FEHB Premiums 2006

Fall 2007 Benefits Timeline for Postal Employees

Correction and Update: Fall 2007 Benefits Timeline for Career Employees

The article “Fall 2007 Benefits Timeline for Career Employees” in Postal Bulletin 22218 (10-25-07, pages 106–107) contained some incorrect and incomplete information. The corrected and updated information is underlined below. We are reprinting the table below in its entirety for ease of use.

2007 Program	Dates	Election Method	Comments
Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB)	Opens: 11/12 Closes: 12/11 at 5 p.m. CT	Via PostalEASE (see instructions below).	OPM requires information about dependents, so you must enter them if electing a new Self and Family plan. Individual plan brochures are available at www.opm.gov/insure or by calling your health plan. Coming to you in the mail: FEHB guide (plan summary) with PostalEASE FEHB worksheet.
Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP)	Opens: 11/12 Closes: 12/10 at 11:59 p.m. ET	Via OPM BENEFEDS Web site at https://www.benefeds.com or call 877-888-3337 (or TTY 877-889-5680).	If you are eligible to participate in FEHB, you are eligible to enroll in FEDVIP, even if you are not enrolled in FEHB. USPS does not contribute. You pay full cost of premiums on a pre-tax basis. You may enroll in a dental plan, a vision plan, or both. You may enroll in a plan for Self Only, Self Plus One, or Self and Family coverage. Rules for the eligibility of family members in FEDVIP are the same as those for their eligibility in FEHB. Coming to you in the mail: FEDVIP guide.
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)	Opens: 11/12 Closes: 12/29 at 5 p.m. CT	Via PostalEASE (see instructions below).	Health Care FSA maximum is $5,000. Dependent Care (day care) FSA maximum is $5,000. Over-the-counter medicines and drugs are eligible. Coming to you in the mail: Postcards, leaflet, and brochure.
Annual Leave Exchange	Opens: 11/15 Closes: 12/15 at 11:59 p.m. CT	Via PostalEASE (see instructions below).	Career nonbargaining unit employees from Rate Schedule Codes (RSCs) E, F, S, and U may exchange from 8 to 128 hours in whole-hour increments if their annual leave balance is at least 160 hours as of close of business on January 4, 2008.
			Bargaining unit employees from RSCs C, K, M, N, P, T, and Y may exchange from 8 to 40 hours in whole-hour increments if their annual leave balance is at least 440 hours and if they have used less than 75 hours of sick leave for the leave year as of close of business on January 4, 2008.
			The lump sum is calculated on salary as of January 5, 2008. It is included in the January 25, 2008, paycheck and is taxable in 2008. Coming to you in the mail: Letter about annual leave exchange.
Allotments/ Net-to-Bank	Anytime (Elections processed at 3:59 a.m. CT on 2nd Wednesday of pay period)	Via PostalEASE (see instructions below).	You must provide your financial institution’s routing number and your account number.
Thrift Savings Plan Regular Contributions	Anytime (Elections processed at 3:59 a.m. CT on 2nd Wednesday of pay period)	Begin or change your TSP paycheck contribution dollar or percentage amount via PostalEASE (see instructions below).	The IRS annual limit on elective deferrals remains the same for 2008 — $15,500. FERS employees who want to maximize contributions while avoiding the loss of USPS matching contributions should make a whole dollar contribution per pay period equal to the announced maximum divided by 26. Coming to you in the mail: TSP enrollment information letter and PostalEASE worksheet.
TSP 50+ Catch-Up Contributions	Anytime (Elections processed at 3:59 a.m. CT on 2nd Wednesday of pay period)	Via PostalEASE (see instructions below).	If you are age 50 or older during 2008, you may contribute an additional amount up to the IRS limit, which remains the same for 2008 — $5,000. Catch-up contribution elections for 2008 will be accepted beginning at 12:01 p.m. CT on December 19, 2007. You must certify that regular TSP contributions will reach the IRS maximum. Coming to you in the mail: TSP enrollment information catch-up letter and PostalEASE TSP catch-up worksheet.
TSP Investment Choices	Anytime	Choose your investment fund or make an interfund transfer of an existing balance by: Accessing the TSP Web site at www.tsp.gov with your TSP account number and your 8–character Web password. Calling ThriftLine toll-free at 877-968-3778 (or TDD toll-free at 877-847-4385) with your TSP account number and your TSP PIN. Mailing Form TSP-50 (available from HRSSC) to TSP.	Via the ThriftLine you may request: A new TSP PIN. A new 8-character Web password. A copy of your TSP account number. Quarterly participant statements. Via www.tsp.gov you may request: A new 8-character Web password. A copy of your TSP account number. Printable views of quarterly participant statements. Cancellation of request to have quarterly participant statements mailed.
Using PostalEASE It is easier to use the PostalEASE Employee Web than to use the telephone to make open season elections. By Employee Web, access the system in any of these ways: On the Internet at https://liteblue.usps.gov. Under “Employee Self Service,” select PostalEASE. At an employee self-service kiosk. On the Intranet at http://blue.usps.gov. Under “Employee Resources,” select Employee Self Service and then PostalEASE. By telephone, call the Employee Service Line at 877-4PS-EASE (877-477-3273, option 1 for PostalEASE). Finding Your USPS ID and PIN You must use: Your Employee ID — all eight digits, even if the first one is 0 — printed at the top of your earnings statement Your USPS PIN. If you have forgotten your PIN, request a letter by either: Employee Web on the Intranet at http://blue.usps.gov or at an employee self-service kiosk (follow instructions). Telephone (option 1 for PostalEASE; when asked to enter PIN, wait; you will then hear an option to request a letter). Your PIN is usually mailed to your address of record the next business day.

— Compensation, Human Resources, 11-22-07