Key Takeaways

• Many supplemental benefits in Medicare Advantage plans are being reduced or eliminated in 2025, which could affect your overall healthcare experience under PSHB.

• If you rely on extras like dental, vision, hearing, or over-the-counter allowances, it’s critical to review your plan’s benefits closely and evaluate whether it still meets your needs.

What You Thought You Were Getting May Be Changing

When Medicare Advantage (MA) plans first entered the PSHB ecosystem, they brought along a range of appealing add-ons that felt like generous bonuses: dental cleanings, eyeglasses, hearing aids, transportation to appointments, even allowances for fitness memberships or over-the-counter medications. But as of 2025, many of these perks are shrinking—or disappearing entirely.

This shift is catching many Postal Service retirees and employees off guard. You may have chosen a PSHB plan with integrated Medicare Advantage because of these extras. But now, those same perks are either limited, scaled back, or removed completely.

Why the Cuts Are Happening Now

Several factors are driving this change:

• Rising healthcare costs: As expenses rise across the board, MA plans are redirecting funds to cover core medical services.

• Regulatory tightening: CMS is requiring stricter reporting and justification for supplemental benefits.

• Underutilization: Plans are removing or scaling back benefits that most members didn’t use often enough to justify the cost.

In short, the landscape of Medicare Advantage is shifting under your feet, and PSHB enrollees must stay aware of how this impacts their 2025 coverage.

Perks Being Reduced in 2025

Across the PSHB-integrated Medicare Advantage space, the following benefits are among the most affected this year:

Dental

• Fewer cleanings covered annually

• Reduced or no coverage for dentures, crowns, or root canals

• Narrower dental networks

Vision

• Smaller allowances for eyewear

• Fewer options for eye exams or specialist visits

Hearing

• Hearing aid coverage limited to specific models or lower price caps

• Fewer follow-up appointments included

Over-the-Counter (OTC) Benefits

• Monthly allowances being lowered

• Less flexibility on where you can shop (restrictions to mail order or select retailers)

Transportation

• Fewer covered trips per year

• Stricter limits on mileage or destinations

Fitness Programs

• Gym memberships no longer offered in many plans

• Online fitness benefits replacing in-person options

What It Means for PSHB Members

If you’re enrolled in a PSHB plan that automatically includes Medicare Advantage, these cutbacks could have a real impact. You might notice out-of-pocket expenses increasing subtly:

• You may pay more for hearing or dental services that were once fully covered.

• You might lose access to OTC items that helped manage your health affordably.

• Services that used to be convenient—like rides to appointments—might now require alternate arrangements.

This is especially important if you’re on a fixed income and rely on those supplemental benefits to stay well without stretching your budget.

Reviewing Your Current PSHB-MA Plan in 2025

Even if your plan seems similar on paper, the fine print may tell a different story. In 2025, it’s more important than ever to:

• Check your plan brochure for updated benefits

• Confirm provider networks for dental, vision, and hearing

• Compare out-of-pocket costs with previous years

• Look for any benefit expiration timelines or caps

PSHB plans must publish changes annually, but if you haven’t actively compared your 2024 and 2025 summaries, now is the time.

What to Expect During Open Season

From November to December, you’ll have the chance to switch plans. If the disappearing extras are no longer worth it to you, use that window to:

• Select a different PSHB plan that better fits your needs

• Opt out of Medicare Advantage if you’re eligible and prefer Original Medicare with supplemental coverage

• Speak with a licensed agent listed on this website to walk through the comparisons

Many retirees assume nothing is changing unless they receive a major notification—but minor benefit cuts often fly under the radar until it’s too late.

Medicare Part B and PSHB: A Key Connection

If you’re enrolled in Medicare Part B as required by PSHB for most annuitants, you may have expected these perks to enhance your experience. But the shrinking of supplemental benefits is raising questions:

• Are you getting sufficient value from your MA plan?

• Would a different coordination of benefits (e.g., Original Medicare + PSHB-only) make more sense now?

• Is the plan using your Part B premium to support services you actually use?

Your Medicare Part B premium in 2025 is $185, and that cost should deliver meaningful coverage. If the value of the extras is now diminished, rethinking your arrangement could be wise.

What’s Still Included?

Not every plan is stripping extras across the board. Some still offer limited perks, especially in more competitive regions or high-enrollment states. You may still find:

• One dental cleaning per year

• A basic pair of glasses

• Some OTC allowance (though smaller)

However, the variety and accessibility of these extras have diminished, and many now require more paperwork or restrictions to use.

Why These Extras Mattered

Supplemental benefits weren’t just about convenience—they filled essential gaps:

• Dental care can prevent systemic health issues like cardiovascular disease.

• Hearing aids improve quality of life and reduce isolation.

• Vision care can catch early signs of chronic conditions.

• Transportation ensures continuity of care, especially for those without reliable access.

As these services disappear or become harder to access, retirees may feel more strain both financially and physically.

Strategic Planning for 2026 and Beyond

Now is the right time to start planning ahead:

• Track any services you lose or begin paying for out-of-pocket.

• Document your ongoing care needs.

• Keep an eye on OPM updates about PSHB integration and MA benefits for 2026.

• Request benefit clarification from your plan administrator.

If trends continue, more cost-sharing responsibilities may shift to you. By planning now, you’re less likely to be surprised later.

Your Next Step to Protect Your Coverage

As supplemental perks continue to shrink, the PSHB plan you chose for its attractive add-ons may no longer be the best match. Carefully reviewing what you’re still getting—and what you’ve lost—can help you make an informed choice this Open Season.

If you’re unsure whether your current PSHB-Medicare Advantage plan is still delivering value, it’s worth having a detailed comparison done. A licensed agent listed on this website can help you:

• Review current benefits vs. last year’s

• Explore alternative PSHB plans

• Clarify Medicare integration

• Understand what perks are truly included in 2025

Don’t wait until the next medical bill catches you off guard. Take control of your coverage now.