What is Staying the Same?
EMPLOYEE ACTION REQUIRED:
If you are enrolled in a USG healthcare plan, you must complete the certification of your tobacco use and working spouse (if applicable) each year during open enrollment. NOTE: If you take no action during Open Enrollment, you will default to the surcharge. If you take no action and are defaulted to the surcharges, USG will not refund any surcharge amounts assessed to the employee’s paycheck.

• Tobacco and working spouse surcharges will continue at $150 per month. Certification of status is required each enrollment year, or the surcharge will apply. Certification must be done during Open Enrollment in OneUSG Connect – Benefits system. Information is available at the USG Surcharges webpage. 
  
  
• Check your open enrollment confirmation statement to make sure you completed the certification.
   
  
• The Tobacco Cessation option will continue to be available during open enrollment for employees/dependents who are tobacco users to provide an opportunity to take a Tobacco Cessation program, complete the program and have the tobacco surcharge removed. Information about Tobacco Cessation options is available on the USG Well-being website here under "Trying to quit tobacco?" section. 
  
  
• The Working Spouse Surcharge will apply to employees who cover their working spouse under the USG plan when the spouse has an offer of coverage from their own employer.
  
  
• You may change/update your surcharge status at any time during the year through OneUSG Connect – Benefits. The change will be effective on the first day of the following month.
  
  
• The well-being program will continue, and an incentive of up to $100 for employees and covered spouses will be available for completing designated health promotion activities through the healthcare provider (Anthem or Kaiser).
  
  
• A weight loss support program will be available through Weight Watchers for employees and spouses enrolled in Anthem healthcare plans.
  
  
• Medicare-eligible retirees 65 and over and Medicare-eligible dependents age 65 and older will continue to enroll in their supplemental healthcare coverage through Alight Retiree Health Solutions. Medicare Part A and B will provide primary coverage. USG will also continue to provide an annual contribution into a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) for retirees and/or dependents to use towards premiums and other eligible out-of-pocket healthcare expenses.

What is Changing?

• Increases in pharmacy out-of-pocket maximums for the Comprehensive Care and the BlueChoice HMO plans.
  
  
• Increases in monthly employee premiums between $7 - $54 per month, depending on the plan and coverage tier.
  
  
• Dental plan premiums are set to increase between $2 - $7 per month based on plan and tier level. There is no change to vision insurance premiums or life insurance premiums for 2026.
  
  
• Anthem members must complete the Health Assessment in order to earn well-being rewards in 2026. 
  
  
• The Omada weight management programs will be available for all those enrolled in Kaiser plans.
  
  
• All Health Plans: Additional codes for diagnostic breast cancer screening to pay at 100% - Imaging and Biopsy codes
  
  
• All Health Plans: Eligibility rule change effective January 1, 2026, newly hired employees will have a one-time opportunity during their new hire enrollment window to enroll their disabled child dependent 26 and older in health coverage. Documentation of disability status is required. During this year's Open Enrollment, employees who were not allowed to enroll their 26 or older disabled dependent at hire will have a one-time opportunity to complete the verification process and enroll them in coverage
  
  
• For employees enrolled in the Consumer Choice HSA plan, the University’s matching contribution to the employee’s Health Savings Account will be reduced from $375 to $325 for employee-only coverage and from $750 to $650 for family coverage. The in-network individual out-of-pocket maximum for family tiers increases from $9,200 to $10,000. Additionally, Diagnostic Breast Cancer Screening will bypass the deductible and pay at 100% like other plans.
  
  
• Pre-65 retirees and pre-65 dependents will remain on the same plans as active employees, and 2026 design changes will apply as well. As in the past, there will be separate pre-65 retiree premium rate charts for the 2026 plan year, which include the same increases shared above.  
  
  
• Medicare-eligible retiree age 65 or older, as well as their Medicare-eligible dependent(s):
  The maximum annual employer contribution to the Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) reduced from $2,640 to $2,484, or by $156 annually. This amount reflects a 6% reduction, aligning with the average increase in employee-only premiums. To receive the 2026 USG HRA funding, retirees and/or their dependents must enroll in coverage through Alight Retiree Health Solutions. The Medicare enrollment period runs from October 15 to December 7, with coverage effective January 1, 2026. 
  
  
• New health insurance cards will not be issued this year unless the employee makes a change to the plan they are enrolled in.

A summary of the approved plan design changes is available on the USG Benefits website.