Open enrollment happens once a year for eligible faculty, staff, and retirees to sign up for health insurance and other benefits, as well as to make adjustments to their current plans or discontinue coverage.
When is Open Enrollment?
This year’s University System of Georgia (USG) benefits open enrollment will be held Monday, October 26 – Friday, November 6, 2026.
Benefits Fair: An in-person benefits fair will be held on Thursday, October 22, 2026 in Mahler Hall at the Georgia Center from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. MORE
Virtual Office Hours: The UHR Benefits Team will hold virtual office hours during the open enrollment period. Also, the USG will be offering live online Open Enrollment information sessions for active employees and pre-65 retirees. MORE
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 here.
- 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.
- Well-Being Incentive: Up to $100 is available for healthcare-enrolled employees and spouses. A Health Risk Assessment must be completed to be eligible to earn the incentive.
- For Anthem members, additional incentive-based earning opportunities will be available for completing well-being challenges and certifying participation in a wellness program.
- 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.
- Pre-65 Retirees (non-Medicare-enrolled): premium increases mirror those for active employees.
- Medicare-enrolled Retirees and dependents
- will continue to enroll in supplemental healthcare coverage through Alight Retiree Health Solutions. Medicare Parts A and B are primary coverage.
- HRA Contribution: remains at $2,484 per year per Medicare-enrolled retiree or dependent. To receive the HRA contribution, the Medicare-enrolled retiree or dependent must be enrolled in at least one plan through the Alight Retiree Health Solutions.
- Medicare Open Enrollment: October 15 – December 7, 2026. Coverage begins January 1, 2027.
- Healthcare Employee Premiums: Increases of $4–$52 per month, depending on plan and coverage tier.
- Pharmacy Benefit Manager: For Anthem members, the pharmacy benefit manager will transition from CVS Caremark to Express Scripts (ESI). ESI will work with USG employees who may be affected by network or formulary changes. CVS pharmacies will remain in network and can continue to be used by members.
- Weight Management Programming: Because Weight Watchers is associated with the CVS contract, the program for Anthem members and spouses will be discontinued as of Dec. 31, 2026.
- Medicare-enrolled pre-65 retirees or dependents will move to the Alight Retiree Health Solutions and receive a contribution to an HRA as the USG retiree benefit. HRA contribution for 2027 is $2,484 per year per Medicare-enrolled retiree or dependent.
A summary of the approved plan design changes is available on the USG Benefits website.
