Georgia Tech health and wellness benefits are provided through a variety of vendors and are subject to different outcomes if they are discontinued. We recommended carefully reviewing each benefit below to understand your options if your Georgia Tech benefits end, due to a termination (voluntary or involuntary) or a “lapsed transfer” to a different University System of Georgia (USG) Institution.
Your health insurance will continue through the end of the month in which you separate from Georgia Tech. You may continue your coverage under COBRA (The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act).
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Impact on Benefits
See below to learn how different benefits are impacted by leaving Georgia Tech. Some plans stop immediately, others have the option to continue on an individual basis and a few may require action. Also, ensure your address is up-to-date to ensure you receive your W-2.
Health Benefits
Your health insurance (medical, dental, and vision) will continue through the end of the month in which you separate from Georgia Tech and premiums will be collected via payroll or an outreach effort. You may continue your coverage through The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) for up to 18 months through the University System of Georgia's COBRA administrator, OneUSG Connect. A COBRA benefit continuation packet will be mailed to your home from OneUSG Connect within one to two weeks after your employement ends with Georgia Tech. You will have up to 60 days to make your COBRA election and submit payment to OneUSG Connect.
Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
FSA claims must be incurred in the plan year in which you participated in FSA. Additionally, your claims must occur on or before your last day of employment. You must submit your eligible claims to Optum no later than 90 days following your last day of employment with Georgia Tech in order to qualify for reimbursement. Unused FSA funds will be forfeited. If you are enrolled in the FSA program at the time of your separation from Georgia Tech, you may also elect to continue your FSA contributions through COBRA on an after-tax basis.
Health Savings Account (HSA)
If you are enrolled in the HSA program and have a remaining balance in your HSA account, you may continue to use your remaining HSA funds for qualifying expenses until your funds are exhausted. Your funds do not expire, not even after employment has ended.
Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance
Your basic and (if applicable) supplemental life and AD&D benefits end on your last day of employment. The USG Minnesota Life basic and supplemental insurance plans have a portability feature. These plans allow you to continue this coverage as an individual policy. You must contact Minnesota Life directly to initiate the portability process within 30 days of your separation by calling 1-866-293-6047. The Georgia Tech Unum Whole Life plan also has a portability feature. If enrolled in this plan, you must contact Unum directly within 30 days from your last day of employment to elect a continuation of benefits through Unum.
Short-Term and Long-Term Disability (STD & LTD)
STD and LTD enrollment ends on your last day of employment. There is not a continuation option.
529 College Savings Plan
If you contribute to Georgia Tech’s 529 plan through TIAA, your contributions will stop on your last pay check.
Core Retirement Plans: Teacher’s Retirement System (TRS) & Optional Retirement System (ORP)
For information related to refunds, distributions, rollovers, or general account information, direct your questions to either TRS or the applicable financial institution (Fidelity, Valic or TIAA) for ORP. Contact information for each institution is located at the end of this document.
Supplemental Retirement Plans: 403(b) and 457(b)
For information related to distributions, rollovers, and general account information, you must contact the applicable financial institution (Fidelity, Valic or TIAA). If you have an outstanding loan, contact Fidelity directly to establish a repayment plan. Contact information is located at the end of this document.
Vacation/Final Pay
If eligible for vacation, you will be paid for any unused, accrued vacation time up to a maximum of 45 days (360 hours). Vacation payouts are processed within 30 days of your separation from the Institute and are also dependent on when payroll receives notification of your termination from your department. Benefit premiums may be deducted from your vacation payout if your wages aren’t enough to cover them.
If you are transferring to another USG institution within 30 days, your leave accrual will transfer; cash out options are limited. Learn more about transferring benefits to another USG institution here.
Form W-2, Wage, Tax Statements & Address Changes
Tax forms from the previous year will be mailed to the address on file in OneUSG Connect. If you need to update your address after leaving the Institute, please contact the OneUSG Shared Services Center (SSC) at 877-251-2644.
