Overview
The 2017-2019 Wisconsin Biennial Budget (2017 Wisconsin Act 59), signed into law on September 21, 2017, eliminates the Chapter 40 domestic partnership program. As a result, domestic partners and partner’s children (who are not also your dependent children) are no longer be eligible for some benefits plans as of January 1, 2018.
The following plans do not offer domestic partner coverage:
- State Group Health Insurance
- Supplemental Dental Insurance (Delta Dental)
- DeltaVision Insurance
- State Group Life Insurance
- UW Employees, Inc. Life Insurance
- University Insurance Association (UIA) Life Insurance
- Income Continuation Insurance (ICI)
If you establish a domestic partnership for employee-benefit purposes, you are eligible to add your domestic partner and any newly eligible children (e.g. your partner’s children) to some benefit plans.
Eligibility Deadline
You must submit an application to add your domestic partner and any newly eligible children to your benefit plans and/or enroll in a benefit plan for the first time within 30 days of establishing a domestic partnership. All information below assumes you have established a domestic partnership.
Beneficiary Designation
You should review and update your Beneficiary Designation(s) with each Qualifying Life Event.
Tax Withholding
Review and update tax withholding exemptions, if necessary.
Establishing a Domestic Partnership
Submit a UW System Affidavit of Domestic Partnership (UWS-50) to your HR contact to create a domestic partnership. Submit benefit applications to add your domestic partner and your partner’s children to your coverage at the same time you submit the affidavit. A UW System domestic partnership cannot be established after the death of the employee or domestic partner. The effective date of your UW System Domestic Partnership is the date the affidavit is received by your UW institution.
Life Insurance
Individual & Family Group Life (I&F)
If enrolled in Employee coverage, you may take the following actions within 30 days of establishing your domestic partnership. Coverage is effective on the first of the month on or following 30 days from the date your domestic partnership is established.
- Add Spouse/Domestic Partner coverage
- Add Child coverage 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).
Review your beneficiary designation and update, if necessary.
Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D)
You may enroll in Employee Only or Family coverage at any time. If enrolled in Family coverage, domestic partner 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 your beneficiary designation and update, if necessary.
Spending & Savings Accounts
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
You may take the following actions within 30 days of establishing your domestic partnership IF your domestic partner or domestic partner’s children (who are not also your dependent children) qualify as your dependents under IRS rules.
- Enroll in a Health Care and/or Dependent Day Care FSA
- Increase, decrease or cancel your Health Care and/or Dependent Day Care FSA election (if already enrolled). Action must be consistent with the qualifying event.
You must submit a Change of Election form to your institution’s human resources office to enroll in or change your election under one or both of the plans. Coverage or changes are effective on the first of the month on or following the date your domestic partnership is established.
Retirement Plans
UW 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Program (SRP) and Wisconsin Deferred Compensation (WDC)
You can enroll in or make changes at any time.
Review your beneficiary designation(s) and update, if necessary.