Overview
If you add a new child to your family due to birth, adoption or placement for adoption, you are eligible to add the child to your current benefit plans. You may also be able to enroll in certain benefit plans that offer an open enrollment due to the addition of a new child to your family.
Eligibility Deadline
The completed application(s) must submitted within 30-60 days of the Date of Birth and/or Adoption (deadline varies by plan). Applications are required for all benefits that are being updated/changed.
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.
Accident Plan
You may take the following action within 60 days of the birth, adoption or placement for adoption. Coverage is effective on the date of the birth, adoption or placement for adoption.
- Add the new child to your existing coverage
- Enroll in coverage and add all eligible family members
State Group Health, Supplemental Delta Dental, and DeltaVision
Supplemental Delta Dental and DeltaVision
You may take the following action within 60 days of the birth, adoption or placement for adoption. Coverage is effective on the date of the birth, adoption or placement for adoption.
- Add the new child to your existing coverage
- Enroll in coverage
- Cancel coverage
State Group Health
You may take the following actions within 60 days of the birth, adoption or placement for adoption. Coverage is effective on the date of the birth, adoption or placement for adoption.
- Add the new child to your existing coverage
- Enroll (can cover all eligible family members)
- Cancel coverage if you become eligible for and enroll under another health plan (see Gain of Other Coverage for more information.)
You may also change health insurance plan carriers or health plan design within 30 days of the birth, adoption or placement for adoption. Change to the new health insurance plan carrier or change in health plan design is effective the first of the month on or following the receipt of the application. If you change your health insurance plan carrier (i.e. GHC to Dean), all limits (deductible, benefit maximums and out-of-pocket limits) will reset to $0. Prescription drug and Uniform Dental accumulators and limits will not reset.
Life Insurance
State Group Life
You may take the following actions within 30 days of the birth, adoption or placement for adoption. Coverage is effective on the first of the month on or following 30 days from the date of the birth, adoption, or placement for adoption.
- Enroll in Basic coverage (if not currently enrolled), or
- Add one unit of employee coverage for each new dependent (if not already enrolled in maximum number of units)
- Enroll in one or two units of Spouse/Dependent coverage
- If already enrolled, newly eligible children are automatically covered (does not require an application)
Review and update your beneficiary designation, if necessary.
Individual & Family Group Life (I&F)
If enrolled in Employee coverage, you may add Child coverage within 30 days of the birth, adoption or placement for adoption if this is the first time you have an eligible child to cover. If already enrolled in Child coverage, newly eligible children are automatically covered (does not require an application).
Coverage is effective on the first of the month on or following 30 days from the date of the birth, adoption, or placement for adoption.
Review and update your beneficiary designation, if necessary.
UW Employees, Inc Life (UWE) and University Insurance Association (UIA) Life
This plan offers employee-only coverage and there is no enrollment opportunity due to birth/adoption.
Review and update your beneficiary designation, if necessary.
Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D)
You may enroll in Employee Only or Family coverage at any time. If enrolled in Family coverage, spouse and newly eligible children are automatically covered (does not require an application).
Changes to your coverage are effective on the first of the month on or following the receipt of your application.
Review and update your beneficiary designation, if necessary.
Income Continuation Insurance (ICI)
This plan offers employee-only coverage and there is no enrollment opportunity due to birth/adoption.
Spending & Savings Accounts
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
You may take the following actions within 30 days of the birth, adoption or placement for adoption. Action must be consistent with the qualifying event.
- Enroll in a Health Care and/or Dependent Day Care FSA
- Increase your Health Care and/or Dependent Day Care FSA election (if already enrolled).
You must submit a Change of Election form to your HR Contact to enroll in or change your election under one or both of the plans. If you enroll, coverage is effective on the date of the birth, adoption, or placement for adoption.
Health Savings Account (HSA)
If you enroll in a High Deductible Health Plan (for health insurance), or change your health plan to a High Deductible Health Plan due to birth, adoption or placement for adoption, you are required to also enroll in the Health Savings Account. Submit the HSA enrollment form along with the State Group Health application to your HR Contact within 30 days of the birth, adoption or placement for adoption. Note that there are special eligibility requirements to enroll in the High Deductible Health Plan. See HDHP/HSA for more information.
You can make changes to your contributions at any time.
Review and update your beneficiary designation, if necessary.
Retirement Plans
Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS)
Review and update your beneficiary designation, if necessary.
UW 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Program (SRP) and Wisconsin Deferred Compensation (WDC)
You can enroll in or make changes at any time.
Review and update your beneficiary designation, if necessary.