Open Enrollment ended November 7, 2025. To make edits or corrections to your 2026 benefit elections, submit a detailed help request by clicking here.
Watch a short benefits overview video to learn what's new or changing for 2026.
Active employees can watch the recorded open enrollment virtual information session. Click here.
If you are enrolled in a USG healthcare plan, you are required to complete certifications each year during Open Enrollment. You must certify whether you (and your covered family members age 18+) use tobacco and whether your spouse has access to coverage through their employer. Contact OneUSG Connect - Benefits at 844-587-4236 to complete your certifications. Expect longer than usual wait times to reach a representative by phone. Avoid the wait time by clicking here, then clicking Your Help Requests to submit a ticket.
To learn more about the tobacco use and working spouse surcharges and when they apply.
2026 Surcharges | |||
|---|---|---|---|
NOTE: If you don’t certify, you will be charged the monthly surcharge(s). | |||
Tobacco Surcharge | Working Spouse Surcharge | ||
Employee |
Spouse | Children 18+ (one surcharge for all children who use tobacco) | (This surcharge does not apply to retirees.) |
$150/month | $150/month | $150/month | $150/month |
Remember to review your confirmation statement and make any corrections by December 31, 2025, to ensure your coverage and surcharge elections are captured correctly.
Trying to quit tobacco? That’s great! Select the “cessation” option to notify us of your intent to quit. By selecting the cessation option, you will not be charged the surcharge until April 1, 2026. View the list of no-cost cessation programs and resources available to you. Then, complete a tobacco cessation program of your choice and notify the One USG Connect - Benefits Call Center of your completion of the program. If you stop using tobacco products or complete a tobacco cessation program, you must update your tobacco use status with OneUSG Connect - Benefits at 1-844-587-4236 to avoid the surcharge.
If you do not complete a cessation program, do not stop using tobacco or fail to update your tobacco use status, the tobacco surcharge will be applied beginning April 1, 2026. You may update your status at any time during the year, but the surcharge will be removed the first of the month following the date you update your status (e.g., status update May 15, surcharge removed effective June 1).
Remember! Even if you do not wish to make changes to your benefits for the following plan year, you must log in to oneusgconnect.usg.edu/ and complete your surcharge certifications every year during USG Open Enrollment.
USG is working to keep coverage as affordable as possible. For 2026, healthcare costs were projected to increase by 12%, but by making minor plan design changes we have kep employee premium increases to an average of 7.2%.
Employee Monthly Premium* (+/- $ Change from Current) |
Anthem |
Kaiser Permanente | ||
Tier | Consumer Choice HSA | Comprehensive Care | BlueChoice HMO | Kaiser HMO |
Employee | $105 (+$7) | $233 (+$13) | $286 (+$12) | $219 (+$12) |
Employee + Child(ren) | $230 (+$22) | $460 (+$32) | $556 (+$31) | $427 (+$32) |
Employee + Spouse | $269 (+$26) | $537 (+$38) | $648 (+$36) | $498 (+$37) |
Family | $384 (+$37) | $767 (+$54) | $926 (+$52) | $712 (+$53) |
*Premiums rounded to nearest dollar
The out-of-pocket maximum will change for Anthem Consumer Choice (family tier) and pharmacy maximums will change for the Anthem Comprehensive Care Plan and Blue Choice plans.
Manage your prescription coverage
Your formulary can change throughout the year, so make sure to periodically check your medications against the approved drug list. To check coverage and copay amounts and get information about medications, visit benefits.usg.edu/health-and-well-being/pharmacy.
You can expect a number of changes beginning January 1, 2026. Even if your medications have not changed, the list of approved medications may have, so make sure you periodically check your medications against the approved drug list. To see the most up-to-date drug lists, log in to your account with CVS/Caremark or Kaiser Permanente.
