Overview
Coverages end at the end of the month in which your employment terminates. Depending on your end date you may have additional deductions taken from your final paycheck or you may be billed. When you terminate employment, you may be eligible to continue or convert your benefits. Your premiums must be up to date to continue or convert.
If you are retiring, other provisions apply. A continuation notice will be sent to you outlining your continuation or conversion rights to the plans you were enrolled in at the time of termination. If a copy of the notice is needed, contact UW-Shared Services, Service Operations at serviceoperations@uwss.wisconsin.edu or (888) 298-0141.
Accident Plan
Coverage ends at the end of the month in which your employment terminates. You may port coverage by submitting a portability form and application to Securian. This should be done within 60 days of the coverage end date or the receipt of the continuation notice, whichever is later. You may continue coverage until age 70.
State Group Health, Supplemental Delta Dental, and DeltaVision
State Group Health Insurance (SGH)
Coverage ends at the end of the month in which your employment terminates.
You may continue coverage by submitting a Continuation-Conversion notice to ETF within 60 days of your insurance coverage end date or the receipt of the continuation form, whichever is later. Information will be mailed to your home address after your last day worked. You are responsible for the entire premium; there is no employer contribution.
- If you have less than 20 years of WRS creditable service, you may continue coverage for 18 months.
- If you have at least 20 years of WRS creditable service, you may continue coverage for life.
- You may be eligible to have your accumulated sick leave credits certified to pay for health insurance premiums; after your employment ends, request this certification from benefits@ohr.wisc.edu.
- If you have at least 15 years of adjusted continuous State service, you are also eligible for the Supplemental Health Insurance Conversion Credits.
- If you are minimum retirement age when you terminate and choose not to apply for a WRS retirement benefit, you can access your sick leave credits to pay for health insurance premiums at any time. You must be covered by the State Group Health insurance plan at the time you terminate.
- If you are under minimum retirement age, you are not eligible to access your sick leave credits until you apply for a WRS retirement benefit.
Delta Dental
Coverage ends at the end of the month in which your employment terminates.
You may continue coverage for 18 months by submitting a continuation form to Delta Dental within 60 days of the coverage end date or the receipt of a continuation form, whichever is later. Information will be mailed to your home address after your last day worked.
DeltaVision Insurance
Coverage ends at the end of the month in which your employment terminates.
You may continue coverage for 18 months by submitting a continuation form to DeltaVision within 60 days of the coverage end date or the receipt of a continuation form, whichever is later. Information will be mailed to your home address after your last day worked.
Life Insurance
State Group Life Insurance (SGL)
Coverage ends at the end of the month in which your employment terminates.
You may be eligible to either convert or continue coverage. If you continue coverage, you pay the same premiums that active employees pay. If you convert coverage to an individual policy, premiums may increase.
You are eligible to continue your group policy if:
- Your WRS coverage began before January 1, 1990 or you have been covered under the group life insurance plan for a portion of at least 5 calendar years; AND
- You meet all of the requirements for receiving an immediate WRS annuity except filing the application; or
- The sum or your creditable years of WRS service before January 1, 1990 plus the number of years you have been covered in the life insurance plan after 1989 equals 20 years; or
- You have 20 years of service on payroll with your last employer.
In order to continue coverage, you must submit a continuation form to ETF within 31 days of your coverage end date.
You are eligible to convert your coverage to an individual policy if:
- You are under age 65; AND
- You were insured for the entire six months prior to your termination.
You may convert coverage to an individual whole life insurance plan by submitting a conversion form to Securian, the plan administrator, within 31 days of your coverage end date.
Individual and Family Life Insurance (I&F)
Coverage ends at the end of the month in which your employment terminates.
You may convert coverage to an individual whole life insurance plan by submitting a conversion form to Securian, the plan administrator, within 31 days of your coverage end date.
UW Employee’s Inc. Life Insurance
Coverage ends at the end of the month in which your employment terminates.
