Open Season is your once-a-year chance to review your health coverage and make changes for the year ahead. This year it runs from November 9 through December 14, 2026, and any changes you make take effect January 1, 2027.
You don’t have to wait until November to get started. A little preparation now will make your decision quicker and easier, and help you choose the coverage that fits your life. Here’s what to expect and how to get ready.
Mark your calendar
|
Date |
|
|---|---|
|
Open Season begins |
November 9, 2026 |
|
Open Season ends |
December 14, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. |
|
New coverage begins |
January 1, 2027 |
Try not to leave it for the last day. A few days of margin gives you time to set up your account, ask questions, or call for help if you need it.
What you can do during Open Season
As a Postal employee or retiree in the Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program, you can:
- Enroll in the NALC High Option Plan or the Consumer Driven Health Plan (CDHP)
- Switch between High Option and CDHP
- Change your enrollment type: Self Only, Self Plus One, or Self and Family
- Add or remove eligible family members
Happy with your current coverage? You don’t need to do anything, because your enrollment continues automatically into 2027. Still, it’s worth a few minutes to confirm your plan still fits your needs, since premiums and benefits can change from year to year.
Is this the year to make a change?
These questions can help you decide whether to keep your coverage as it is or look at other options:
Has your household changed? A marriage, a new baby, or a family member who now has other coverage can change which enrollment type makes the most sense.
Do you expect more care, or less, next year? A planned surgery, a pregnancy, new prescriptions or ongoing treatment can all affect what you’ll spend.
Are you or a family member becoming eligible for Medicare? Medicare changes how your coverage works together. See the Medicare section below.
What matters more to you: a lower premium or more predictable costs? High Option gives you broader coverage for a higher premium. CDHP has a lower premium and includes a Personal Care Account (PCA), money the Plan puts toward your care each year. With CDHP you may pay more out of pocket before you meet your deductible.
Get ready in four steps
- Look back at your care this year. Log in to the NALC HBP app to review your claims history, your Explanation of Benefits (EOB) statements, and how much of your deductible you’ve used. That gives you a realistic picture of what a typical year costs you.
- List your doctors and prescriptions. Write down the doctors, specialists and medications you and your family rely on, so you can confirm they’re covered when you compare options. Our medical network is Cigna, and our pharmacy network is CVS Caremark.
- Check your Login.gov account. To make changes online in the PSHB System, you’ll sign in with Login.gov. Browsing and comparing plans doesn’t require an account, but if you plan to enroll or make changes online, set up or test your account now so you’re not doing it under deadline pressure.
- Bookmark our Open Season page. It already has your enrollment codes, the 2027 premiums and the 2027 Benefit Booklet, and we’ll post updates there as Open Season gets closer.
How to enroll or make a change
Once Open Season opens on November 9:
- Go to the PSHB System, or call the PSHB Helpline at 844-451-1261.
- Select the NALC Health Benefit Plan.
- Choose your coverage type.
- Enter your enrollment code from the table below.
- Save or print your confirmation for your records.
|
Plan |
Self Only |
Self Plus One |
Self and Family |
|---|---|---|---|
|
High Option |
77A |
77C |
77B |
|
Consumer Driven Health Plan (CDHP) |
77D |
77F |
77E |
If you have Medicare
Open Season is a good time to review how Medicare and your NALC HBP coverage work together. A few things to keep in mind:
- Your prescriptions. If you have Medicare Part A, or Parts A and B, along with NALC HBP coverage, your prescription coverage comes through our SilverScript® Prescription Drug Plan. If you opt out of SilverScript, you lose your PSHB prescription drug coverage.
- Medicare Part B. With limited exceptions, Postal retirees and family members entitled to Medicare Part A must enroll in Medicare Part B to keep their PSHB coverage. Open Season doesn’t change this. If you’re not sure how it applies to you, call us.
- Our Medicare Advantage option. High Option retirees with Medicare Parts A and B can join the NALC High Option Plan – Aetna Medicare Advantage, at no extra premium. You can opt in at any time of year, not just during Open Season.
Call Aetna at 866-241-0262 to learn more.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I don’t make changes during PSHB Open Season?
Your NALC Health Benefit Plan coverage continues automatically in 2027, with the same plan and enrollment type. Starting January 1, 2027, you’ll pay the 2027 premium for that coverage.
What if I miss the PSHB Open Season deadline?
You’ll generally need to wait until next year’s Open Season to change your NALC HBP coverage. The exception is a qualifying life event, such as marriage, a birth or retirement. Employees can call 877-477-3273 (option 5), and retirees can call 888-767-6738.
Can I switch from NALC High Option to CDHP during Open Season?
Yes. From November 9 to December 14, 2026, you can switch between High Option and CDHP, in either direction. Your new plan starts January 1, 2027.
How do Postal employees and retirees enroll in NALC HBP?
Both enroll through the PSHB System at health-benefits.opm.gov/pshb, signing in with Login.gov. You can also call the PSHB Helpline at 844-451-1261.
We’re here to help
Choosing a health plan is a big decision, and you don’t have to make it alone.
- NALC Health Benefit Plan: 888-636-NALC (6252), Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET
- PSHB Helpline: 844-451-1261
- Retirees: Retirement Information Office, 888-767-6738
- Deaf or hard of hearing: Federal Relay Service, 1-800-877-8339
