Overview
If you get divorced, you need to take action to remove your ex-spouse and ex-spouse’s children (e.g. your former step-children) from your benefit plans. You may also be able to enroll in certain benefit plans that offer an open enrollment if you lose comparable coverage under your ex-spouse’s benefit plans. See Loss of Coverage for more information.
Eligibility Deadline
The completed application(s) must submitted within 30 days of the Date of Divorce. 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.
Continuation Notice
The UW Shared Services will send a continuation notice to your ex-spouse at his or her last known address. If your ex-spouse is no longer living at the same address as you, provide your ex-spouse’s address to your HR Contact so that the continuation notice is sent to your ex-spouse’s address.
Accident Plan
Coverage for your ex-spouse (and/or their covered children) ends at the end of the month in which your divorce is final. Or at the end of the month in which a continuation notice is provided to the ex-spouse, whichever is later.
Your ex-spouse (and/or their covered children) may continue coverage for up to 36 months by submitting a continuation notice and application. This must be done within 60 days of the coverage end date or receipt of a continuation notice, whichever is later.
State Group Health, Supplemental Delta Dental, and DeltaVision
Supplemental Delta Dental and DeltaVision
Coverage for your ex-spouse and step-children ends at the end of the month in which your divorce is finalized, or at the end of the month in which a continuation notice is provided to the ex-spouse, whichever is later.
Your ex-spouse and step-children 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 a continuation notice, whichever is later.
State Group Health
Coverage for your ex-spouse and step-children ends at the end of the month in which your divorce is finalized, or at the end of the month in which a continuation notice is provided to the ex-spouse, whichever is later.
Your ex-spouse and step-children may continue coverage for up to 36 months by submitting a continuation notice and application to the Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF) within 60 days of the coverage end date or the receipt of a continuation notice, whichever is later.
If you were covered by your ex-spouse’s health insurance, you may enroll (along with your dependent children that lost coverage) within 30 days of losing your comparable coverage due to your divorce. See Loss of Coverage for more information.
Life Insurance
State Group Life
Coverage for your ex-spouse and step-children ends on the date your divorce is finalized.
If you have Spouse and Dependent coverage, and your ex-spouse and step-children were your last eligible dependents (you do not have any other eligible children of your own), you should submit an application to cancel Spouse and Dependent coverage within 30 days of your divorce.
Your ex-spouse and step-children 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. Your ex-spouse can contact the UW Shared Services at serviceoperations@uwss.wisconsin.edu or (888) 298-0141 for a conversion application.
Review and update your beneficiary designation, if necessary.
Individual & Family Group Life (I&F)
Coverage for your ex-spouse and step-children ends on the date your divorce is finalized.
If enrolled in Spouse/Domestic Partner coverage, submit an application to cancel coverage within 30 days of your divorce.
If enrolled in Child coverage, and your step-children are your last eligible children, submit an application to cancel Child coverage within 30 days of your divorce. This can be done via the same application with which you remove your ex-spouse.
Your ex-spouse and step-children 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. Your ex-spouse can contact the UW Shared Services at serviceoperations@uwss.wisconsin.edu or (888) 298-0141 for a conversion application.
Review and update your beneficiary designation, if necessary.
UW Employees, Inc Life (UWE) and University Insurance Association (UIA) Life
These plans offer employee-only coverage and are not affected by divorce.
Review and update your beneficiary designation, if necessary.
Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D)
Coverage for your ex-spouse and step-children ends on the date your divorce is finalized.
If you have Family coverage, and your ex-spouse and step-children were your last eligible dependents (you do not have any other eligible children of your own), you should submit an application to change to Employee Only Coverage.
Your ex-spouse and step-children may convert coverage to an individual policy by contacting Zurich American Insurance Company at 1-800-834-1959 (reference UW System Policy # GTU-8364005) within 60 days of the coverage end date. Your ex-spouse can contact the UW Shared Services at serviceoperations@uwss.wisconsin.edu or (888) 298-0141 for a conversion form.
Review your beneficiary designation and update, if necessary.
Income Continuation Insurance (ICI)
This plan offers employee-only coverage and is not affected by divorce.
Spending & Savings Accounts
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
You may take the following actions within 30 days of the date of your divorce. Action must be consistent with the qualifying event.
- Enroll in a Health Care FSA if you lost coverage under your ex-spouse’s plan
- Enroll in a Dependent Day Care FSA to accommodate newly-eligible dependent if you lost coverage under your ex-spouse’s Dependent Care FSA plan
- Increase, decrease or cancel your Health Care and/or Dependent Day Care FSA election if enrolled
You must submit a Change of Election form within 30 days of your divorce 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 first of the month on or following your divorce.
Health Savings Account (HSA)
Your HSA can be included in your divorce settlement.
You can make changes to your contributions at any time.
Review and update your beneficiary designation, if necessary.
Retirement Plans
Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS)
Your WRS account can be included in your divorce settlement if the court issues a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) directing the Department of Employee Trust Funds to divide your account and your creditable service (up to 50%). For more information, see How Divorce Can Affect Your WRS Account.
Review and update your beneficiary designation, if necessary.
UW 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Program (SRP)
Your SRP account can be included in your divorce settlement if the court issues a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) that is acceptable to your SRP investment provider.
You can enroll in or make changes at any time.
Review and update your beneficiary designation, if necessary.
Wisconsin Deferred Compensation (WDC)
Your WDC account can be included in your divorce settlement if the court issues a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) that is acceptable to WDC.
You can enroll in or make changes at any time.
Review and update your beneficiary designation, if necessary.