You may convert coverage to an individual whole life insurance plan by submitting a conversion form to Securian, the plan administrator, within 31 days of your coverage ends date.
University Insurance Association (UIA) Life Insurance
Coverage continues until December 31 following your termination date, provided the premium is paid through that date.
You may convert coverage to an individual whole life insurance plan by submitting a conversion form to Securian, the plan administrator, within 31 days of your coverage ends date.
Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance
Coverage ends at the end of the month in which your employment terminates.
You may convert to an individual policy by contacting Zurich American Insurance Company, the plan administrator, within 60 days of your coverage end date. Reference UW System Policy #GTU-8364005.
Income continuation Insurance (ICI)
Coverage ends on the date your employment terminates. There is no option to continue or convert coverage.
Spending & Savings Accounts
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) – Health Care
You have the following options:
If you contribute your full annual election amount, you may continue to be reimbursed for expenses incurred through the end of the plan year (December 31). To do so:
- You may complete an Election Change Request up to 60-days prior to your termination/retirement to request that the remaining contribution balance be deducted (in full) from your final paycheck. This request may be submitted directly to your local HR Contact; or
- You may complete a continuation form and submit payment to ETF within 60 days of your coverage end date, or by the date on the continuation notice, whichever is later. Cobra/Continuation information will be mailed to your home address.
- All expenses must be incurred by December 31. The carryover provision does not apply to employees who terminate mid-year.
If you do not contribute your full annual election amount, you may be reimbursed for expenses incurred through the end of the month in which your employment ends. Any expenses incurred after that date will not be reimbursed.
*NOTE: If you have carryover funds from the prior plan year, but do not participate in the current plan year, your carryover ends at the end of the month in which your employment ends.
Flexible Spending Account (FSA) – Dependent Care
You cannot continue dependent care contributions after your employment terminates. You can continue to request reimbursement for eligible expenses until you exhaust your account or until the end of the plan year, whichever comes first, even if you have not contributed the full annual election amount.
Health Savings Account (HSA)
If you are enrolled in a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP), you have an associated HSA. After you terminate employment, you may no longer contribute to your HSA. You may continue to use the funds to pay for qualified medical expenses.
At termination, you may move the HSA funds to another HSA or you may keep your account with the HSA vendor.
If you keep your account with the vendor, you will be charged a monthly maintenance fee that will be automatically deducted from your account.
Retirement Plans
Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS)
Ending employment before you are vested* in the WRS:
- leave your money in the WRS to accumulate interest
-or-
- take a separation benefit.
- If you take a separation benefit, you will lose the employer contributions and interest, and you will lose your creditable service earned prior to the separation benefit.
Ending employment once you are vested* in the WRS:
- Wait until age 55 (age 50 for those with Protective category WRS service) apply for retirement.
- You will be entitled to a retirement benefit based on the total value (employee and employer contributions) of your WRS account.
-or-
- take a separation benefit.
- If you take a separation benefit, you will lose the employer contributions and interest, and you will lose your creditable service earned prior to the separation benefit.
*Employees first covered by the WRS on or after July 1, 2011 must have five years of WRS creditable service to be vested. Employees covered by the WRS prior to July 1, 2011 are immediately vested.
To request a Separation Benefit, contact The Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF).
UW 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Program (SRP)
Deductions will automatically end with your last paycheck. Contact your investment company for distribution options.
Wisconsin Deferred Compensation 457 Program (WDC)
Deductions will automatically end with your last paycheck. Contact WDC for distribution options.
Paid Leave
Any remaining vacation, personal holiday, floating legal holiday or banked hours will be paid out to you. You may be able to use your remaining leave to extend your time on payroll with employer approval.
Sick leave is not paid out to you. Please refer to the Sick Leave Policy for information regarding reinstatement.
If you have 20 years of WRS creditable service, you are eligible to convert your sick leave to pay for health insurance in retirement.