UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF GEORGIA
SITES A-Z
Menu

Important Year End Reminders

Farewell 2023 - Get Ready for the Year Ahead!

Now that Open Enrollment is over, below are several important reminders and tips as you prepare for the year ahead. 

Healthcare & Pharmacy

  • 2024 Tobacco and Working Spouse Certifications

    If you did not complete your Tobacco or Working Spouse certification during Open Enrollment, you will be charged the Tobacco and Working Spouse surcharge beginning January 1, 2024. 

    Avoid the charge by calling OneUSG Connect - Benefits at 844-587-4236 before February 15, 2024, to complete your certification elections and avoid the $150 per month surcharge per covered member. If you update your surcharge status after February 15, 2024, your surcharge will be removed on the first of the month following the date you called One USG Connect - Benefits. 

    Reminder! if you selected the cessation option during Open Enrollment, remember you have 90 days (March 31, 2024) to complete a cessation program or become tobacco-free. Don't forget to update your tobacco user status at 844-587-4236 or at One USG Connect - Benefits. 

    For information about the surcharges or resources to help you become tobacco-free, visit the surcharges page for more information. 

  • 2024 Healthcare and Pharmacy Changes

    During Open Enrollment, we announced that there will be employee premium increases and plan design changes for the USG healthcare plans for 2024.

    Bolded in the chart below, you will see some changes to the copayments, coinsurance, deductibles, and out-of-pocket maximums across all four USG plans. The Consumer Choice HSA and Comprehensive Care plan both offer in-network and out-of-network coverage.  For complete details, review the 2024 Comparison Guide. 

     

     ANTHEM CONSUMER CHOICE HSA

    ANTHEM COMPREHENSIVE CARE

    		ANTHEM BLUECHOICE HMOKAISER PERMANENTE HMO
    Coverage

    In-network*

    In-network*

    In-network only

    In-network only

    Deductible

    (Single/Family)

    $3,000/$6,000

    $1,300/$3,900

    None

    None

    Annual out-of-pocket maximum (Single/Family)

    $4,700/$9,400

    $2,850/$5,700

    $5,500/$9,900

    $6,350/$12,700

    PCP required

    No

    No

    Yes

    Yes

    Preventive care

    Plan pays 100%

    Plan pays 100%

    Plan pays 100%

    Plan pays 100%

    Physician office visit/ specialist visit

    You pay 20% after deductible

    $25 copay/ $50 copay

    $40 copay/ $90 copay

    $40 copay/ $75 copay 

    Urgent care

    You pay 20% after deductible

    $50 copay

    $70 copay

    $75 copay

    Inpatient hospital services

    You pay 20% after deductible

    You pay 10% after deductible

    $750 copay

    $600 copay

    Outpatient hospital services

    You pay 20% after deductible

    You pay 10% after deductible

    $400 copay

    $400 copay

    Emergency care

    You pay 20% after deductible

    $300 copay, then you pay 10% after deductible

    $500 copay

    $400 copay

     

    Pharmacy

    Although the formulary can change during the year,  you can expect a number of changes beginning January 1, 2024. 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 list, log into your account with CVS/Caremark or Kaiser Permanente. 

    If you are not currently enrolled in coverage and want to view the approved drug list: 

    CVS/Caremark:

    Kaiser Permanente: 

     

    Remember! Regardless of the pharmacy plan that 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 into your account with CVS/Caremark or Kaiser Permanente for a list of preventive medications. 

  • Anthem Advocate Support

    For all employees enrolled in an Anthem healthcare plan, customer service and healthcare support will move from Accolade to Anthem’s Total Health, Total You program in 2024. 

    Anthem Total Health, Total You Program

    Anthem members will receive simplified and personalized support through the Total Health, Total You program. Anthem provides access to an advocate to help you navigate your healthcare — they’ll connect you to the right care and resources, at the right time. 

    Your Anthem advocate will help you:

    • Get quick answers to your questions. 
    • Connect with a nurse or health coach for guidance.
    • Find the right healthcare provider to meet your needs. 
    • Access tools and resources in your healthcare ecosystem. 
    • And, so much more. 

    All of this is included in your healthcare plan, at no additional cost to you or your family. You can connect with an Anthem advocate by phone, chat or secure messaging.

    Connect to Anthem by downloading and registering via the Sydney HealthSM  app.

    How to download the Sydney HealthSM app:

    To get started, have your Anthem ID card ready. 

    1. Download the Sydney Health app and select Register New Account or go to anthem.com/register.
    2. Select your identification type (this is usually your member ID).
    3. Enter your plan ID number, full name and date of birth.
    4. Follow the one-time security prompt and create a username and password. (Use the same login information on the app and website.)
    5. Review your information to complete your registration.

    Use the Sydney Health app anytime to: 

    • Find care and compare costs.
    • See what’s covered and check claims.
    • View and use digital ID cards.
    • Check your plan progress.
    • Chat with a Health Advocate.

    Download the Sydney HealthSM app today: Register for Your Online Anthem Account | Anthem.com

  • 2024 Healthcare ID Cards
    • Anthem BCBS will mail new ID cards to all employees enrolled in an Anthem Healthcare plan for 2024. Your card should arrive in the last week of December. If you need help finding a doctor or getting a new ID card, connect with Anthem through the Sidney mobile app or by calling 1-800-424-8950.

     

    • Kaiser Permanente will mail new ID Cards to all employees enrolled in Kaiser Permanente Healthcare Plan for 2024. Your card should arrive no later than the last week of December.  If you have not received your card or have questions regarding your card, please contact Kaiser Permanente at https://my.kp.org/usg or by calling 404-356-0966.

