Overview
Child eligibility rules vary by plan. Once your child is no longer considered your dependent for benefit purposes, you need to take action to remove your child from your benefit plans.
Eligibility Deadline
You have 30 days from the date of your Qualifying Event to enroll or make a change.
Beneficiary Designation
You should review and update your Beneficiary Designation(s) with each Qualifying Life Event.
Tax Withholding
Review and update your tax withholding exemptions, if necessary.
How to Enroll or Make Changes to Your Benefits
For information on how to enroll or make changes in My Insurance Benefits, see the Qualifying Life Events web page. Some changes due to qualifying life events may require contacting a plan administrator or your human resources contact directly. Check each section below for any specific instructions.
State Group Health, Supplemental Delta Dental, and MetLife Vision Insurance
Coverage for your child ends at the end of the month in which they turn 26 years old.
Your child may continue coverage for up to 36 months by submitting a continuation notice and application within 60 days of the coverage end date or the receipt of continuation notice, whichever is later. You will receive a continuation notice. Contact UW–Shared Services, Service Operations at  GetHelpUW@support.wisconsin.edu or (888) 298–0141 (7:45 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Monday–Friday) if you do not receive one.
If your child is disabled when coverage would otherwise end, you may be able to keep the child insured under your plan. Contact your plan for more information.
Life Insurance
State Group Life
Coverage for your child ends at the end of the month in which they turn 26 years old.
If you have Spouse and Dependent coverage and this child was your last eligible dependent (you do not have a spouse or other eligible children), your Spouse and Dependent coverage will automatically be cancelled at the end of the month in which the last eligible dependent turns 26. The change to your coverage will be effective the first of the month following the date your last eligible child turns 26.
Your child may convert coverage to an individual whole life insurance policy by submitting a conversion application to Securian within 31 days of the coverage end date. You can contact the UW Shared Services at GetHelpUW@support.wisconsin.edu or (888) 298-0141 (7:45 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Monday–Friday) for a conversion application.
If your child is disabled when coverage would otherwise end, your child may remain an eligible dependent. Contact Securian for more information.
Individual & Family Group Life (I&F)
Coverage for your child ends at the earliest of the following dates:
- The end of the month in which the child marries, or
- The end of the year in which the child is no longer dependent upon you for at least 50% of their financial support (you must remove the child or cancel child coverage within 30 days of their loss of eligibility), or
- The end of the year in which the child turns age 25.
If enrolled in Child coverage, when your last eligible child turns age 25, your Child coverage will automatically be cancelled at the end of the year.
Your child may convert coverage to an individual whole life insurance policy by submitting a conversion application to Securian within 31 days of the coverage end date. Contact UW–Shared Services, Service Operations at GetHelpUW@support.wisconsin.edu or (888) 298-0141 (7:45 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Monday–Friday) for a conversion application.
Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D)
Coverage for your child ends at the earliest of the following dates:
- The end of the month in which the child marries, or
- The end of the year in which the child is no longer dependent upon you for at least 50% of their financial support, or
- The end of the year in which the child turns age 19 (or age 25 if a full-time student).
If you have Family coverage and this child is your last eligible dependent (you do not have a spouse, domestic partner or other eligible children), you must change your coverage to Individual coverage.
Your child may convert coverage to an individual policy by contacting Zurich American Insurance Company at 888-634-6780 (reference UW System Policy # GTU-8364005) within 60 days of the coverage end date. Contact UW–Shared Services, Service Operations at GetHelpUW@support.wisconsin.edu or (888) 298-0141 (7:45–4:30 p.m. Monday–Friday) for a conversion application.
Accident Insurance
Coverage for your child ends at the end of the month in which they turn 26 years old.
If you have Individual + Children or Family coverage and this child was your last eligible child (you do not have other eligible children), your coverage will automatically be changed to Individual or Individual + Spouse coverage at the end of the month in which your last eligible child turns 26.
Your child may continue coverage for up to 36 months by submitting a Portability Form to Securian within 31 days after the coverage end date or the receipt of continuation notice, whichever is later. The portability form can be accessed on Securian’s website under Forms & Documents.
If your child is disabled when coverage would otherwise end, your child may remain an eligible dependent. Contact Securian for more information.
Income Continuation Insurance
This plan offers employee-only coverage.
Spending & Savings Accounts
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
Health Care FSA: Typically, expenses incurred by your adult children until the end of the year in which they turn 26 are eligible for reimbursement.
Dependent Day Care FSA: Typically, day care expenses for children under 13 are eligible for reimbursement under your Dependent Day Care FSA.
You may decrease or cancel your Health Care and/or Dependent Day Care FSA election within 30 days of no longer being able to claim expenses for your child(ren).
Health Savings Account (HSA)
Your adult children must meet the IRS’ definition of a qualifying child or qualifying relative for their expenses to be considered eligible for reimbursement. This generally means that they need to be a tax dependent.
You may change your employee contribution at any time by logging into My Insurance Benefits. For assistance with enrolling or making changes to your HSA contribution amount, review Making Changes to a Health Savings Account (ET-1142b).
Retirement Plans
UW 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Program (SRP)
You can enroll in or make changes at any time.
Wisconsin Deferred Compensation (WDC)
You can enroll in or make changes at any time.