Employee Benefits
Important Benefit Enrollment Deadlines - Graduate Assistant Benefits Package
Almost all benefits have a 30 day enrollment deadline so you must submit an application to enroll within 30 days of the begin date of your first eligible university appointment. Additional enrollment opportunities may be available after your initial enrollment opportunity, but if you want to ensure coverage, you must enroll within your first 30 days of eligibility.
Except as noted, coverage begins on the first of the month on or following the receipt of your application by your employer, assuming you are eligible at that time.
Health insurance and health-related programs
- State Group Health Insurance
When to enroll: Within 30 days after your first eligible university appointment begins
Later enrollment: If you do not enroll within your initial enrollment period, you can during the annual open enrollment period each fall with coverage becoming effective on the following January 1. You may also enroll within 30 days of involuntarily losing other health insurance coverage, within 30 days of marriage, or within 60 days of a birth, adoption or placement for adoption.
- EPIC Benefits+
When to enroll: Within 30 days after your first eligible university appointment begins
Later enrollment: None guaranteed
- Dental Wisconsin Dental Insurance
When to enroll: Within 30 days after your first eligible university appointment begins
Later enrollment: You may also enroll within 30 days of involuntarily losing other stand-alone dental insurance coverage, within 30 days of marriage, or within 60 days of a birth, adoption or placement for adoption or during a designated open enrollment period.
- VSP Vision Insurance
When to enroll: Within 30 days after your first eligible university appointment begins
Later enrollment: There will be an open enrollment period every October for coverage effective January 1st of the following year.
- Long-Term Care Insurance
When to enroll: You may apply directly to one of the approved providers at any time (under-writing always required).
Coverage effective: Determined by insurance company
Ineligible employees: Research Assistants, Advanced Opportunity Fellows, Fellows, Post Doc Fellows, Trainees, Scholars, Grad Interns/Trainees and Post Doc Trainees are not eligible for coverage.
Life Insurance Programs
- University Insurance Association Life Insurance (UIA)
When to enroll: Automatic and mandatory if you meet the minimum salary standard
Ineligible employees: Research Assistants, Fellows, Advanced Opportunity Fellows, Scholars, Trainees, Housefellows/Resident Assistants, Project or Program Assistants, Teaching Assistants and Undergrad Interns/Assistants are not eligible for coverage.
- Individual and Family Life Insurance
When to enroll: Within 30 days after your first eligible university appointment begins
Later enrollment: Can apply through Medical Evidence of Insurability at any time - acceptance not guaranteed
- UW Employees Inc Life Insurance
When to enroll: Within 30 days after your first eligible university appointment begins
Later enrollment: Can apply through Medical Evidence of Insurability at any time - acceptance not guaranteed
-
Accidental
Death and Dismemberment Life Insurance
When to enroll: You may enroll at any time
Coverage effective: Coverage begins the first of the month on or after the benefits office receives your application.
Other Benefits
- Employee Reimbursement Account
When to enroll: Within 30 days after your first eligible university appointment begins
Later enrollment: There is an annual open enrollment opportunity every October for coverage effective January 1st of the following year. You must re-enroll in this plan every year. You can also enroll or change or contribution level within 30 days of a qualifying "change in status" event.
Ineligible employees: Research Assistants, Advanced Opportunity Fellows, Fellows, Post Doc Fellows, Trainees, Scholars, Grad Interns/Trainees and Post Doc Trainees are not eligible for coverage.
- Tax-Sheltered Annuity (TSA) and Wisconsin Deferred Compensation Programs
When to enroll: Can enroll at any time
Ineligible employees: Research Assistants, Advanced Opportunity Fellows, Fellows, Post Doc Fellows, Trainees, Scholars, Grad Interns/Trainees and Post Doc Trainees are not eligible to participate.
This document was last revised on October 10, 2012
