May 2, 2013

Non-career Employee Health Benefits Plan to be in effect for January 2014

05-02-2013

 USPS has awarded UnitedHealthcare a contract to offer a health benefits plan to qualified non-career employees as defined by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).

 Approved by Congress in 2010, PPACA requires employers with 50 or more employees to offer qualifying employees — those who are paid for an average of 30 hours per week for a specified period of time — certain levels of coverage at an affordable cost by January 2014. City Carrier Assistants and Mail Handler Assistants will qualify under the terms of their respective collective bargaining agreements.

 Health benefits plans for current USPS career employees and retirees are not affected by PPACA.

 The Postal Service late last year announced a request for proposals to insurance companies to provide plans that meet PPACA requirements for qualifying non-career employees. After conducting a highly competitive and rigorous evaluation of technical aspects, pricing and other factors in the proposals, USPS awarded UnitedHealthcare a contract to begin offering health benefits next January.

 Qualifying non-career employees will receive information on the new plan later this fall. There also will be more information posted before Open Season on the My HR Benefits pages of the employee website LiteBlue.

 Plan enrollment is expected to start during this year’s Open Season, beginning Nov. 11.

April 10, 2013

  The USPS Board of Governors met April 9 to discuss this action, and has directed the Postal Service to delay implementing the new delivery schedule. The delay will continue until Congress and the president approve a law that will allow USPS to make changes that would include the authority to adjust its delivery schedule. …Continue Reading

March 29, 2013

As a result of consultations between the Postmaster associations and representatives at Postal Headquarters, the temporary 2% salary cap on POStPlan promotions to EAS-18 Postmaster positions has been lifted. The Postal Service has cancelled the temporary POStPLan Promotional Salary Policy for Postmasters that capped salary increases resulting from promotions to an EAS-18 Postmaster position at …Continue Reading

March 20, 2013

On Tuesday morning, March 19, NAPUS members gathered in the Capitol Visitor Center auditorium. Director of Government Relations Bob Levi had arranged for five lawmakers to address Postmasters. Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT), member of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, told Postmasters it seemed like he had just talked to them (Tester …Continue Reading

March 19, 2013

President Bob Rapoza addressed NAPUS members Monday morning, March 18, during the Leadership Conference’s general business session. He pointed out this is his fourth and final year as NAPUS national president. He acknowledged that issues he has been dealing with since last year have been very frustrating; these issues still remain this year: consolidations, DUOs …Continue Reading