State Group Health (SGH) insurance provides comprehensive medical, hospital, pharmaceutical, mental health, and behavioral benefits. An optional preventive dental plan (called Uniform Dental) is available, at extra cost.
You have 30 days from the date your employment begins to enroll. You may also apply for coverage within 30 days of certain life events.
Health Plan Designs
Employees covered by the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) have four health plan designs to choose from. Graduate Assistants and Short-Term Academic Staff have two plan design options.
Read more about plan design options
- Health Plan
- High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP)
with mandatory Health Savings Account (HSA)
(not available for Graduate Assistants and Short-Term Academic Staff) - Access Health Plan
- Access High Deductible Health Plan (Access HDHP)
with mandatory Health Savings Account (HSA)
(not available for Graduate Assistants and Short-Term Academic Staff)
Monthly Premiums
- University Staff: you must have two months of WRS state service before you can receive the employer contribution toward health insurance. If you choose to begin coverage before you are eligible for the employer contribution, you pay 100% of the total premium until the first of the month following two months of WRS state service.
- WRS employees working less than 50%: you pay 50% of the total premium.
- University Staff Temporary Employees: if you hold only one temporary appointment, you pay 50% of the total premium.
Provider Networks
If you are enrolling in the Health Plan, you choose one provider network as your network (i.e., the doctors you may visit) for the year.
Dane County (where UW–Madison is located) has three provider networks available:
Use the Health Plan Search to locate networks outside of Dane County.
There is one health plan that includes a state-wide and national network of providers:
Uniform Dental
You may add preventive dental coverage to your SGH plan. This plan is the only preventive dental offered. It cannot be elected on its own, but must be combined with SGH enrollment.
Pharmacy
If you enroll in SGH, your pharmacy benefits will be through a company called Navitus, regardless of which provider network or plan design you elect.
Wellness Incentive
The Well Wisconsin Program is available to eligible employees, retirees, and their spouses enrolled in the group health insurance program. It provides services and resources through WebMD and rewards participants with a $150 cash incentive after completion of the WebMD health assessment, health screening, and a well-being activity. The incentive is taxable.
Opt-Out Incentive
If you opt out of SGH coverage, you may be eligible to receive an Opt-Out Incentive. Only WRS eligible employees are eligible for the incentive. You must submit a timely opt-out election. Annual re-enrollment is required to continue the opt-out incentive.
Forms and Publications
Forms
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Health Insurance Application/Change
Complete this form if you are unable to enroll online using Self Service (eBenefits) or are enrolling/changing mid-year due to a qualifying life events (e.g., marriage, birth). Submit the completed application to HR within 30 days of your hire or life event.
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Affidavit for Insurance Purposes
Complete this form if you are unable to provide a Social Security Number for a non-citizen spouse or non-citizen eligible dependent. Submit the Affidavit with your application.
Publications
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It's Your Choice: 2023 Decision Guide
A guide to State of Wisconsin insurance.
- Health Plan Quality Resources
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Health/Access Plan and HDHP/Access HDHP Certificate of Coverage
Details of services that will and will not be covered.
- Pharmacy Benefits Certificate of Coverage