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.
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:
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 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.
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.
| Active Employee Benefits | USG 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.
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 Plan | Retiree Dental defaults to active dental plan.*** |
| Vision Plan | Vision plan*** (same as active employee rates) |
| Short-term or Long-term Disability | No coverage |
| Legal Plan | No coverage. Conversion to a private policy available at employee rates. |
| Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity or Accident Plan | No coverage. Conversion to a private policy available at employee rates. |
| Flexible Spending Accounts and Health Savings Account | See 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.
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.
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.
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 have 90 days to file for reimbursement under the plan. The date of service on any claims submitted must be equal to or fall before the end of the month in which you retire.
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.
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.