Postal Service Reform Act of 2022 Mandates Medicare Part B Enrollment for Most Retirees
The Postal Service Reform Act of 2022 has introduced a significant change for most Medicare-eligible Postal Service annuitants retiring after January 1, 2025. These retirees are now required to enroll in Medicare Part B to maintain their Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) plan, unless they meet specific exceptions. This mandate marks a departure from the previous Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program, which did not have such a requirement. The PSHB program, while a separate entity within FEHB, offers similar comprehensive benefits and is administered by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). The new rule also extends to Medicare-eligible family members covered under a retiree's PSHB plan, meaning they too must enroll in Part B or risk losing their PSHB coverage. Exceptions to this requirement include individuals who retired on or before January 1, 2025, those aged 64 or older on January 1, 2025, individuals living outside the U.S. and its territories, and those eligible for certain VA heal...
