As a USG Retiree who is 65 and older, USG provides an annual contribution to a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA).
Attend one of the online education sessions, to learn more about turning 65 and how to use your Health Reimbursement.
As a Post-65 USG retiree, when you enroll in either a healthcare plan (Medicare Supplement or Medicare Advantage) and/or a pharmacy plan through Alight Retiree Health Solutions you will receive an annual contribution to your Health Reimbursement Account (HRA), which is administered by Your Spending Account (YSA). These funds can be used to help pay for Medicare Supplement premiums, vision/dental premiums, and other eligible healthcare expenses, including prescription drug costs and more. As long as you are enrolled and remain enrolled in a healthcare or pharmacy plan through Alight Retiree Health Solutions, USG will make an annual contribution to your Health Reimbursement Account for you and your covered Medicare-enrolled dependents.
Note: If you have a break in coverage or drop coverage with the ARHS, you will no longer be eligible for the HRA funding.
Additionally, if you and your covered dependents had USG Dental, Vision or Life Insurance while you were actively working, you may continue these benefits into retirement as well. The table below provides an overview of how benefits transition.
| Active Employee Benefits | USG Retiree Benefits1 | Retiree Premiums |
|---|---|---|
| USG Healthcare Plan | Elect a Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement and/or Medicare Pharmacy plan through ARHS. You receive an annual contribution to your Health Reimbursement Account. | Retiree Premiums |
| Delta Dental Plan | Retiree Dental defaults to the same dental plan you had as an active employee. | |
| Vision Plan | Retiree Vision defaults to the same vision plan you had as an active employee. | |
| Basic Life ($25,000) | Basic Life ($25,000) | USG Provided |
| Employee Supplemental Life | Retiree Supplemental Life will reduce to a maximum of $15,000. 2 | Retiree Premiums |
| Spouse Life ($50,000) | Retiree Spouse Life will reduce to a maximum of $5,000. 2 | |
| Child Life ($15,000) | Retiree Child Life will reduce to a maximum of $5,000. 2 | |
| Short-Term or Long-Term Disability | No coverage | |
| Legal Plan | No coverage | |
| Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity or Accident Plan | No coverage |
1 For Retirees hired on or after January 1, 2013, your annual HRA contribution will be based on the years of service chart. Please note, rates can change annually.
2 You may continue the difference in coverage (portability option) by paying premiums directly to MetLife. You must contact MetLife within 31 days to initiate.
Note: Once you or your covered dependents are within 60 to 90 days of turning 65, you will be contacted by ARHS to make a new healthcare coverage election. To be eligible for the annual HRA contribution, they must enroll in a plan through ARHS within their enrollment window.
If you are thinking about retiring, remember to speak with your campus HR/Benefits office. They will help prepare you for the steps ahead and/or review the Planning to Retire guide for items to consider, important contacts, and a detailed checklist of steps you need to take prior to retirement. However, we have included a few important items to know below.
Understanding Medicare and how it works can seem daunting. But as a USG retiree, you have access to free, impartial guidance from Alight Retiree Health Solutions. Their Benefit Advisors can help you wherever you are on your Medicare journey and help you understand your options so you can make the right decisions for your retiree health coverage.
The Alight Retiree Health Solutions will:
Note: If you are a post-65 retiree and you drop or cancel coverage purchased through Alight Retiree Health Solution, your pre-65 dependent will no longer be covered under the USG healthcare plan.
If you have questions about your supplemental Medicare insurance or your HRA, contact Alight Retiree Health Solutions, or call 1-866-212-5052.
Remember, if you have a break in coverage or drop coverage with the ARHS, you will no longer be eligible for the HRA funding.
Learn more about the HRA here.
USG provides $25,000 in basic life coverage. You may also continue up to $15,000 in supplemental life, $5,000 in spouse life, and $5,000 in child life. If you had amounts above the limits referenced, you may also continue the difference in coverage (portability option) by paying premiums directly to MetLife. You must contact MetLife within 31 days to initiate.
Example: USG Retiree with $25,000 supplemental life and $20,000 in spouse life.
Please remember to confirm and update your beneficiaries on OneUSG Connect - Benefits.
If you are currently enrolled in USG dental or vision coverage, you are eligible to continue this coverage in retirement. You do not need to take any action to continue this coverage.
In addition to USG Dental and Vision plans, you may elect a dental or vision plan through Alight Retiree Solutions (ARHS). However, consider your options carefully because once you drop coverage, you cannot re-enroll.
To help you understand your USG Retiree Benefits, there are monthly and quarterly webinars.
To RSVP, visit myexchangeconnection.com/USG/event or call 1-866-212-5052.
If your spouse has other healthcare coverage at the time of your retirement and loses coverage at a later date, you are allowed to enroll your spouse within 30 days of the event through a life event and supporting documents. You must contact OneUSG Connect - Benefits at 844-587-4236. After 30 days from the date of loss, you will not be able to add your spouse to your existing retiree coverage.
Please note: Adding a spouse after retirement may cause a slight delay in your spouse getting their HRA contribution.
If your retiree benefits are canceled for nonpayment, you will not be allowed to enroll in USG healthcare insurance at a later date.
About 90 days prior to your spouse turning age 65, they will need to enroll in Medicare A and B. Your spouse will transition from the USG Healthcare plans to Alight Retiree Health Solutions (ARHS). As long as they enroll when first eligible and remain enrolled in at least one plan through Alight Retiree Health Solutions, USG will provide an annual contribution to a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) for your spouse.
To help with this transition from USG Retiree coverage to Medicare supplemental coverage, starting at 64, the ARHS will begin sending periodic communications. Additionally, within 90 days of turning 65, the Alight Retiree Health Solution will make outbound calls to help you transition to the post-65 exchange. Since all enrollees within the exchange must be enrolled in Medicare, we recommend that you dependent start the Medicare enrollment process at the Social Security Office 90 days prior to turning age 65.
Attend a Monthly Age-in session to learn more about the process and Medicare.
If you move, make sure to keep your address up to date with OneUSG Connect - Benefits. Visit OneUSG Connect-Benefits, under the retiree section, click Manage Benefits. Once inside, you will see a tile for Personal Information. You can also update your address by calling the OneUSG Connect - Benefits call center at 844-587-4236.
Remember that your dependent’s coverage in the USG group plan and eligibility for the HRA is dependent on what you, the retiree, do. If you drop coverage, your dependent’s eligibility will be affected.