Notices
2025 Access+ Announcement Letter
TO ALL FEDERAL ENROLLEES OF THE BLUE SHIELD ACCESS+ HMO, ENROLLMENT CODE SI
Blue Shield of California’s Access+HMO plan, enrollment code SI, will not participate in the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program for the 2025 contract year and will not be offered to FEHB enrollees in 2025. Unless you are a Postal Service employee or annuitant, you must choose another health plan during the Federal Benefits Open Season beginning November 11, 2024, and ending December 9, 2024. The Access+HMO plan, enrollment code SI, will continue to provide coverage until the plan you choose during Open Season becomes effective.
- If you are a Federal employee, tribal employee, former spouse under Spouse Equity, Temporary Continuation of Coverage (TCC) enrollee, or a non-Postal Service enrollee receiving Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP), you should change to another plan by December 9, 2024. If you do not change your enrollment by December 9, 2024, you will be automatically enrolled into the lowest-cost nationwide plan option as determined by OPM. If you are a Federal annuitant, you should change to another plan by December 9, 2024. If your retirement system does not receive your change by December 9, 2024, you will be automatically enrolled into the lowest-cost nationwide plan option as determined by OPM.
- If you are a Postal Service employee, annuitant, or Postal Service enrollee receiving OWCP, you will be automatically enrolled in a new Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) plan. OPM will send all Postal Service enrollees a personalized letter informing them of the PSHB plan they are being automatically enrolled in and explaining how to select a new plan during Open Season if they desire. The transitional PSHB Open Season begins November 11, 2024, and ends December 9, 2024.
The effective date of coverage for the health plan you elect will generally be the first day of the first full pay period beginning on or after January 1, 2025.
Retirees, Tribal Employees, TCC and Spouse Equity
January 1, 2025
Postal Service Employees
January 1, 2025
Most Federal Employees and OWCP
January 12, 2025
To locate the FEHB plans available to you based on the area in which you live or work, please refer to the Plan Comparison Tool at www.opm.gov/fehbcompare. Once you have reached the webpage, enter your federal employee type, zip code and pay frequency. You will then receive a list of all FEHB Plans in your area.
For U.S. Postal Service employees and annuitants, to locate the PSHB plans available to you based on the area in which you live or work, please visit the new enrollment system at www.health-benefits.opm.gov/pshb.
The premium for your new plan will be effective the first full pay period in 2025. Be sure to check your pay or annuity statement no later than February 2025 to be sure your enrollment change was processed.
Please click here to read the FastFacts, What to do When Your Plan is Terminating Coverage or Leaving the FEHB Program for more information and instructions on how to change your enrollment.
IMPORTANT! Please note: This letter is in reference to the Blue Shield of California Access+HMO (Enrollment Code SI) ONLY!
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan (PPO) will continue to serve members in both the FEHB and PSHB Programs.
Sincerely,
Don Speziale
Director, FEP
Blue Shield of California
(800) 880-8086 (Blue Shield of California Member Service)
Blue Shield of California is an independent member of the Blue Shield Association