2024 benefits owl logo - owl dressed as a pirate

2024 Benefits Fair

Join us at the 2024 Benefits Fair on October 23, 2024 from 10:30 AM - 1:30 PM at the ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ Center. Registration will be outside of Room 400.

If your department is interested in attending as a vendor with a presentation table, please email benefits@kennesaw.edu.

2025 Open Enrollment is from October 28 - November 8, 2024

Quick Links

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DON'T MISS A BEAT!

Text USG to 23613 to sign up for benefit updates and reminders delivered via text message.

OneUSG Connect - Benefits Call Center 844-587-4236 (8 AM ET to 5 PM ET, Monday - Friday)

 

USG Virtual OE Info Sessions

Date Time Registration Link
Monday, October 28, 2024 10:00am-11:30am
Monday, November 4, 2024 12:00pm-1:30pm

²ÝÁñÊÓƵ Virtual OE Info Sessions

Date Time Registration Link
Tuesday, October 29, 2024 9:00am-10:30am
Wednesday, October 30, 2024 1:00pm-2:30pm

OE Help Sessions

During these sessions you can receive enrollment assistance from a benefits practitioner.

Date Time Location
Monday, Nov 4, 2024 12:00pm-3:00pm TP 2240 (²ÝÁñÊÓƵ)
Tuesday, Nov 5, 2024 1:00pm-4:00pm TP 2240 (²ÝÁñÊÓƵ)
Wednesday, Nov 6, 2024 9:00am-12:00pm TP 2240 (²ÝÁñÊÓƵ)
Thursday, Nov 7, 2024 9:00am-4:00pm Q 220 (Engineering Technology - Marietta)
Friday, Nov 8, 2024 9:00am-4:00pm TP 2240 (²ÝÁñÊÓƵ)

Shared Sick Leave Pool

The Shared Sick Leave Program provides a means for USG employees to donate paid sick leave to a shared leave pool and for fellow employees who meet the eligibility provisions to request leave from the pool.

  • An employee must enroll in the program during the annual benefits open enrollment
    period established by the Board of Regents. Eligibility for enrollment is reviewed on January 1 following the open enrollment period and participation becomes effective January 1.
  • In order to receive shared leave, the employee must:
    • be a member of the leave program, and
    • have completed the initial provisional period of employment, and
    • provide certification of a serious health condition from a licensed physician, and
    • have exhausted all sick and annual leave (or must provide credible medical evidence
    that he or she will exhaust all sick and annual leave before the medical condition is resolved).
  • An employee may withdraw from the pool at any time by sending a written request to the Shared Leave Program Administrator. Any leave contributed to the pool prior to withdrawal shall be forfeited.
  • An eligible employee may request shared leave by submitting the Request Form and a
    completed Physician’s Certification Form to the shared sick leave program administrator. If the employee is not capable of making application on their own behalf, a personal representative, having documented power of attorney for the employee, may make written application on behalf of the employee.

    A potential leave recipient may request up to 160 hours (pro-rated for part-time employees) of Shared Leave at one time, and may make up to two additional requests for Shared Leave within a calendar year, for a maximum total of 480 hours (12 weeks) (pro-rated for part-time employees) per year. The requests may be consecutive.
  • All unused leave will go back to the pool.
  • You may donate leave in eight hour (8, 16, 24, etc.) increments, with a minimum donation of eight (8) hours and a maximum donation of 80 hours per enrollment period. Donors must retain at least forty (40) hours of personal sick leave upon donation (pro-rated for part-time employees).
  • Enrollment in the Shared Sick Leave pool is continuous and ongoing unless you choose to unenroll.  

Open Enrollment FAQs

  • Open Enrollment for active employees and covered retirees is from Oct. 28 through Nov. 8, 2024.
  • Enrollment in benefits for the 2025 plan year will take place online, via the   system. You may also call the Benefits Call Center at 1-844-587-4236 for assistance.
  • Active employees will begin receiving Open Enrollment information in mid-September.
  • The Medicare enrollment period is Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, 2024, for  Jan. 1, 2025, coverage begin date.
  • Please refer to the  for Shared Sick Leave policy and forms. 

Premiums

  • Yes. Employee premiums are changing for all plans. Please refer to the 2025 Comparison Guide for information on the new rates for 2025.

Monthly Working Spouse Surcharge

  • No, the working spouse surcharge will remain at $150 monthly for employees who cover a spouse in the USG healthcare plan and the spouse receives an offer of coverage from their employer.
  • Across the country, healthcare costs are rising, and Georgia tracks closely with national healthcare trends. Overall, USG’s costs are increasing at a higher rate than in the past. In addition, spouses on average cost $150 per month more than employees. USG is adding the surcharge to spouses that have an option of subsidized coverage in their employer’s plan.
  • Employees covering spouses in the USG plan will be required to certify whether their spouse has an offer of coverage during each annual Open Enrollment period.
  • For detailed information regarding the monthly working surcharge, please visit the .

Tobacco Surcharge

  • No, the tobacco surcharge will remain at $150 monthly for employees and covered spouse who are tobacco users. One surcharge covers all dependent children age 18 and older who use tobacco. A tobacco use certification will be required during each annual open enrollment period. 
  • Certification of tobacco use status is required each year for all employees and pre-65 retirees who enroll in the USG healthcare plan. If you do not certify your status and remain enrolled in the USG healthcare plan, you will be defaulted to tobacco use and will be charged the $150 monthly surcharge.

Retirees

  • For the 65+ Retiree HRA Contribution amount will remain at $2,640 for 2025.
  • The Medicare enrollment period is Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, 2024, for  Jan. 1, 2025, coverage begin date.