBS Basic insurance for years and have been very happy with that and medicare. Now with the upcoming changes on our plans.......what plan is comparable with BCBS basic? The premium is so high. What's everyone changing too? I need some direction from you smart people!
Tired carrier
Well-known member
I have the same plan and have been retired for 16 months. I’m pretty sure I’m switching to mhbp standard option. My wife and I are on no medications and are healthy. From what I’m seeing it aligns very closely to bcbs basic option and it’s 410 a month. Their network is as widespread as blue cross. But check and make sure your hospital and doctors are in their network.
FrozenToes
Well-known member
While clinics and hospitals were the same. None of our Doctors were in the MHBP. I called to verify. Looks like a good plan if you can make adjustments.
She mails rural
Well-known member
Can I ask if you have Medicare why you worried about another ins
FrozenToes
Well-known member
There is a yearly associate fee. I believe it's $52.
From their website " A single annual $52 associate membership fee makes all MHBP plans available to you."
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Tired carrier
Well-known member
Yes, but you are considered an associate member and your dues are only 52 dollars a year. I’ve had mail handlers in the past and never had any issues with them.
Tired carrier
Well-known member
No luckily I’m not old enough for medicare . Two more years, as for why I’m changing. I’m trying to find an other affordable plan that’s as close to what I’ve had before. Mail handlers is almost identical to bc basic, in fact mail handlers standard is better in some areas and it’s almost 200 dollars cheaper a month. I’m not trying to sell it to you, I’m just saying it looks like it will fit me. Check it out and make sure your hospitals and doctors are in it.
lovethemail
Well-known member
I'm on the APWU insurance (United Healthcare handles it) premiums are good. Starting in Jan should be 378 for myself and my husband. I need to keep postal insurance as my husband is still a puppy (lol 62). We don't really go to doc a lot if at all and got rid of BCBS a couple years ago. Now if I can only figure out how to do the new stuff. Am going to try it Sat morning when I'm home alone with the computer and the instructions they sent.
Tired carrier
Well-known member
My wife takes care of all the computer stuff, I hate computers and refuse to use them. She followed the instructions and didn’t have much of a problem navigating it.
lovethemail
Well-known member
Thanks!!!
Thanks!! Tomorrows adventure!
Havenowgone
Well-known member
Some good advice from other posters. I have GEHA Standard Self plus one and chose the Medicare Advantage option. $346/mo and a $75 Part B rebate for each member on Medicare. I like the dental coverage too....$1000 for the year. Eyeglass and contact allowance plus hearing aid allowance. $40 OTC allowance every 3 months. Routine chiropractic and acupuncture coverage too. $0 co pays for almost everything. Check your medication costs. I used to have BCBS Basic but it was getting too expensive. The GEHA MA plan has been great! I haven't looked back.
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jsthere723
Well-known member
I am at a disadvantage as i consider myself uninformed on most basic portion of our new health benefit plans . I will lay out the question and will not mind at all if anyone considers me totally uninformed but would really appreciate the answer .
So I have bcbs basic family for years . I got a letter saying I will be automatically enrolled to their equivalent plan if I don’t change it . I probably will opt for the equivalent one anyway. I am 59 . Plan to retire at 65 at the dot . So the questions are
1. At what point , I have to opt for Medicare options ?
2. What happens at 65 when I retire ( or if even if I don’t retire) ? Do they take out Medicare option premium only and my family is no longer covered ? Or I have to pay both anyway? Can I keep paying bluecross premium only till my youngest becomes 26 which will be further 3 years down the road from my anticipated retirement and then start paying Medicare premium only covering myself only then on with Medicare ?
Someone please explain it to me like I am six years old . I would really appreciate it. Thanks
So I have bcbs basic family for years . I got a letter saying I will be automatically enrolled to their equivalent plan if I don’t change it . I probably will opt for the equivalent one anyway. I am 59 . Plan to retire at 65 at the dot . So the questions are
1. At what point , I have to opt for Medicare options ?
2. What happens at 65 when I retire ( or if even if I don’t retire) ? Do they take out Medicare option premium only and my family is no longer covered ? Or I have to pay both anyway? Can I keep paying bluecross premium only till my youngest becomes 26 which will be further 3 years down the road from my anticipated retirement and then start paying Medicare premium only covering myself only then on with Medicare ?
