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 most benefits plans as of January 1, 2018.
If you end your domestic partnership, you must take action to remove your ex-domestic partner and partner’s children (who are not also your dependent children) from your benefit plans. You may also be able to enroll in certain benefit plans that offer an open enrollment due to the loss of comparable coverage you had through your former domestic partner’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 Terminating your Domestic Partnership. 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
If you were covered by your ex-domestic partner’s health insurance, you may enroll (along with your dependent children that lost coverage) within 30 days of losing your comparable coverage due to terminating your domestic partnership. See Loss of Coverage for more information.
Life Insurance
State Group Life
Review and update your beneficiary designation, if necessary.
Individual & Family Group Life (I&F)
Coverage for your ex-domestic partner and partner’s children (who are not also your dependent children) ends on the date your domestic partnership is terminated.
If enrolled in Spouse/Domestic Partner coverage, submit an application to cancel coverage within 30 days of terminating your domestic partnership.
If enrolled in Child coverage, and your ex-domestic partner’s children were your last eligible children (you do not have any other eligible children of your own), submit an application to cancel Child coverage within 30 days of terminating your domestic partnership. This can be done via the same application with which you remove your ex-domestic partner.
Your ex-domestic partner and partner’s children may convert coverage to an individual whole life insurance policy by submitting a conversion application and first premium to Securian within 31 days of the coverage end date. Your ex-domestic partner 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 terminating your domestic partnership.
Review and update your beneficiary designation, if necessary.
Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D)
Coverage for your ex-domestic partner and partner’s children (who are not also your dependent children) ends on the date your domestic partnership is terminated.
If you have Family coverage, and your ex-domestic partner and partner’s 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-domestic partner and partner’s 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-domestic partner 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.
Income Continuation Insurance (ICI)
This plan offers employee-only coverage and is not affected by terminating your domestic partnership.
Spending & Savings Accounts
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
If expenses associated with your ex-domestic partner and partner’s children (who are not also your dependent children) qualified under the Health Care or Dependent Care FSA program, you may take the following actions within 30 days of terminating your domestic partnership. Action must be consistent with the qualifying event.
- Enroll in a Health Care FSA if you lost coverage under your ex-domestic partner’s plan
- Enroll in a Dependent Day Care FSA to accommodate newly-eligible dependent if you lost coverage under your ex-domestic partner’s plan
- Increase, decrease, or cancel your Health Care and/or Dependent Day Care FSA election (if already enrolled)
You must submit a Change of Election form within 30 days of terminating your domestic partnership 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 the date in which your domestic partnership is terminated.
Health Savings Account (HSA)
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 a settlement if the court issues a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO).
Review and update your beneficiary designation, if necessary.
UW 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Program (SRP)
Your SRP account can be included in a settlement if the court issues a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) that is acceptable to your SRP 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 a settlement if the court issues a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO).
You can enroll in or make changes at any time.
Review and update your beneficiary designation, if necessary.