The Board of Regents approved the 2025 University System of Georgia (USG) healthcare plans and premiums for active employees and pre-65 retirees at its Aug. 14 meeting. The Board also approved funding for the Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) for retirees 65 and older.
The USG continues to experience increasing costs within the healthcare market, including inflation and rising prescription drug costs. This unfortunately impacts the USG healthcare plan. There will be plan design changes and premium increases for all plans, while health promotion programs will continue to be available to support employees’ health. As USG has done in the past, cost increases for 2025 will be shared between employees and employer.
The following has been approved by the Board of Regents for 2025:
- Increases in deductibles, out-of-pocket maximums, co-insurance, and/or co-pays across all USG healthcare plans.
- Increases in monthly employee premiums of between 6.4% to 10.0%, depending on the plan and coverage tier.
- 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 the USG healthcare plans.
- For employees enrolled in the Consumer Choice HSA plan, the university’s matching contribution to the employee’s Health Savings Account will continue at $375 for employee-only coverage and at $750 for family coverage.
- Increase in dental rates by 7.7%, and plan design will stay the same.
- 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 OneUSG Connect – Surcharges.
A summary of the approved healthcare plan design changes and premiums is available on the Benefits website.
The 2025 Open Enrollment period will be Oct. 28 through Nov. 8. Please complete all 2025 enrollment elections and certifications through OneUSG Connect – Benefits no later than Nov. 8. Active employees will begin receiving Open Enrollment information in the fall by mail.
This year’s UGA Benefits Fair will take place on Oct. 18 at the University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education & Hotel in Mahler Hall from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. All faculty and staff are encouraged to attend to learn more about the USG benefits programs, changes to the benefit plans for 2025, and all the benefits USG and UGA have to offer. More information about this year’s Benefits Fair will be shared in the coming weeks.
Pre-65 retirees and pre-65 dependents will remain on the same plans as active employees. and 2025 design changes will apply as well. As in the past, there will be separate pre-65 retiree premium rate charts for the 2025 plan year that include the same increases shared in the summary above.
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.
This year, the Board of Regents approved the USG HRA annual contribution funding at $2,640 per year per 65 and older Medicare-eligible retiree and 65 and older Medicare-eligible covered dependent(s). To receive the 2025 USG HRA funding, the retiree and/or dependent must enroll in coverage through Alight Retiree Health Solutions. The Medicare enrollment period is Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, with coverage beginning Jan. 1, 2025.
As always, retirees are encouraged to review their plan enrollment each year and reach out to Alight Retiree Health Solutions to evaluate options for the coming year. Retirees will have an opportunity to review available options, including low-premium cost Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO and PPO) as well Medicare Supplement plans, during the Medicare Open Enrollment Period from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7.
University Human Resources is ready and available to offer support with Open Enrollment questions. For more information, visit the USG benefits website. Questions about these health plan benefits can be directed to hrweb@uga.edu or 706-542-2222.