If you are not currently enrolled in coverage, and want to view the upcoming drug lists:
CVS Caremark
2026 Standard Drug List eff January 2026
2026 Specialty Drug List eff January 2026
2026 Preventative Drug List - COMING SOON
2026 Consumer Choice HSA Preventative Drug List - COMING SOON
Kaiser Permanente
2026 4 Tier Drug List eff January 2026
Remember! Regardless of the pharmacy plan you are covered by, each plan has a list of ACA preventive medications that are covered at $0 employee cost-share, before the deductible. Log in to your account with CVS/Caremark or Kaiser Permanente for a list of preventive medications.
For 2026, the employee dental plan premiums will increase by 5%.
Employee Monthly Premium* (+/- $ Change from Current) | Delta Dental Base | Delta Dental High |
| Employee | $39 (+$2) | $48 (+$2) |
| Employee + Child(ren) | $77 (+$4) | $96 (+$5) |
| Employee + Spouse | $74 (+$4) | $91 (+$4) |
| Family | $124 (+$6) | $153 (+$7) |
*Premiums rounded to nearest dollar
Well-being Rewards
Weight loss support for Kaiser members
Kaiser members — In 2026, USG will offer weight loss support through Omada for all employees and their spouses enrolled in the Kaiser Permanente healthcare plan. Kaiser participants watch for more details from WeightWatchers and Omada coming soon!
If you are contributing to a Healthcare Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Limited Purpose Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and/or Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) you must re-enroll each year during Open Enrollment. Elections will not roll over for 2026.
Additionally, if you are currently enrolled in an FSA for 2025, you must incur eligible expenses by March 15, 2026. You must file for reimbursement by March 30, 2026. If you fail to use all your FSA contributions, you will forfeit those funds. Funds cannot be returned to you per IRS guidelines
If you switch from a Healthcare Flexible Spending Account (FSA) to a Health Savings Account (HSA) during Open Enrollment, you must have a $0 balance in your FSA as of December 31, 2025. If you do not have $0 as of the end of the year, your Health Savings Account contributions cannot begin until April 1, 2026, or later. Your contributions will not start automatically. You must contact OneUSG Connect - Benefits at 1-844-587-4236.
Open Enrollment is your once-a-year opportunity to donate and/or enroll in the Shared Sick Leave pool. To participate, contact your institution’s HR/Benefits Department.
Even if you’re not enrolling in healthcare, you will need to add a beneficiary for your Basic Life and/or Health Savings Account. You will need to have your beneficiary’s name, contact information and Social Security number.
Also, remember to update your beneficiary information with your TRS or your retirement vendor (AIG, Fidelity, TIAA). Review the contact page for vendor information.
To update your USG life insurance beneficiaries, log in to oneusgconnect.usg.edu and:
You may also call 1-844-587-4236 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday
Need help planning for retirement? Schedule an appointment with an independent CAPTRUST advisor to get answers to your financial questions and clear action steps to achieve your financial goals.
Visit CAPTRUST at Work scheduler to get started.
To begin making contributions, log in at oneusgconnect.usg.edu, and select OneUSG Connect. Visit the USG Retirement 403(b) and 457(b) Overview webpage for additional information.
Enroll anywhere, anytime with the Alight Mobile app!
Yes. If you are enrolled in a USG healthcare plan, you must update your status annually during every Open Enrollment. If you do not complete your tobacco use certification during Open Enrollment, you will default and be charged $150 per employee and covered dependents (age 18+). We recommend that you review your confirmation statement after enrollment and your first paycheck in January 2026.
If you are planning to retire in 2026, you must be an active USG healthcare plan participant immediately before you retire. You should enroll in the year prior to your retirement to be eligible to continue USG retiree healthcare benefits into retirement. If your spouse currently has other coverage with their employer, you do not need to add them during Open Enrollment. You can add them to your USG retiree coverage if they experience a qualifying life event (such as losing coverage from their employer) if you contact OneUSG Connect - Benefits within 30 days of the date of the life event. Note: Your retirement from USG is not a qualifying life event.
No. As long as you are actively working and covered under a USG healthcare plan, you do not need to enroll in Medicare Parts A and B. Keep in mind, you may be automatically enrolled in Part A (no cost). Once you retire, you will need to enroll in Medicare Part B.