Someone please explain it to me like I am six years old . I would really appreciate it. Thanks
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Havenowgone
Well-known member
When you turn 65 you can get Medicare. If you have a spouse or children to cover with health benefits you will still be able to. Either select self plus one or family coverage. Your individual health benefits will get better once Medicare is combined with your PSHB plan. Most of your deductibles and co pays will disappear. Some plans (like BCBS Basic) offer Part B rebates. There are also Medicare Advantage Plans that you can opt into while your family continues with the regular plan. Make sure whatever choice you make that your family will have sufficient coverage. I believe that if you continue working you can put off Medicare until you retire. If you stay in the PSHB system you will always pay the PSHB plan payment and an additional amount for Medicare Part B, when retired. For 2025 it will be $185 and that will come out of your Social Security check each month. Many PSHB plans offer a Medicare Advantage plan option that will give you additional benefits and various Part B rebates. Whatever you do, never cancel your PSHB coverage or you will not be able to get it back. If, at some point you want to leave the PSHB system, SUSPEND your coverage but DONT cancel it. OPM can answer questions as can Social Security for better guidance.
I retired at 62 and started Medicare Part A&B at 65 while my younger wife was covered by my regular plan and I chose a Medicare Advantage option within the same plan. I had BCBS Basic when I retired but switched to GEHA Standard when I turned 65 because it was cheaper and had a Medicare Advantage option for myself and sufficient coverage through the regular plan for my wife. I hope this helps. You might think about joining NARFE as they have lots of information to help guide you, and experts that you can contact.
www.narfe.org
I retired at 62 and started Medicare Part A&B at 65 while my younger wife was covered by my regular plan and I chose a Medicare Advantage option within the same plan. I had BCBS Basic when I retired but switched to GEHA Standard when I turned 65 because it was cheaper and had a Medicare Advantage option for myself and sufficient coverage through the regular plan for my wife. I hope this helps. You might think about joining NARFE as they have lots of information to help guide you, and experts that you can contact.
NARFE – National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association
National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association
www.narfe.org
jsthere723
Well-known member
Thanks @Havenowgone a lot . It pretty much clarifies where I stand . Really thanks a lotWhen you turn 65 you can get Medicare. If you have a spouse or children to cover with health benefits you will still be able to. Either select self plus one or family coverage. Your individual health benefits will get better once Medicare is combined with your PSHB plan. Most of your deductibles and co pays will disappear. Some plans (like BCBS Basic) offer Part B rebates. There are also Medicare Advantage Plans that you can opt into while your family continues with the regular plan. Make sure whatever choice you make that your family will have sufficient coverage. I believe that if you continue working you can put off Medicare until you retire. If you stay in the PSHB system you will always pay the PSHB plan payment and an additional amount for Medicare Part B, when retired. For 2025 it will be $185 and that will come out of your Social Security check each month. Many PSHB plans offer a Medicare Advantage plan option that will give you additional benefits and various Part B rebates. Whatever you do, never cancel your PSHB coverage or you will not be able to get it back. If, at some point you want to leave the PSHB system, SUSPEND your coverage but DONT cancel it. OPM can answer questions as can Social Security for better guidance.
I retired at 62 and started Medicare Part A&B at 65 while my younger wife was covered by my regular plan and I chose a Medicare Advantage option within the same plan. I had BCBS Basic when I retired but switched to GEHA Standard when I turned 65 because it was cheaper and had a Medicare Advantage option for myself and sufficient coverage through the regular plan for my wife. I hope this helps. You might think about joining NARFE as they have lots of information to help guide you, and experts that you can contact.
NARFE – National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association
National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association
