Premium rates for FEHB change every year, but they inevitably increase to some extent. The percentage increases for FEHB premiums are an average, meaning some plan options will have smaller cost increases, while others will have larger ones.
In contrast, premium increases for new Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) program participants will be slightly lower than those for FEHB. Postal enrollees will pay 11.1% more toward their health care premiums. Averaged with the government’s share of the cost, which is increasing by 5.1%, the overall premium increase for PSHB is 6.9%.
“The premium increase for the Postal program is lower than the FEHB premium increase due to greater integration in Medicare required under the Postal Service Reform Act, differences in the cost profiles of the plans offered in each program and demographic factors,” OPM said.
PSHB enrollees, on average, will pay $20 more toward their biweekly health care premiums next year.