The 2019 National Agreement contains significant changes in the options for health insurance available
to Mail Handler Assistants. As previously discussed during prior conferences, however, the NPMHU finds itself in an ongoing dispute with USPS Headquarters about the timing and implementation of these changes. (The parties continue to discuss these matters, and hope to resolve their disputes, but in the meantime the NPMHU is filing National-level protective grievances in case a resolution is not reached.) Here are more details.

There are two major components or choices for MHA health insurance under the 2019 National Agreement: the first is the USPS Noncareer Health Care Plan; and the second consists of two options under the Mail Handler Benefit Plan, the MHBP Consumer Option and the MHBP Value Plan.

First, the Postal Service will continue to provide the USPS Noncareer Health Plan with self-only, self plus one, and family options for the duration of the 2019 National Agreement. These options also were available under the prior 2016 National Agreement. Under the new agreement, however, the cost of premiums to be paid by MHAs have changed, as reflected below for pay periods in 2020.

There will be a special open enrollment period for MHAs to gain access to the USPS Noncareer Health Benefits plan, currently scheduled to run from approximately July 10, 2020 to August 9, 2020, with coverage to be effective starting on August 1, 2020 for those MHAs who sign up during that open season. For MHAs who already have had coverage since before the effective date of the 2019 National Agreement (that is, before April 25, 2020), there is a dispute concerning the date upon which the new, reduced rates take effect — at the earliest on April 25, 2020 and at the latest on August 1, 2020.

Under the prior National Agreement, the Postal Service contribution for insurance under the USPS Noncareer Plan was $125 per pay period for all types of coverage. Under the new National Agreement, the Postal Service continues to contribute $125 per pay period for self-only coverage, but contributes 65% of the total cost during an MHA’s first year of employment and 75% thereafter (after the first year of employment) for self plus one or family coverage. Here is the official chart of contribution amounts described above:

Open Disputes for USPS Noncareer Health Plan: With regard to the USPS Noncareer Plan, the remaining disputes concern the proper or contractually required effective dates for these new rates: the USPS says not until August 1, 2020, towards completion of the upcoming open season, whereas the NPMHU argues that MHAs who already had this coverage as of April 25, 2020 or are eligible to obtain this coverage because of a 360-day reappointment or a qualifying life event between April 25, 2020 and August 1, 2020 should have the new rates applied to them on April 25, 2020 or the pay period after their reappointment or life event, whichever is earlier. In addition, the Postal Service previously proposed, and the NPMHU announced, a special open season that was to take place four weeks earlier than July 10 to August 9, 2020. The USPS has since unilaterally withdrawn and rescheduled these dates for a special open season, citing administrative burdens and lack of resources. This unilateral action and delayed enrollment period also will be addressed in a National-level grievance.

Second, after an initial appointment for a 360-day term and upon reappointment to another 360-day term, an eligible MHA may elect to participate in the Federal Employee Health Benefit Program (FEHB). For most health plans, the total expense would have to be covered completely by the MHA, but the Postal Service under the 2019 National Agreement will make a contribution toward the premium for any eligible MHA who selects the Mail Handler Benefit Plan (MHBP) Value Plan or MHBP Consumer Option. For self-only enrollment, this contribution shall be equal to, but no greater than, the dollar amount of the Postal Service’s contribution toward self-only coverage for MHAs under the USPS Plan. For self plus one or family coverage, the contribution shall be equal to, but not greater than, the dollar value of 75% of the total premium for self plus one or family coverage
under the USPS Noncaeer Plan.

On the top-right is a chart reflecting these amounts. Open Disputes for FEHB/MHBP Plans: With regard to these FEHB/MHBP plans, the remaining disputes also concern the proper or contractually required effective dates for these new rates: the USPS says not until January 2021, after the usual November-December open season for
FEHB plans, whereas the NPMHU argues that MHAs who are eligible to obtain this coverage because of a reappointment or a qualifying life event between April 25, 2020 and December 31, 2020 should have the new rates applied to them on April 25, 2020 or the pay period after their reappointment or life event, whichever is earlier.

Some of these FEHB rates may seem illogical, because family coverage is listed as actually having a lower cost
than self or self plus one, depending on the plan. But these rates are accurate for 2020 (and, as always, subject
to change for 2021 and beyond). They are a product of OPM’s rate setting formula, which is based on the weighted average premium of all plans, not to exceed 75% of the premium for any one plan (calculated separately for individual and family coverage), and the fact that the cost difference between self plus one and family coverage is much lower in the FEHB than in the USPS Noncareer Plan. The NPMHU has been assured that the rates are correct, and the Postal Service has agreed that these rates would be correct during 2020 if the parties agreed on the effective date of such coverage.

The larger problem is that the USPS does not agree that these MHBP rates should be available to MHAs until January 2021, and the actual rates change at the beginning of every year. We are continuing to meet with the USPS in an attempt to reach resolution.

All MHAs will soon receive notification from the USPS promoting the referenced special open enrollment opportunity for the USPS Noncareer Plan. As of this printing, we are told that the letter will only include the USPS noncareer rates. It is the position of the USPS that an MHA’s enrollment into the MHBP (Consumer or Value) under the improved terms of the 2019 National Agreement is not available until January 2021. Thus, as of today, if an eligible MHA enrolls in MHBP Value or Consumer before January 2021, they will not receive employer
matching funds and will be responsible for 100% of the premium. As noted, the NPMHU is continuing discussions
with the USPS on this matter. Until this matter is resolved, the NPMHU recommends that affected MHAs avoid enrollment in the MHBP options until open season in November and December 2020, for coverage effective
in January 2021.