Get Ready for 2026!
Below are several important reminders and tips as you prepare to use your 2026 benefits.
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2026 Tobacco and Working Spouse Certifications
If you are an active employee and your family will be enrolled in a USG healthcare plan January 1, 2026 or later, you are required to complete the tobacco use and working spouse surcharge certifications for yourself, your spouse, and any dependent children age 18+ or you will see a $150 monthly surcharge applied for each healthcare enrolled member described above.
If you are a pre-65 retiree and your family will be enrolled in a USG healthcare plan January 1, 2026 or later, you are required to complete the tobacco use surcharge certifications for yourself, your spouse, and any dependent children age 18+ or you will see a $150 monthly surcharge applied for each USG healthcare enrolled member described above.
If you are a post-65 retiree and your pre-65 family members will be enrolled in a USG healthcare plan January 1, 2026 or later, the tobacco use surcharge certifications must be completed for your spouse and any dependent children age 18+ or you will see a $150 monthly surcharge applied for each USG healthcare enrolled member described above.
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. Changes made after January 1, 2026 or later will be effective prospectively.
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Tobacco Cessation and Surcharges
Planning to Quit Tobacco?
That’s great! If you selected the “cessation” option during Open Enrollment, 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 user status with OneUSG Connect - Benefits at 844-587-4236 to avoid being charged the surcharge.
If you do not complete a cessation program, become a non-tobacco user or fail to update your user 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 6/15, surcharge removed effective 7/1).
Healthcare & Pharmacy
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Health Coverage Tax Document (Form 1095-C)
You may be entitled to receive an Affordable Care Act tax statement (Form 1095-C) reporting on the health coverage offered or provided to you and your covered dependents during the last plan year. This form is not required to file your federal income tax return.
The University System of Georgia is using electronic delivery to furnish the 1095-C statement to covered individuals. To receive notification that the electronic form is available to download, please visit OneUSG Connect-Benefits.
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2026 Healthcare and Pharmacy Plan Changes
- Anthem BlueChoice HMO and Comprehensive Care
- Increased out-of-pocket maximums with the pharmacy benefit from $2,000 to $2,250 per member
- Consumer Choice HSA
- The USG contribution to the HSA will be reduced from $375 to $325 for employee only coverage and from $750 to $650 for family coverage
- There will also be an increase for In-Network Individual Out of Pocket Maximum in Family Tiers from $9,200 to $10,000.
- Diagnostic Breast Cancer Screening will bypass the deductible and pay at 100% like other plans.
- Pharmacy
- Moving to National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) pricing for pharmacy drug costs due to legislative requirement - Anthem plans only
- The new law requires pharmacies to be reimbursed using a transparent pricing structure that is based on the cost of the drug, plus a fixed dispensing fee.
- USG members will only see a difference in their drug price if the drug price + dispensing fee falls below our set prescription copay amounts.
- All healthcare plans
- Additional codes for diagnostic breast cancer screening to pay at 100% - Imaging and Biopsy codes
- Anthem BlueChoice HMO and Comprehensive Care
Voluntary Benefits
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2026 Vision Plan Changes
Vision insurance coverage remains with EyeMed Vision Care for 2026.
- Tier-4 progressive lenses move to flat co-pay pricing of $240 (average savings of $60 at the point-of-service)
- Tier-3 Anti-Reflective lenses change from 20% off Retail price to $100 flat co-pay (average savings of $28 at the point-of-service)
- Enhanced contact lens allowance increases from $150 to $200 when obtained from EyeMed PLUS providers
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Flexible Spending and Health Savings Account Changes
Flexible Spending and Health Savings accounts are administered by HSA Bank.
Dependent Care FSA
Increased contribution maximum from $5,000 to $7,500 ($3,750 if married filing separately)
Health Savings Account (HSA)
Decrease USG match from $375 to $325 (employee only) and $750 to $650 (family)
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Flexible Spending Account Reminders
FSA Grace Period
Employees who contributed to a Healthcare FSA, Limited Purpose FSA and/or Dependent Care FSA in 2025 are allowed to incur eligible expenses through March 15, 2026. You must file for reimbursement by March 30, 2026, including any required supporting documentation.
Employees who fail to use all of their FSA contributions will forfeit those funds – “use it or lose it”. Funds cannot be returned per IRS guidelines.
Switching from an FSA to an HSA in 2026?
If you were enrolled in the Healthcare FSA (HC-FSA) in 2025, but enrolled in the Anthem Consumer Choice plan and enrolled in a Health Savings Account (HSA) for 2026, you must have a zero ($0.00) balance as of December 31, 2025, to begin contributing to your HSA in January 2026. If you do not have a $0.00 balance before January 1, 2026, you will not be able to begin making contributions to your Health Savings Account until April 1, 2026 per IRS guidelines. Your contributions will not start automatically. You must contact OneUSG Connect -Benefits at 844-587-4236 to re-elect your 2025 contribution to your HSA.
USG Well-being Program
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Well-being Rewards Program Changes
Anthem members: Starting in 2026, your path to Anthem rewards begins with your Health Assessment. Complete a Health Assessment to earn $20 in rewards right away — then continue unlocking more rewards when you get a preventive exam, stay up to date on vaccines, track your steps and more
Kaiser members: You must complete a 5-step program that includes signing in to kp.org/engage, taking your Total Health Assessment, getting your biometric screening, completing age-appropriate cancer screenings, and making a lifestyle change. You do not need to complete the HIPAA authorization to receive your reward.
Program rewards:
The program year begins January 1, 2026 and ends September 30, 2026. Earned rewards are paid through payroll at the end of the calendar year. You must be an active employee at the time of payout to receive your rewards.
Visit usg.edu/well-being to learn more about well-being programs and rewards.
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Diabetes Prevention Programs
The Diabetes Prevention Program is an in-house partnership between USG and UGA Extension offering the CDC-recognized diabetes prevention lifestyle change program, PreventT2.
It is available at no cost to all employees, even if you are not enrolled in a USG healthcare plan.
Employees can take a quick Pre-Diabetes Risk Test to see if they are at risk and then request information on upcoming cohorts. Cohorts are in-person or virtual.
Kaiser members also may be eligible for diabetes support and prevention through Omada.
Find more information at https://www.usg.edu/well-being/DPP.
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Weight Loss Support
Anthem members will continue to have access to Weight Watchers at no cost.
Enroll or sync existing account at Anthem WeightWatchers.
Beginning January 1, 2026, Kaiser Permanente members will use Omada Health for weight management. Eligibility for this program will be based on Omada’s qualification criteria.