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Planning to Retire

Preparing for the Next Chapter

The key to feeling confident with your retirement plans is preparation. When you retire from USG, it’s good to know that you have the benefits you need so you can focus on enjoying every moment of your retirement. Review the Retirement Planning Guide to learn about how your benefits are impacted when you retire and the necessary steps you’ll need to take for a smooth retirement.

If You’re Turning Age 65  

  • As long as you are actively employed and covered under the USG Healthcare plan, when you turn 65, your USG coverage will remain your primary insurance and Medicare will be your secondary coverage. You do not need to enroll in Medicare Part B until you retire from USG. Once you retire from USG, Medicare will become primary, and you will need to enroll in Medicare. Learn more about about your post-65 benefits in retirement.
  • Your USG healthcare coverage as an active employee is Creditable Coverage for Medicare Parts A, B and D. If you are enrolled in healthcare coverage through USG as an active employee, you will not be penalized if you put off enrolling in Medicare Parts A, B and D until your retirement. For more information, visit the Medicare website  or contact OneUSG Connect - Benefits.
  • Obtain your Medicare Enrollment Kit. If you’re collecting Social Security benefits, you’ll get a Medicare Enrollment Kit 60 to 90 days before your 65th birthday, giving you the option to enroll in Medicare Parts A, B and D. If you are not yet collecting Social Security benefits, please contact Medicare 60 to 90 days before your 65th birthday and ask for a Medicare Enrollment Kit.

When Can I Retire?

In addition to your retirement benefits through the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia (TRS), Optional Retirement Plan (ORP), or Employee Retirement System (ERS), USG also provides healthcare, dental, vision and life insurance benefits in retirement, if you meet one of the following conditions:

  1. Are at least 60 years old and a benefits-eligible employee of USG for the last ten years.
  2. Have at least 25 years of benefited service; the last five continuous years at USG. An early pension benefit penalty will apply if you elect to participate in TRS or ERS and you retire between 25 and 30 years of benefited service, before turning age 60.
  3. Have at least 30 years of benefited service (the last five years at USG) established with a State of Georgia sponsored retirement plan.
  4. Are totally and permanently disabled and have ten years of continuous service to USG in a regular, benefited position.

For specific information and further requirements, please refer to the retirement policy

Additionally, you must be enrolled in a USG healthcare plan immediately before you retire. If you are not currently enrolled in a USG healthcare plan, you should enroll during Open Enrollment in the year prior to your retirement to be eligible to continue USG retiree healthcare benefits into retirement.

If You’re Actively Working When You Reach Age 65

If you are turning 65, as long as you are actively employed and covered under a USG healthcare plan, your USG coverage will remain your primary insurance and Medicare will be your secondary coverage. You do not need to enroll in Medicare Part B until you retire from USG. Once you retire from USG, Medicare will become primary, and you will need to enroll in Medicare. 

What Happens to My USG Benefits?

Your USG healthcare, dental and vision coverage will depend on your and your spouse’s age (if applicable) and what coverage you had prior to retiring. However, your life insurance will reduce to the amount allowed in retirement.

View the Preparing to Retire Guide for information that may be helpful as you prepare to retire.

If you decide to discontinue any of your current benefits in retirement, such as dental, vision or life insurance, you cannot re-enroll for any reason, including but not limited to, life events. Additionally, if you are post-65 and not enrolled in a supplemental plan through the Alight Retiree Health Solutions (ARHS), you will forfeit your eligibility for annual HRA contributions, now and in the future. Note: If needed, Alight Retiree Health Solutions offers dental and vision plans.

  • Overview of Benefits and How They Transition
    Active Employee BenefitsUSG Retiree Benefits*
    Basic Life Insurance ($25,000)Basic Life Insurance ($25,000), no cost
    Employee Supplemental Life**Retiree Supplemental Life ($15,000) 
    Spouse Life ($50,000)**Retiree Spouse Life ($5,000)
    Child Life ($15,000)**Retiree Child Life ($5,000)
    Healthcare Plan (Comprehensive Care)

    If you and your spouse are under age 65, your healthcare plan (Comprehensive Care) remains the same until either of you turn age 65.  

    • If both you and your spouse retire before age 65, you will remain in your current coverage.*** If you wish to make changes If you and your spouse are under age 65, your healthcare plan (Comprehensive Care) remains the same until either of you turn age 65. 
       
    • If both you and your spouse retire before age 65, you will remain in your current coverage.*** If you wish to make changes to your USG retirement benefits, you may do so within 30 days of your retirement date. Additionally, each year until you reach age 65, you will have the option to change plans during USG Open Enrollment through OneUSG Connect - Benefits. Learn more here
       
    • Once you turn age 65 and are enrolled in Medicare, you will enroll for individual health coverage through Alight Retiree Health Solutions. 
       
