The Biden administration will soon begin accepting applications from health insurance companies to be a part of the new exchange exclusively for U.S. Postal Service employees and retirees, according to an interim rule published Thursday, which will cost $100 million to stand up.
The Office of Personnel Management’s rule follows a requirement in the 2022 Postal Service Reform Act that USPS workers enroll in postal-specific plans as part of a health benefit network designed specifically for the mailing agency. OPM will run the exchange as part of the larger Federal Employees Health Benefit Program, but starting in 2025 postal employees and retirees will no longer be eligible for those government-wide plans.
Federal Register notice: Federal Register :: Postal Service Reform Act; Establishment of the Postal Service Health Benefits Program