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, 2024. 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, 2024. 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 5/15, surcharge removed effective 6/1). 

Voluntary Benefits

  • Flexible Spending Account Reminders

    2023 FSA Contributions 

    If you are currently enrolled in a Healthcare, Limited Purpose, or Dependent Care FSA in 2023, you must incur eligible expenses by March 15, 2024. You must file for reimbursement by March 30, 2024. If you fail to use all your FSA contributions, you will forfeit those funds. Funds cannot be returned to you per IRS guidelines.

    Switching from an FSA to an HSA

    If you are currently enrolled in the Healthcare FSA (HC-FSA) in 2023, but moved to the Health Savings Account (HSA) for 2024, you must have a zero ($0) balance as of December 31, 2023, to begin contributing to your HSA in January 2024. If you do not have a $0 balance before January 1, 2024, you will not be able to begin making contributions to your Health Savings Account until April 1, 2024. Your contributions will not start automatically. You must contact OneUSG Connect -Benefits at 844-587-4236.

  • Health Savings Account Reminders

    2024 HSA Contributions

    If you are currently enrolled in an HSA, your contributions will continue in 2024. If you are enrolled in the Consumer Choice HSA and not contributing to an HSA, here are a few reasons you should: 

    • USG will match dollar for dollar to your HSA —$375 for employee and $750 for family. This means you can double your money and save money on your taxes!
    • You can start, stop or change your HSA contributions during the calendar year. Changes will go into effect the first of the month following the change to your contributions
    • Your HSA contributions roll over from year to year and will always remain yours.

     Think you can’t afford to contribute? Look at the illustrative examples below. Contributing to an HSA account may be within your reach!

    Single Example

    • Employee makes $35,000 annually and is paid bi-weekly.
    • They are enrolled in the Consumer Choice HSA, Employee-only coverage.
    • If they contribute $14.42 per paycheck, they will have contributed $375 by December 31.
    • USG will also contribute $375, which adds up to a total of $750 at the end of the year.
    • Since these contributions are pre-tax,2 the reduction to the paycheck is $10.76.

    Family Example

    • Employee makes $45,000 annually and is paid monthly.
    • They are enrolled in the Consumer Choice HSA Family coverage.
    • If they contribute $62.50 per month, they will have contributed $750 by December 31.
    • USG also contributes $750, which adds up to a total of $1,500 at the end of the year.
    • Since these contributions are pre-tax,2 the reduction to the paycheck is $47.88.

     

    Switching from an FSA to an HSA?

    If you switch from a healthcare flexible spending account (HC-FSA) to a Health Savings Account during Open Enrollment, you must have a $0 balance in your FSA as of December 31, 2023. If you do not have $0 as of the end of the year, your Health Savings Account contributions cannot begin until April 1, 2024. Your contributions will not start automatically. You must contact OneUSG Connect -Benefits at 844-587-4236.

  • Dental

    Dental premiums have increased, however, there were no plan design changes.  Please see the chart below for the 2024 dental premiums.   

    Employee Monthly Premium 

     

    Delta Dental Base

    Delta Dental High 

    Employee

    $34.22 

    $42.30 

    Employee + Child(ren)

    $65.02 

    $80.36 

    Employee + Spouse

    $68.46 

    $84.56 

    Family

    $109.52 

    $135.36 

    Remember! Wisdom teeth extractions will be covered by the dental plan. These services are not covered under the USG healthcare plans. 

  • Update your Beneficiaries

    Keep your USG life insurance beneficiary information up to date in One USG Connect - Benefits.  You will need to have your beneficiary’s name, contact information, and social security number.

    • Life Insurance: If you did not get a chance to update your USG life insurance beneficiaries during open enrollment, you can update your beneficiary at any time during the year.
    • Health Savings Account: You will need to add a beneficiary through the HSA Bank portal at myaccounts.hsabank.com/Login.aspx

    Also, remember to update your beneficiary information with your TRS or your retirement vendor (Corebridge Financial, Fidelity, or TIAA). Review the contact page for vendor information.  

    To update your USG life insurance beneficiaries, log in to oneusgconnect.usg.edu or call 1-844-587-4236 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday.

USG Well-being

  • USG Well-being

    Changes have been made to the USG Well-being Program, placing a renewed focus on your health! For all employees and their spouses who are enrolled in a USG healthcare plan, the Well-being Program year will begin January 1, 2024. 

    How the 2024 Well-being Program works

    The reward earning opportunities for the program will now be offered to you through your USG healthcare plan — either Anthem or Kaiser. 

    A well-being reward of up to $100 will be available to employees and their spouses who complete the healthy activities:

    • For Anthem members: healthy activities include getting a preventive care exam or vaccine, taking a Health Assessment, tracking steps, and more. 
    • For Kaiser members: you must complete a 5-step program that includes accepting your agreement, taking your total Health Assessment, knowing your numbers, getting screened and making a lifestyle change. 

    Ready to get started? The earning period is January 1 through December 31, 2024, and rewards will be paid in 2024 by gift cards. To learn more, please visit the USG Well-being website.  

  • Employee Assistance Program

    The USG Employee Assistance Program is through Acentra Health. You can access the EAP 24/7, 365 days a year. 

    • Call 1-844-243-4440 to get referrals, information or to ask questions.
    • Visit: usg.mylifeexpert.com
    • Password: USGCares

Retirement Plans