Key Takeaways

• Several official and free PSHB tools are available to help you compare plans, estimate costs, and verify eligibility—yet many enrollees don’t use them.

• Using these tools before and during PSHB Open Season can help prevent costly mistakes and ensure you get the right coverage for your specific needs.

Why Free Tools Matter More in 2025

The transition to the Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program in 2025 has brought in new systems, rules, and processes that replace the older FEHB framework. With these changes, relying solely on past habits or assumptions can leave you with incomplete or outdated information. That’s where free PSHB tools come in. They aren’t just convenient—they’re essential.

If you’re a USPS employee or annuitant, the tools offered by official sources and plan administrators can simplify every stage of your decision-making process. But you’ll need to know which ones to use, when to use them, and how to interpret the results they give you.

LiteBlue and KeepingPosted Are Starting Points—But Not Endpoints

You’re likely familiar with LiteBlue if you’re an active employee or KeepingPosted.org if you’re a retiree. These portals are where your PSHB journey starts. They give you:

• Access to plan brochures and benefit information

• Links to comparison tools

• Enrollment and premium payment options

• Messages about eligibility, enrollment, and medicare coordination

However, these platforms are more like hubs. They connect you to more advanced tools rather than replacing them. Don’t stop your research here—use these sites to branch out.

The Plan Comparison Tool Isn’t Optional Anymore

One of the most overlooked yet powerful free tools is the PSHB Plan Comparison Tool, available through the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM). This tool has been updated for 2025 to reflect:

• In-network and out-of-network cost differences

• Premium splits between the government and enrollee

• Deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums for each plan tier

• Coordination with Medicare Part B if you’re eligible

Using this tool, you can filter options based on location, coverage type (Self Only, Self Plus One, or Self and Family), and even drug coverage features. Skipping this tool can mean overpaying, under-covering, or choosing a plan that doesn’t coordinate well with Medicare.

The PSHB Navigator Phone Line: Still Free, Still Underrated

Not every answer can be found online. That’s why the PSHB Navigator Help Line remains a vital—but underused—resource. You can call 1-833-712-7742 to:

• Confirm eligibility

• Ask about Medicare coordination

• Get support for technical issues with enrollment

• Clarify plan benefits if brochures feel overwhelming

The Navigator is especially helpful during Open Season from November to December and during any Special Enrollment Periods triggered by life events.

Use Medicare’s Official Tools if You’re Over 65

If you’re Medicare-eligible or will be turning 65 this year, don’t skip Medicare’s official tools. The Medicare Plan Finder at Medicare.gov lets you:

• See how your PSHB prescription benefits compare with standard Part D coverage

• Estimate your total yearly drug costs

• Find out whether your medications are covered under the plan’s formulary

This tool works best when used in combination with the PSHB Plan Comparison Tool, especially for Medicare-eligible annuitants enrolled in an Employer Group Waiver Plan (EGWP) through PSHB.

Your MyMedicare Account Offers Extra Clarity

Once enrolled in Medicare, you can set up a MyMedicare account to:

• Track claims and coverage

• Print a Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) to compare costs

• Download a record of your medical and drug use for the year

Why does this matter for PSHB? Because some plans offer Part B premium incentives, or waive deductibles for those enrolled in both PSHB and Medicare. Verifying your use of services can help you assess whether those incentives truly benefit you.

Check Your Medicare Part B Enrollment Requirement—Yes, There Are Exceptions

In 2025, certain Postal Service annuitants and their family members must enroll in Medicare Part B to keep PSHB coverage. But you may be exempt if:

• You retired on or before January 1, 2025

• You were age 64 or older as of January 1, 2025

• You live abroad or qualify for care under the VA or Indian Health Service

Use the Medicare Enrollment Status Checker or call the Navigator Line to confirm your obligation. Don’t assume you’re automatically required—or exempt.

PSHB Brochures Have Hidden Gems

Brochures might seem long and technical, but they’re more readable than they first appear. Each plan’s brochure includes a Summary of Benefits chart that compares:

• Copayments and coinsurance levels

• Specialist referrals and prior authorization rules

• Drug coverage tiers and step therapy policies

• Annual and lifetime limits (if any)

Start by reading the Table of Contents, and use it to jump straight to the areas that matter most—such as prescription coverage, out-of-pocket costs, or telehealth availability.

OPM’s PSHB FAQ Is More Up-to-Date Than You Might Think

The OPM maintains a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section specifically for the PSHB transition. Updated regularly, it provides detailed information on:

• Deadlines and effective dates

• Enrollment procedures for family members

• How to cancel or switch plans

• What happens if you miss your enrollment window

Visit this page periodically. New information often appears here before it makes its way into brochures or postal communications.

USPS-Specific Tools Inside LiteBlue

Within LiteBlue, there are USPS-specific tools that tie directly into your employment status. These include:

• Premium deduction calculators

• Leave Without Pay (LWOP) status alerts that affect your eligibility

• Retirement estimator tools that calculate your benefits under FERS and PSHB together

Use these tools especially if you plan to retire within the next 6–12 months or are returning from extended leave.

Staying Alert With Benefit Notifications and Email Updates

If you haven’t signed up for email updates from OPM or KeepingPosted, you’re likely missing real-time alerts on:

• Changes in PSHB policies

• Medicare Part B deadlines or waiver opportunities

• Updates to plan benefits before Open Season

These emails are one of the fastest ways to stay informed about important changes. Opting out of them, even unintentionally, increases your risk of missing a key enrollment period or cost update.

Don’t Overlook the PostalEase Enrollment System

PostalEase is where you actually complete your enrollment or plan change. It’s accessible through:

• LiteBlue (for employees)

• Telephone enrollment (for retirees and those without internet access)

Once in PostalEase, you can:

• Verify your current PSHB plan

• Switch plans during Open Season

• View your premium breakdown

But be warned—changes made here are time-sensitive. The system may close at midnight Eastern Time on the last day of Open Season.

Timing Matters More Than You Think

Your use of these tools is most effective if you follow a calendar approach:

• January–September: Confirm your current coverage, check eligibility, estimate drug and service usage

• October: Preview new plan brochures and comparison data

• November–December: Enroll or change plans during Open Season

• Year-Round: Monitor benefit use and eligibility changes

Missing any of these steps means scrambling during Open Season, when time is limited and resources may be overwhelmed.

Tech Isn’t Always the Final Answer—Talk to a Licensed Agent

Free tools give you data. But interpreting that data—especially when balancing Medicare enrollment, family coverage needs, or retiree eligibility—can still be confusing. That’s where talking to a licensed agent becomes the missing piece.

A licensed agent listed on this website can walk you through your comparison results, suggest timelines for enrollment, and help you double-check plan requirements that could otherwise slip past your radar.

The Tools Are Free—But Ignoring Them Can Cost You

You’re not just choosing a plan—you’re setting your entire healthcare experience for the next year. From missed Medicare coordination benefits to underestimated drug costs, even a single unchecked assumption can be expensive.

So don’t let the tools sit unused. Bookmark them, explore them, and most importantly, act on what they tell you.

A licensed agent listed on this website can help you make sense of the results and ensure you’re not leaving benefits or savings behind.