University of Wisconsin–Madison

Domestic Partnership to Marriage

Overview

If you marry your UW System domestic partner, submit a UW System Affidavit of Termination of Domestic Partnership (UWS-51) to terminate your domestic partnership.

*Note: To make changes to your name, address, emergency contacts and marital status, reach out to your HR Contact.

Eligibility Deadline

The completed application(s) must submitted within 30 days of the Date of Marriage. 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.

State Group Health, Supplemental Delta Dental, and DeltaVision

Supplemental Delta Dental and DeltaVision

You may take the following actions within 30 days of your marriage. Coverage is effective on the date of your marriage.

  • Add your spouse and any eligible children to your existing coverage
  • Enroll in coverage and add all eligible family members

State Group Health

You may take the following actions within 30 days of your marriage. Coverage is effective on the date of your marriage.

  • Add your spouse and any eligible children to your existing coverage.
  • Enroll in coverage. You may insure all eligible family members.

You may also take the following actions within 30 days of your marriage. These changes are effective on the first of the month on or following the receipt of your application.

  • Change health insurance plan carrier or health plan design
    • If you change your health insurance plan carrier (i.e. GHC to Dead), 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.
  • Cancel coverage if you become eligible for and enroll under your spouse’s health plan (see Gain of Other Coverage for more information.)
  • If both employees are State of Wisconsin employees:
    • You may carry two Single plans; or
    • You may carry one Family plan

Life Insurance

State Group Life

You may take the following actions within 30 days of your marriage. Coverage is effective on the first of the month on or following 30 days from the date of your marriage.

  • Enroll in Basic coverage (if not currently enrolled)
  • Add one unit of Employee coverage (if not already enrolled in maximum number of units)
  • Enroll in one or two units of Spouse and Dependent coverage
    • If already enrolled, in Spouse and Dependent coverage, spouse and newly eligible children are automatically covered (does not require an application)

If you previously established a domestic partnership with the Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF), you should submit to ETF an Affidavit of Termination of Domestic Partnership (ET-2372) to terminate your domestic partnership.

Review and update your beneficiary designation, if necessary.

Individual & Family Group Life (I&F)

Marrying your domestic partner does not offer any enrollment/change opportunities for you or your family members.

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 there is no enrollment opportunity due to your marriage.

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 your marriage.

Spending & Savings Accounts

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

You may take the following actions within 30 days of your marriage. Action must be consistent with the qualifying event.

  • Enroll in a Healthcare and/or Dependent Day Care FSA
  • Increase, decrease, or cancel your Healthcare and/or Dependent Day Care FSA election (if already enrolled).

You must submit a Change of Election form to your HR contact within 30 days of your marriage 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 of your marriage.

Health Savings Account (HSA)

If you enroll in a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) for health insurance, or change your health plan to an HDHP due to marriage, you are also required to enroll in the Health Savings Account (HSA). Submit the HSA enrollment form along with the State Group Health application to your HR Contact within 30 days of your marriage. Note that there are special eligibility requirements to enroll in the HDHP.

You can make changes to your contributions at any time.

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.

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