The State Group Life Insurance Program offers term life insurance to eligible employees and their spouses and dependent children. All state agencies participate in this program, and the insurance is portable from agency to agency if you change jobs.

The State Group Life Insurance Program is authorized under Wisconsin statute (ss. 40.70 and 40.72). It is administered by the Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF) under the direction of the State of Wisconsin Group Insurance Board. The current insurer, under contract with the Group Insurance Board, is Minnesota Life Insurance Company. The ETF web site also has information on the State Group Life Insurance Program, including the plan certificate.

Eligibility

• You must be employed in a UW position covered by the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS).
• You are eligible for coverage when you have completed six months of WRS employment (with any participating employer).

Enrollment

• Generally, you must file an application with your campus benefits office within 30 days after you become eligible.
  • New hires with at least six months of prior WRS coverage: apply within 30 days after beginning work. WRS service that you forfeited does not count toward your six months.
  • New hires with less than six months of prior WRS coverage: apply by the end of the month after the month in which you complete six months of WRS coverage.
  • Transfers from other state agencies: apply within 30 days after beginning work. Unless you had a 30-day break in service, you may only apply for the coverages you had in your previous employment.
  • Returning from a leave or layoff during which coverage lapsed: apply within 30 days after returning to work. You may only apply for the coverages you had prior to the leave.
  • Reaching age 70 as an active employee with Additional coverage: apply for Over Age 70 Additional within 30 days before your 70th birthday.
  
  
• If you have a spouse and/or dependent child(ren) when you become eligible for coverage, the enrollment period for spouse and dependent coverage is the same as for coverage on yourself. If you do not have any eligible dependents during your initial erollment period, you must apply for family coverage within 30 days after you marry or first have a dependent child to insure, whichever occurs first. NOTE: If you do not enroll your spouse or other eligible dependents when you are first eligible to enroll, no dependents can be added later without providing evidence of insurability for all eligible dependents. All eligible family members must be approved before coverage can go into effect. You must insure yourself in order to have family coverege.
• 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.
  
• If you miss your open enrollment period, or decide later to add more coverage, you may apply by proving evidence of insurability. Coverage is effective on the first of the month following approval by Minnesota Life. You must be under age 70 to apply through evidence for Basic or Supplemental coverage.

Coverage

• You may select one to five times annual salary. Automatic annual increase if your salary increases.
• For spouse and dependent coverage, you select one or two units. Each unit insures your spouse for $10,000 and each dependent child for $5,000.

Premiums

• Your age and salary determine cost of the insurance.
• Premium for the first $50,000 of coverage is taken from your earnings on a pre-tax basis.
• Spouse and dependent coverage: $2.50 per month per unit regardless of age or the number of dependents. Premiums are taken after taxes.
• The University contributes toward the Basic and Supplemental premium.
• Premiums are paid two months in advance.

Program Features

• Plan Components:
  • Basic Plan: Insurance equal to WRS earnings received during the previous calendar year rounded to the next higher $1,000 (does not decline if your salary declines). Decreases at age 70 (age 65 if retired).
  • Supplemental Plan: equal to Basic coverage. Basic Plan is a prerequisite. Terminates at age 70 (age 65 if retired).
  • Additional Plan: equal to one, two, or three times Basic coverage. Basic Plan is a prerequisite. Terminates at age 70 (age 65 if retired).
  • Age 70 and Over Coverage: equal to one, two, or three times the previous year's WRS earnings. Basic Plan is not a prerequisite. Active employees who participate in the Additional Plan when they reach age 70 may apply for this coverage without proving medical evidence. Others may apply through evidence.
  
  
• Employee's insurance includes benefits up to age 70 (age 65 if retired) for accidental death, dismemberment or loss of use.
• Spouse and Dependent Coverage. Basic Plan is a prerequisite. For spouse and dependent coverage, you select one or two units. Each unit insures your spouse for $10,000 and each dependent child for $5,000. Unmarried dependent children can be insured through the end of the calendar year in which they reach age 19, or age 25 if full-time students. All coverage terminates at employee's age 70 (age 65 if retired).
• Premiums may be waived if you become totally disabled while actively employed.
• Living Benefits: Insurance proceeds may be paid to you if you become terminally ill or are permanently confined to a nursing home.
• Beneficiaries who receive at least $25,000 in policy benefits may choose to use beneficiary financial counseling services from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
• After you terminate employment:
  • You may continue group coverage up to age 65 if you meet age and service requirements. Basic coverage then continues for your lifetime at a reduced level without cost to you; other group coverages terminate.
  • If you are not eligible to continue group coverage, you may convert to an individual policy if you have been insured for at least six months. Conversion is also available for an insured spouse or child when group coverage ends.
• At age 66 or later, you may elect to use the present value of your Basic life insurance to pay State Group Health Insurance premiums.

More information

• Please see the brochure for more information

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This document was last revised on October 11, 2012