Learn about your 2027 benefits by:
If you are enrolled in a USG healthcare plan, you are required to complete certification EACH YEAR during open enrollment for tobacco use and working spouse coverage. You must certify whether you (and your covered family members age 18+) use tobacco. You must also certify whether your covered spouse has access to healthcare coverage through their employer.
Learn more about the tobacco use and working spouse surcharges and when they apply.
The 2027 Tobacco Use surcharge is $150/month. It will be applied to each covered member (employee, spouse, child 18+). Note: one surcharge will be applied for all children who use tobacco.
The 2027 Working Spouse surcharge is $150/month.
Once you enroll for 2027, remember to review your confirmation statement and make any corrections to your surcharge status(es) by December 31, 2026 to ensure your surcharges are captured correctly.
Remember! Even if you do not wish to make changes to your benefits for 2027, you MUST log into the OneUSG Connect - Benefits enrollment portal and complete your surcharge certifications EVERY YEAR during Open Enrollment if you are enrolled in a USG healthcare plan.
There are no changes to the plan design for any healthcare plans in 2027. Copays, coinsurance, and deductibles (if applicable) will remain the same. For more details on USG's healthcare options, review the 2027 Comparison Guide. The information in the chart is a summary and reflects in-network benefits only.
USG is working to keep coverage as affordable as possible. For 2027, national healthcare costs were projected to increase by 9%, but USG has kept employee premium increases to an average of 6% acrosss all healthcare plans. Additional details about the plans and how they compare are located in the Comparison Guide as well as the Online Estimator Tool in the OneUSG Connect - Benefits enrollment portal.
Employee Monthly Premium | Anthem (USG Self-Insured Coverage) | Kaiser (Fully Insured) | ||
Tier | Consumer Choice HSA | Comprehensive Care | BlueChoice HMO | HMO |
Employee | $109.74 | $248.90 | $301.84 | $230.74 |
Employee + Child(ren) | $241.16 | $491.66 | $586.94 | $451.12 |
Employee + Spouse | $281.36 | 573.62 | $684.78 | $526.32 |
Family | $401.94 | $819.44 | $978.24 | $751.88 |
Anthem members: As of January 1, 2027, your pharmacy benefits will be managed by Express Scripts, part of Evernorth Health. All Anthem enrolled members will receive a Welcome Kit in December by mail. Express Scripts will work with employees who may be impacted by network or formulary changes. They have developed a website to help you learn more about your coverage, find pharmacies, the mail order process, prior authorization steps, and the specialty pharmacy. Learn more
Kaiser members: There are no changes to your pharmacy benefits for 2027.
All members: Although your covered medications (formulary) can change throughout the year, you can expect a number of changes in January. Even if your medications haven't changed, coverage for them may have, so be sure to check your medications against the approved drug lists. To see the most up-to-date drug list, log into your account with Express Scripts (after January 1) or Kaiser Permanente.
2027 Formulary lists - COMING SOON!
For 2027, the employee dental plan premiums will increase an average of 2%. Coverage is through Delta Dental. Maximize your savings by visiting a dentist in the Delta Dental PPO or Premier networks. Both PPO and Premier dentists cannot charge you more than their agreed upon fees in-network, helping to lower your cost. Each plan allows you to visit any licensed dentist, so even if you dentist isn't in either Delta Dental network, you still have coverage though you save the most by using an in-network dentist.
Click to find a network dentist. Enter your zip code and select All from the network dropdown to include PPO and Premier dentists in your search.
Employee Monthly Premium | Delta Dental Base | Delta Dental High |
| Employee | $39.38 | $48.66 |
| Employee + Child(ren) | $74.82 | $92.46 |
| Employee + Spouse | $78.78 | $97.30 |
| Family | $126 | $155.76 |
Vision benefits are provided by EyeMed Vision Care. There is no change to the premiums for 2027. The EyeMed Vision Care plan saves you money on routine eye exams and materials (glasses, contacts, sunglasses). The USG vision plan includes Eye360, where members receive $0 exam copay plus an extra $50 added to the allowance for eyeglass frames or contact lenses. The vision plan uses the Insight network. Click to find a network provider near you. Look to the top of the page and click Find an eye doctor.
Employee Monthly Premium |
|
| Employee | $6.90 |
| Employee + Child(ren) | $13.12 |
| Employee + Spouse | $15.52 |
| Family | $20.34 |
In 2027, enrolled members can receive reimbursement for hearing exams and prescription hearing aids. Hearing benefits will be available through the EyeMed Hearing Indemnity Plan:
Hearing exam:
• Adults – $50 reimbursement every 24 months
• Kids – $50 reimbursement every 12 months
Prescription hearing aids:
• Adults – $400 reimbursement per ear every 48 months
• Kids – $400 reimbursement per ear every 24 months
Other considerations:
• No network – members can go anywhere (including Costco)
• Plan can be combined with other benefits
For 2027, we’re updating the Well-being Program to give you more flexibility in how you can earn your rewards. The program has the same great rewards plus new resources and time to earn.
