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Pre-65 Retiree Benefits

Pre-65 Retiree Benefits

Whether you are already a USG Retiree or if you’re eligible to retire before you reach age 65, USG has you covered! Review this page for important information about your USG Retiree Benefits. 

Your USG Benefits at Retirement

If you and your covered dependents are under 65 when you retire, you and your covered dependents will default into the same coverage (i.e., USG healthcare, dental, vision) you had as an active employee, except for life insurance. Upon retirement, your life insurance will be reduced to the amounts allowed in retirement. You may be eligible to convert your active employee coverage into an individual policy and pay premiums directly to MetLife. If you do not wish to remain enrolled in coverage, contact OneUSG Connect - Benefits.

Note: If you decide to not continue any or all the plans listed above into retirement or if you cancel coverage at any time in the future, you cannot re-enroll for any reason, including life events.

The table below provides an overview of how benefits transition.

Active Employee Benefits USG Retiree Benefits1 Retiree Premiums
USG Healthcare Plan Coverage defaults to the same plan you had as an active employee.  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 premiums 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: Post-65 retiree healthcare is provided through Alight Retiree Health Solutions (ARHS). 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.

Additional Information You Need to Know

  • You have 30 days after your retirement to review or correct your USG retiree benefits at OneUSG Connect - Benefits.
  • You must sign up for direct debit on OneUSG Connect - Benefits to pay your monthly healthcare premiums. See the “How to pay for My USG Benefits” section below.
  • If your spouse is age 65 or older and you (the USG retiree) are not, you (the retiree) must remain enrolled in the USG group plan for your spouse (post 65) to be eligible for the Health Reimbursement Account (HRA).

Note: If your spouse is 65 or older (Medicare-eligible) when you retire, they must enroll in Medicare Parts A and B, prior to your date of retirement and enroll in an individual Medicare plan through Alight Retiree Health Solutions (ARHS). We recommend starting the Medicare enrollment process 90 days prior to turning age 65. ARHS will contact your spouse for enrollment. Premiums for your spouse are paid directly to the insurance carrier selected through ARHS.  

  • If you have questions about your USG retiree healthcare, dental, vision, life insurance, beneficiaries, or survivor benefits, or you need to make address changes or file a death claim, contact OneUSG Connect - Benefits or visit oneusgconnect.usg.edu and click on Manage My Benefits.
  • USG Retiree Healthcare

    Coverage defaults to the same USG healthcare and pharmacy plan you had just prior to retirement. 

    Note:  If you are Pre-65 but eligible for Medicare when you retire, your pharmacy coverage will be transitioned into the employer-sponsored Medicare Part D prescription drug plan through Silverscript (a CVS/Caremark company).  

    Personalized health and benefits support  

    Anthem members receive simplified and personalized support through the Total Health, Total You program. If you continue your healthcare coverage with Anthem, you’ll continue to have access to an advocate to help you navigate your healthcare, as long as you remain enrolled in the pre-65 USG Healthcare plan(s) with Anthem.  

    Kaiser members receive customer service and healthcare support through Kaiser's member services team.  Members have access to their personal care team, care with convenient access that fits your life, and access to assistance finding care, as long as you remain enrolled in the pre-65 USG Healthcare plan with Kaiser.

    Learn more about healthcare support.

  • USG 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 Billing

USG provides $25,000 in basic life coverage. 

For all other USG Retiree benefits,  you wish to continue into retirement, 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.

Please remember, if you are a pre-65 retiree and your spouse is age 65 or older, premium payments for any healthcare plans purchased through Alight Retiree Health Solutions will be made directly to the carrier(s) that you enrolled in. You can then be reimbursed for those payments through the USG HRA either through premium auto-reimbursement or by submitting a claim. When you fill out your enrollment application, your Benefits Advisor will discuss which carriers participate in auto-reimbursement.

Important Information about Changing Coverage

  • Adding 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.

  • 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.
  • Canceled Coverage

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

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 the OneUSG Connect - Benefits call center at 844-587-4236. 

  • 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 Aon Retiree Health Exchange, your pre-65 dependent will no longer be covered under the USG healthcare plan.
  • What happens to my coverage when I turn 65?

    Once you become Medicare-eligible, you will need to enroll in Medicare A and B. You will also transition from the USG Healthcare plans to the Alight Retiree Health Solutions (ARHS). As long as you enroll when first eligible and remain enrolled in at least one plan through the Alight Retiree Health Solutions, USG will provide you with an annual contribution to a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA).  

    To help with this transition from USG Retiree coverage to Medicare supplemental coverage, starting at 64, the ARHE 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 and/or your dependent start the Medicare enrollment process at the Social Security Office 90 days prior to turning age 65.  

    Visit the Post65 Retiree Benefits page for more information about Medicare Benefits.