USC benefits-eligible employees have a chance to re-enroll in benefits during this year’s open enrollment during the sign-up period, which began Oct. 28 and runs through Nov. 18.
By enrolling during the open period, employees have access to discounts via the healthy choices incentives, can open a Flexible Spending Account and can ensure the benefits plan fits their family perfectly for 2020.
Sneak peek at what’s new
USC is offering benefits-eligible employees a world of wellness help this year. For details, see the Wellness offerings and incentives page, which includes gym discounts, free flu shots, cash for health and fitness goals, a new diabetes management program and more. The healthy choices incentives are back, offering savings of up to $780 per year on medical premiums.
The PPO plan has a new pharmacy formulary – and this year the PPO will also offer the primary care physician discount.
Also new this year – due to changes in state law, registered domestic partners of the opposite sex, regardless of age, now qualify for medical coverage under the HMO plans. Previously, opposite sex domestic partners did not qualify unless one of them was at least age 62, although same-sex domestic partners of any age qualified. For further details, see the California state site for information and forms.
Get this year’s details
- Start with What applies to you — because some employee groups have differing benefit information, make sure to get the correct information.
- Find out what’s new and consider all of the applicable benefit choices at Review your benefits, where a dropdown menu shows each type of benefit that can be changed during open enrollment. NOTE: The “review your benefits” page has a helpful navigation menu on the right to visit the different benefit pages more easily.
- The Save money page is a roundup of all the options to save on medical premiums or get additional financial help.
- What to do and when includes the nuts-and-bolts of how to prepare and complete open enrollment, and important dates (like benefits fairs, deadlines, etc.)
- Find help fast provides the contact information for the HR Service Center, the benefit providers and more.
- A series of printable factsheets and summaries are available in one place here.
For those who do not complete open enrollment in Workday
- Benefits-eligible employees will be automatically re-enrolled based on the 2019 medical plan election, covering the same dependents. (Those who waived medical coverage in 2019 will not receive medical coverage in 2020 unless they enroll.)
- With no verification otherwise, the $25 per month tobacco-free credit will not be applied.
- For those who cover a spouse or registered domestic partner, the working spouse surcharge of $100 per month will be applied with no verification otherwise.
- The health care Flexible Spending Account or a dependent care Flexible Spending Account will not continue from 2019 elections.
- Any other benefits from 2019, not mentioned above, will remain the same.
Announcements will arrive via email throughout the open enrollment period. Direct questions to the HR Service Center at (213) 821-8100 or uschr@usc.edu.
All new plans and rates take effect Jan. 1, 2020, and all benefit information will be available on appropriate benefit pages of the Employee Gateway at that point. The 2019 benefits and rates are effective through Dec. 31, 2019.