In place of Weight Watchers, you’ll have new ways to support your well-being while earning a special one-time reward. Whether you’re focused on nutrition, physical activity, stress management or overall wellness, you can enroll in and certify your participation in a program that meets your needs and earn a well-being incentive.
Tip: Try Full Plate Living, a no-cost, flexible, plant-rich nutrition approach that helps you build healthy habits for life.
Reminder: Complete your Health Assessment
Completing your Health Assessment is a required step for Anthem and Kaiser members to earn rewards.
A flexible spending account (FSA) lets you pay for everyday expenses with tax-free payroll contributions, reducing your federal, state, and Social Security taxes. 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 2027.
Additionally, USG provides a grace period of two and a half months after the end of 2026 if you are enrolled in an FSA. That means, you can continue to incur eligible expenses until March 15, 2027 to deplete your remaining 2026 contributions. However, you must file for reimbursement by March 30, 2027. 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) because you elect to enroll in the Anthem Consumer Choice healthcare pland during Open Enrollment, you must have a $0.00 balance in your FSA as of December 31, 2026. If you do not have $0.00 as of the end of the year, your Health Savings Account contributions cannot begin until April 1, 2027, 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. The Shared Sick Leave Program allows employees to donate a portion of their unused sick leave to a pool to help coworkers experiencing a serious health condition who have used all of their available paid leave. Once enrolled, you remain a member of the program throughout your benefits-eligible employment, unless you choose to disenroll. You must donate a minimum of 8 hours of sick leave.
To participate, contact your institution’s HR/Benefits Department.
Even if you’re not enrolling in a USG healthcare plan, you should add a beneficiary for your Basic Life and/or Health Savings Account. Beneficiary information can be updated at any time. 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 (Corebridge, Fidelity, TIAA). Review the contact page for vendor information.
To update your USG life insurance beneficiaries, log in to OneUSG Connect - Benefits and:
You may also call 1-844-587-4236 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday.
That's great! Select the “Cessation” option in the OneUSG enrollment portal while making your 2027 enrollment elections to notify us of your intent to quit. By selecting the cessation option, you will not be charged the tobacco surcharge for 90 days. View the list of no-cost cessation programs and resources available to you. Then, complete the cessation program of your choice and notify OneUSG Connect - Benefits once you have completed it.
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 or stop it.
If you do not complete a tobacco cessation program, do not stop using tobacco, or fail to update your tobacco use status by March 31, 2027, the tobacco surcharge will be applied beginning April 1, 2027. Your status can be updated at any time during the year, but after March 31st, the surcharge will be removed the first of the month following the date you update your status (e.g., status updated May 15, surcharge removed effective June 1).
During Open Enrollment, you’ll have support to help you choose the benefits that work best for you and your family. In addition to our regular call center support, you can schedule an appointment with a Virtual Benefits Counselor.
Virtual Benefits Counselors can help you:
Schedule an appointment with a Virtual Benefits Counselors
Visit benefitsgo/USG and click the link to access the appointment scheduler. You can access the appointment scheduler as early as October 12 (two weeks prior to the start of Open Enrollment). Appointment times are available in 45-minute increments during the Open Enrollment Period from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Friday, with as little as one hour's notice.
You will receive an appointment confirmation email and a link to a Microsoft Teams meeting immediately. At the scheduled date and time, simply click on the Microsoft Teams meeting link in your confirmation email to join the video call with your Virtual Benefit Counselor.
To enroll without the help of a Virtual Benefits Counselor, go to the OneUSG Connect - Benefits website and click Manage My Benefits for the self-service enrollment portal or call OneUSG Connect - Benefits at 1-844-587-4236 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Prep Tip! To prepare for your Virtual Benefits Counselor video call, make sure you find a quiet place for your call with a good internet connection, allow 30 minutes to complete your enrollment, and have your personal and dependent information (names, dates of birth and Social Security numbers) ready.
To enroll or make changes to your USG healthcare and voluntary benefits, visit OneUSG Connect - Benefits, and select Manage My Benefits. If you have questions, call the OneUSG Connect - Benefits Call Center at 1-844-587-4236. Representatives are available 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday.
Schedule an appointment to meet with a Virtual Benefits Counselor to receive an in-depth benefits review and get help making your 2027 benefits elections. To schedule an appointment, visit benefitsgo/USG during Open Enrollment.
Enroll anywhere, anytime with the Alight Mobile app!
If you are planning to retire in 2027, 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.
As long as you are actively working and covered under a USG healthcare plan, you are not required 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.
Yes. If you are enrolled in a USG healthcare plan, you must update your status every year during Open Enrollment. If you do not complete your tobacco use certification during Open Enrollment, you will default and be charged a tobacco surcharge $150 per employee and covered dependents (age 18+). We recommend that you review your confirmation statement after enrollment and your first paycheck in January 2027.