Medical overview – Keck/Norris union employees

All of USC’s medical plans provide:

  • access to top-quality providers
  • preventive care at no cost to you
  • effective coordination among providers
  • limits on out-of-pocket expenses
  • coverage for prescription drugs, behavioral health and substance abuse services, and out-of-network emergency care

Information about dental plans available to you can be found here.

Information for CNA Verdugo Hills union represented employees can be found here. 

Where to get help with choosing your plan 

Medical plan rates effective January 1-December 31, 2024

(For months with three pay periods, costs only come out of the first two paychecks.)  

If your spouse/domestic partner’s employer offers medical coverage and you choose to provide them coverage under a USC plan, a Spousal Surcharge will apply to your medical coverage.  

Questions about pay-based medical rates? See our Q&A page. 

Note for employees aged 65 or older: USC recommends that all employees who are eligible for Medicare Part A (hospital coverage) enroll. Often times, there is no-cost for Medicare Part A. As long as, you are enrolled in a USC medical plan, you are not required to enroll in Medicare Part B (outpatient) or Medicare Part D (prescription drug).   

Opt out options

CNA (Keck and Norris) – health benefits opt out

Eligible healthcare benefited employees may voluntarily “opt out” of benefits as follows:

Option 1 – opt out of all USC medical benefits (not dental, vision, life or AD&D insurance)

Employee will receive a flat rate of $2 per budgeted hour per pay period.

Example: 80 hours x $2 = $160 per pay period

Option 2 – opt out of all USC medical benefits as indicated above and PTO

Employee will receive a flat rate of $6.13 per hour.

Example: 80 hours x $6.13 = $490.40 per pay period

NUHW (Norris) – payment in lieu of health benefits (medical only – not dental or vision insurance)

A regular full-time or part-time NUHW Norris employee has the option to waive benefits (medical only) and receive $35.00 per pay period.

NUHW (Keck) – payment in lieu of health benefits (medical only – not dental or vision insurance)

A regular full-time or part-time NUHW Keck employee has the option to waive benefits (medical only) and receive $35.00 per pay period.

A regular full-time LVN, Radiology Technician or Respiratory Therapist has two options:

Option 1 – waive medical (only) and receive a flat rate of $2 per budgeted hour per pay period

Example: 80 hours x $2 = $160 per pay period

Option 2 – waive medical (only) plus PTO and receive a rate based on his/her hourly rate as follows:

Less than $15/hour – $3.38/hour reimbursement

$15.01-20.00/hour – $3.93/hour reimbursement

$20.01-25.00/hour – $4.48/hour reimbursement

$25.01-30.00/hour – $5.02/hour reimbursement

$30.01-35.00/hour – $5.58/hour reimbursement

$35.01 or more/hour – $6.13/hour reimbursement

Example: if the employee’s hourly rate is $21.00/hour, 80 hours x $4.48 = $358.40 per pay period