Eligibility

Enrollment

• You must file an application with your campus benefits office within 30 days of your initial employment date.
  • A second enrollment opportunity is provided for individuals eligible for graduate assistant benefits who are hired into a benefits-eligible Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) position. To qualify for the second 30-day eligibility period, there must be no break in service of 30 days or more between the graduate assistant position and the WRS position. The 30-day period starts the date the individual becomes WRS benefits eligible.
• If you have a spouse or domestic partner and/or dependent child(ren) when you become eligible, the enrollment period for spouse/domestic partner and dependent child coverage is the same as for coverage on yourself. You may also add spouse or domestic partner coverage within 30 days of marriage or the establishment of a domestic partnership for benefits purposes. You may add child coverage within 30 days of having an eligible child to coverage for the FIRST time.
• Children who are unmarried and dependent on you or your spouse or domestic partner for financial support may be insured through the end of the year in which they reach age 25.
• Coverage is effective on the first of the month following the date you submit your application to your campus benefits office. If you file on the first day of the month, coverage is effective that day.
• When returning from an approved leave of absence, temporary layoff or seasonal/academic year unpaid work break during which coverage ended because of non-payment of premiums, you must complete a new application within 30 days of your return to work to reinstate coverage. You may reinstate the coverage level that you carried prior to the lapse in coverage. You may enroll your spouse/domestic partner and children if they were insured prior to the leave of absence.
• If you miss your initial enrollment period, or decide later to add more coverage, you may apply by proving good health via an evidence of insurability application.

Coverage Amount

• Initially, you may select $5,000, $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000 of insurance for yourself, $5,000 or $10,000 for your spouse/domestic partner and $2,500 or $5,000 for your children.
• Coverage limits of $200,000 apply for you, $100,000 for your spouse/domestic partner and $10,000 for your children.

Premium

• Your age and the coverage levels you select determine the cost of insurance for yourself and your spouse/domestic partner. Use the premium calculator or see the rate chart to determine your monthly premium.
• The University makes no contribution toward the premium.
• Premiums are payroll deducted one month in advance.

Program Features

• You may annually increase coverage without providing any health information. Annual limits apply. The next AIO opportunity will be in October 2013 with increased coverage effective January 1, 2014.
• Accelerated Benefit up to 100% of the insurance proceeds may be paid to you if you become terminally ill. This living benefit is also available for an insured spouse/domestic partner or child.
• Premiums may be waived to age 65 should you become totally disabled prior to turning age 60. Your payroll & benefits office will need to initiate a premium waiver by submitting a Premium Waiver Request form to UW System Administration.
• If you die, your spouse/domestic partner and dependent child coverage continues premium free for one year from the date of death.
• At termination of employment or loss of eligibility, you may convert your coverage to a new individual life insurance policy, without providing evidence of insurability. You must apply to Minnesota Life within 31 days after your group insurance coverage ends. Conversion options are also available for an insured spouse/domestic partner or child.
• You have the right to assign ownership of the insurance to another party. Use the Transfer of Ownership form to initiate this option.

You are encouraged to complete a beneficiary designation form to ensure benefits are paid to the named beneficiary.

Return to Top

This document was last revised on February 7, 2013