    • If you retire when both you and your spouse are age 65 and older, you must enroll in Medicare, which will become your primary healthcare coverage. Additionally, you must enroll in supplemental healthcare coverage (Medicare Supplement, Medicare Advantage or Medicare Prescription Drug coverage) through Alight Retiree Health Solutions (ARHS) to be eligible for the annual HRA contribution. Proof of Medicare Parts A and B is required. Learn more here
       
    • If you are not yet age 65, but your spouse is, you (the pre-65 retiree) will remain enrolled in the USG healthcare plan. Your spouse will need to enroll in Medicare Parts A and B, and select a supplemental plan through Alight Retiree Health Solutions. Your spouse will receive annual funding into the HRA.

    Note: If enrolled in the Blue Choice HMO, your coverage will default to the Comprehensive Care plan upon retirement.  

    For more information, see the Retirement Planning Guide.  

     

    Delta Dental PlanRetiree Dental defaults to active dental plan.***
    Vision PlanVision plan*** (same as active employee rates)
    Short-term or Long-term DisabilityNo coverage
    Legal PlanNo coverage. Conversion to a private policy available at employee rates.
    Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity or Accident PlanNo coverage. Conversion to a private policy available at employee rates.
    Flexible Spending Accounts and Health Savings AccountSee below

    * Please note that rates can change year over year.

    ** You may continue the difference in coverage (portability option) by paying premiums directly to MetLife. You must contact MetLife within 31 days to initiate.

  • Health Savings Account

    Health Savings Account

    You can still contribute to an HSA if you are actively employed at age 65, as long as you are not enrolled in any Medicare coverage (Parts A, B, D, etc.). To continue contributing to your HSA, you will have to contact Medicare prior to your 65th birthday to make sure you are not automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A.  

    IMPORTANT! If you delay enrollment in Medicare until after you retire, you should stop contributing to your Health Savings Account six (6) months before you plan to retire and become entitled to Medicare. 

    Once you retire, your pre-tax payroll contributions stop after your final paycheck. However, you can continue to use any remaining balance in your account for eligible healthcare expenses you incur at any time in the future.  

    • If you are age 65 or older, you may use the money in your HSA to pay premiums for Medicare Parts B and D and Medicare Advantage plans (but not premiums for a Medicare Supplement Plan such as Medigap).
    • If you are age 65 or older, you cannot use your HSA to pay Medicare premiums for a post-65 spouse.

    Once you turn age 65, your HSA funds may continue to be used for qualified expenses, or as supplemental income that will be taxed but not subject to a penalty. However, once you enroll in Medicare, you are not eligible to contribute to an HSA.

  • Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs):

    When you retire, your FSA contributions generally stop after your final paycheck, but you may still be able to use the funds in your account.

    You may continue to submit claims up through March 31 of the following year, provided the expenses were incurred while you were actively employed and participating in the Healthcare and/or Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account. (Expenses incurred before you’re enrolled or after contributions cease, aren’t eligible, and expenses incurred in a previous or future year can only be reimbursed from that year’s account.)

    You will need to submit all eligible expenses for reimbursement by March 31 of the year after you retire from USG. See Flexible Spending Accounts.

  • Vacation and Sick Leave
    • Up to 360 hours of unused vacation time is paid out by the next pay period after your retirement.
    • If you are a TRS retiree, unused sick time can count toward your retirement service time and is unlimited. Unused sick time does not apply toward ORP retirement. Contact TRS or visit the website for your conversion options.
  • Paying for Retiree Benefits

    Premiums may be different from your active employee premiums depending on you and your spouse’s age when you retire.  

    If you and your spouse are under age 65: Your premium amount will be the same as the active rate. They are due on the first of the month and per USG policy, must be paid by direct debit to OneUSG Connect - Benefits instead of through payroll deductions. See the Pre-65 Retiree page for more on direct debit.

    If you and your spouse are age 65 and older: Your primary coverage will be Medicare Parts A and B. You will enroll in a secondary healthcare plan through Alight Retiree Health Solutions and receive an annual contribution to your Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) to reimburse you for Medicare Part B premiums, healthcare premiums or other out-of-pocket healthcare expenses.  

    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.

    Your payment timing and options are dependent on the carrier in which you enroll and can vary across carriers. Visit the Post-65 Retiree page and the HRA page for more information.

    If you (the USG retiree) are age 65 or older, and your spouse is not: Your payment timing and options are dependent on the carrier with which you enroll through the ARHS. However, your pre-65 spouse’s premiums must be paid on the first of the month through direct debit with OneUSG Connect - Benefits.

Pre-65 Retirees

When you initially retire your first bill may show a delinquency. The bill will clearly state when your payment must be received to avoid cancellation of your coverage. If you do not make payment within the grace period, your coverage will be cancelled backdated to the last day of the month in which premiums were paid in full. If you are dropped due to non-payment, you will lose your USG retiree status.