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Post-65 Retiree Benefits

Post-65 USG Retiree Benefits

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.

Your USG Benefits at Retirement

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  

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.

Additional Information You Need to Know as a Medicare-eligible Retiree (Post-65)

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.

  • Your USG retiree healthcare benefit is an annual contribution to a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) that can help you pay for your Medicare Part B premium, supplemental healthcare premiums, and other qualified out-of-pocket healthcare, dental, and vision expenses.
  • If you are age 65 or older when your retire, you must enroll in Medicare Parts A and B. As a retiree, Medicare will become your primary healthcare coverage.
  • When you first become eligible, you must enroll in at least one supplemental plan (Medicare Supplement, Medicare Advantage, or Prescription Drug Plan) through Alight Retiree Health Solutions (ARHS) to receive annual funding to your HRA for both you and your enrolled spouse.
  • You must have continuous USG retiree healthcare coverage and you must remain enrolled in at least one plan through the exchange to remain eligible for the HRA contribution. If you have a break in coverage or drop coverage with the ARHS, you will no longer be eligible for the HRA funding. 
  • 90 days before you turn age 65, you’ll receive a Medicare Enrollment Kit so you may enroll in Medicare Parts A and B. You will also receive an appointment letter from Alight Retiree Health Solutions asking you to confirm an appointment with an advisor.
  • Alight Retiree Health Solutions

    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:

    • Help you understand the various components of Medicare
    • Provide access to a variety of Medicare (Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement, Prescription Drug) plans that cover you wherever you are located
    • Provide unbiased guidance and help with evaluating your options, comparing plans that fit your needs and budget, and enrolling in coverage
    • Continued to assist you after you enroll and as your needs change
    • Help you understand how to utilize your Health Reimbursement Account (HRA)

    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.

  • How to Pay for Retiree Benefits
    • USG Retiree Healthcare: You will pay your monthly healthcare premium directly to the carrier selected through ARHS and you will use your Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) to help cover expenses related to being enrolled in Medicare and/or a supplemental plan.
      • Join a quarterly HRA education session to learn how to make the most of your annual HRA contributions or watch a previously recorded session.
    • USG Retiree Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance: you must enroll in direct debit to ensure payments are paid in full and made on time, so coverage is not interrupted. Per USG policy, you must pay premiums by automatic direct debit from a checking or savings account.
      • To set up an automatic direct debit, call 844-587-4236 or online at OneUSG Connect - Benefits. Under the Retiree section, select Manage My Benefits.
      • Your payment will be due on the first of each month for the current month of coverage.
      • When you initially retire, your next bill will show as past due. The bill will outline when your payment must be received to avoid the cancellation of your coverage. It is important to pay in full so your coverage is not canceled.
      • If your coverage is canceled due to non-payment, your coverage will be canceled back to the last day of the month in which premiums were paid in full. If your retiree benefits are canceled for nonpayment, you will not be allowed to enroll in USG healthcare insurance at a later date.

    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 Life, Dental and Vision Coverage

    Retiree Life Insurance

    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. 

    • USG $25,000 basic life will continue (no cost)
    • Retirees can port $10,000 in supplemental life
    • Retirees can port $15,000 in spouse life

    Please remember to confirm and update your beneficiaries on OneUSG Connect - Benefits

    Retiree Dental & Vision

    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. 

  • Education and Events

    To help you understand your USG Retiree Benefits, there are monthly and quarterly webinars. 

    • Monthly Age-In Education Sessions: When you or your covered dependents turn 65, you will need to transition to Medicare. Join one of these monthly sessions to learn more about Medicare and your next steps.
    • Quarterly HRA Education Sessions: For helpful tips on accessing your HRA, setting up auto reimbursements, or filing claims, review this On-Demand session or join one of these  “live” quarterly sessions below:
      • Tuesday, September 12, 2023 - 3:00 pm ET
      • Wednesday, December 13, 2023 - 10:00 am ET
      • Tuesday, January 9,  2024 - 3:00 pm ET

    To RSVP, visit myexchangeconnection.com/USG/event or call 1-866-212-5052. 

Making Changes to Your Retiree Healthcare Coverage

  • Adding a spouse after retirement

     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. 

  • Dropping coverage
    • If you drop your coverage, you will not be allowed to enroll in coverage at a later date.
    • If your dependent’s coverage is lost, you may add them at a later date if you experience a qualifying life event. You must have coverage in place in order for your dependents to have coverage through a qualifying life event. This change must be made within 30 days of the qualifying event, by calling OneUSG Connect - Benefits at 844-587-4236.
  • Cancelled Coverage

     If your retiree benefits are canceled for nonpayment, you will not be allowed to enroll in USG healthcare insurance at a later date.

  • Spouse Turning 65 after Retirement

    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.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • I moved recently, where do I update my address?

    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 

  • If I drop my coverage, can my dependents remain on the plan?

    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.

    • If you are a pre-65 retiree and you drop or cancel coverage on the USG group plan, your post-65 dependent will lose eligibility for the HRA through the retiree exchange.
    • If you are a pre-65 retiree and you drop or cancel coverage under the USG group plan, your pre-65 dependent will lose USG group coverage.
    • If you are a post-65 retiree and you drop or cancel coverage purchased through Alight Retiree Health Solutions, your pre-65 dependent will no longer be covered under the USG healthcare plan.