U.S. Postal Service Policy Change Affects Postmark Timing

New automated process by U.S. Post Office may delay postmarks on mail

The Postal Service has instituted a nationwide change that affects when postmarks are affixed to mail. Unless a customer requests a postmark at a Postal Service retail location, postmarks are no longer added when mail is first received but are automatically stamped later while being sorted and processed at regional distribution centers.

The U.S. Postal Service’s rule change could mean delays for mail being postmarked by one or more days after it is received by the post office. This could cause payments on your account or enrollment applications that are submitted by mail to be counted late for any submissions to the plan that are date sensitive.

A U.S. Postal Service rule change could mean delays for mail being postmarked by one or more days after it is received by the post office. This could cause payments and reports to be counted late for any submissions to the plan that are date sensitive.

To avoid missing an enrollment deadline or possible delinquency that would result in late penalties on payments to your account, the plan urges you to mail items early to ensure ample time for postal processing or have the mail clerk postmark your mail when you deliver it at the post office.
See the Post Office’s rule change here.