2026 USG Open Enrollment: Your Guide from Elwood & Goetz

Autumn in Georgia may make one think of football, changing leaves, upcoming holidays, or for others – The University System of Georgia’s (USG) Open Enrollment & the accompanying Elwood & Goetz’s open enrollment guide. 

Your team of financial advisors is here to support you every step of the way, helping you make informed decisions that align with your financial goals.

Note: This guide provides high-level recommendations and is not a substitute for personalized financial advice within the context of your comprehensive financial plan. If you are an E&G client, reach out anytime with questions. Non-clients interested in our services are welcome to schedule a consultation to learn more about our wealth management services.

If you’re an E&G Client, you can reach out to us any time with questions about your benefits selections. If you’re not currently an E&G client but are interested in potentially partnering with our team, you're welcome to give us a call to learn more about our comprehensive wealth management services. We provide a no-cost second opinion, including reviews of one’s current investment and tax plan. 

Please take advantage of this open enrollment period to align your benefits with your goals and secure peace of mind for the year ahead.

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About Elwood & Goetz

Founded in Athens, Georgia—home of the University of Georgia—E&G has a long history of working closely with USG employees and the UGA community. Many of our clients currently work for or have worked within USG, and several distinguished UGA professors are on our advisory team. This experience allows us to provide informed guidance on USG benefits and retirement plans each year.

Key reminders for 2026 USG open enrollment

  • Open enrollment begins October 27, 2025 and ends November 7, 2025.
  • When making health insurance plan changes, always check with your doctors to ensure they will remain in-network with the new plan.
  • You must complete tobacco use and working spouse certifications during open enrollment in the OneUSG Connect – Benefits system, or surcharges will apply.

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2026 USG Benefit Changes Highlights

  • Premium Increases: Employees will see increases of $7–$54 per month depending on the plan and coverage tier.
  • Plan Design Adjustments: Deductibles, out-of-pocket maximums, coinsurance, and copays will increase across all health care plans in 2026.
  • Health Savings Account Match: For the Consumer Choice HSA plan, the USG match is 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 to $10,000.
  • Well-Being Incentive: The $100 incentive for employees and covered spouses will continue.
  • Weight Management Programs: Anthem enrollees will have access to a Weight Watchers program, while Kaiser enrollees will have access to Omada weight management programs.
  • Dental Premiums: Increase of $2–$7 per month depending on plan and tier.
  • Vision and Life Insurance Premiums: No change for 2026.
  • Tobacco and Working Spouse Surcharges: Continue at $150 per month, with required annual certification.

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University System of Georgia Employee Benefits and Recommendations

Health Insurance Options

The Comprehensive Care and Consumer Choice HSA plans continue to provide greater provider flexibility, offering both in-network and out-of-network coverage. In most cases, we recommend these plans over the HMO options.

The Consumer Choice HSA plan features lower premiums and access to a Health Savings Account, though employees should note the reduction in USG’s matching contribution for 2026.

If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant in 2026, the HMO or Comprehensive Care plan may make sense for you given their more comprehensive maternity care coverage.

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Health Savings Account (HSA)

We continue to view the Health Savings Account as one of the best benefits available, thanks to its unique tax advantages and rollover features. Contributions are made pre-tax, grow tax-free, and can be withdrawn tax-free for qualifying expenses.

For 2026, maximum contributions (including employer match) are:

  • $4,300 for individual coverage
  • $8,550 for family coverage
  • An additional $1,000 catch-up contribution for employees age 55 and older
  • Employer match: $325 (individual), $650 (family)

USG’s match has been reduced to $325 for individuals and $650 for families, and these amounts count toward the maximum contribution limits.

We generally recommend redirecting premium savings from choosing the Consumer Choice HSA plan (instead of Comprehensive Care) into your HSA account to maximize both your tax savings and the employer match.

A final note on HSAs: Contributions are not allowed for employees enrolled in Medicare Part A or receiving Social Security benefits. You may choose to delay Medicare Part A enrollment until retirement if you wish to continue contributing.

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Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

For those not enrolled in the HSA plan, the Health Care FSA remains an option. 2026 contributions are pre-tax but must be used within the plan year (with the grace period ending March 15, 2027, and reimbursement deadline of March 31, 2027).  2026 limits are:

  • Health Care FSA: Up to $3,400 (+$100) for healthcare, prescription, dental, and vision expenses.
  • Limited Purpose FSA: Available if you are also contributing to an HSA; limited to dental and vision expenses. Up to $3,400 (+$100).
  • Dependent Care FSA: Up to $7,500 ($3,750 if married filing separately). Covers daycare, preschool, summer camp, and other qualifying dependent care expenses. Both parents must be employed to qualify. The grace period for 2026 is the same as the Health Care FSA (expenses prior to March 15, 2027, and reimbursement deadline of March 31, 2027).

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Dental Insurance

  • Base Option: $1,000/person annual maximum, no orthodontia. Premiums increase by $2–$7 per month depending on tier.
  • High Option: $1,500/person annual maximum, with up to $1,000 of lifetime orthodontia coverage. Premiums also increase by $2–$7 per month.

If you receive routine care every 6 months, the dental plan often breaks even, and any additional dental work typically makes the plan more cost-effective than paying out of pocket.

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Vision Insurance

No changes for 2026. Coverage remains consistent, with annual eye exams covered under most USG health plans (except HMO options). The vision plan helps cover glasses and contacts, with premiums ranging from $6.90–$20.34 depending on coverage level.

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Life Insurance

The University System of Georgia continues to provide $25,000 of basic life and $25,000 of AD&D insurance at no cost. Employees can elect additional group life coverage up to 8x salary, subject to underwriting requirements above certain levels. Spousal and dependent coverage remain available, with no changes to premiums.

We recommend reviewing your beneficiary designations during open enrollment. For many, it may also make sense to compare USG group life insurance with private individual policies, which can sometimes be more cost-effective if you are in good health. 

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Short-Term Disability Insurance

If you have a robust emergency fund, short-term disability may not be necessary, but it can provide helpful protection, particularly for maternity leave. New enrollees will need to provide evidence of insurability. Note that coverage will not apply if you are already pregnant at the time of enrollment.

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Long-Term Disability Insurance

We strongly recommend participating in USG’s long-term disability plan. If you are unable to work for an extended period due to injury or illness, this coverage replaces 60% of your salary, up to $15,000 per month. Premiums are based on your salary, and the protection offered makes this one of the most valuable benefits available.

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Critical Illness and Accident Insurance

These supplemental plans continue to provide coverage only for certain events. While they may be useful for some based on personal health or family history, they generally should not be a top priority when selecting benefits.

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Lifestyle Benefits Packages

USG also offers a variety of lifestyle benefits, including discounts for services like roadside assistance, identity theft protection, legal plans, and pet care. Enrollment should be based on your specific needs and the value of the services offered.

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Conclusion

We hope this guide has provided some simplification and clarity for this year’s open enrollment period with USG. For personalized guidance, please contact your financial planning team at Elwood & Goetz. We are here to help explain and evaluate all of your options and provide you with optimal recommendations.

For more information and additional resources, you may want to check out the USG website, where you can register for virtual sessions on open enrollment.

If you’re not an E&G client but you’re interested in potentially working with our financial planning team, please reach out. Beyond benefits selection, we’re ready to help you plan for all areas of your financial life. Schedule a no-cost discovery meeting or call today to learn more.

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