The following chart outlines the UW-System employee benefit plans that offer domestic partner benefits for dependents. To be eligible for insurance coverage as a domestic partner, the employee and his/her partner must be in an established domestic partnership of at least six months and meet the criteria set forth in the Domestic Partner Affidavit, UWS-50. A domestic partner may be of the same or opposite sex.
Employee Benefit Program |
Domestic Partner Coverage |
Authority |
State Group Health Insurance |
Coverage is not available for a domestic partner |
Employee Trust Funds Wisconsin Statutes |
Wisconsin Retirement System Account (WRS) |
Effective January 1, 2000 , the WRS death benefit payable if an employee dies while in active service is the same regardless of the beneficiary's relationship to the employee.
At retirement, an employee can name anyone as a beneficiary of a Life Annuity or as a Joint Survivor. |
Employee Trust Funds
Wisconsin Statutes |
Income Continuation Insurance (ICI) |
This plan covers employees only. No coverage is available for a spouse or domestic partner. |
Employee Trust Funds
Wisconsin Statutes |
State Group Life Insurance |
A domestic partner cannot be covered on the spouse and dependent coverage. |
Employee Trust Funds
Wisconsin Statutes |
Individual & Family Group Life Insurance |
Coverage for a domestic partner became available June 1, 2004 |
Board of Regents* |
University Insurance association Life Insurance (UIA) |
This plan covers employees only. No coverage is available for a spouse or domestic partner.
|
Board of Regents*
|
UW Employee's, Inc. Life Insurance |
This plan covers employees only. No coverage is available for a spouse or domestic partner. |
Board of Regents*
|
Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance (AD&D) |
Coverage for a domestic partner became available November 1, 2003
|
Board of Regents*
|
Dental and Excess Medical Insurance (EPIC) |
Coverage is not available for a domestic partner.
|
Board of Regents*
|
Dental Insurance (Non-Represented) |
Coverage for a domestic partner became available April 1, 2003 . |
Board of Regents*
|
Long Term Care Insurance |
Coverage is not available for a domestic partner. |
Employee Trust Funds
Wisconsin Statutes
|
Employee Reimbursement Accounts (ERA) |
A domestic partner who receives over half of his/her support and who resides with the employee is eligible for medical expense reimbursement account coverage. |
Internal Revenue Service Code |
Sick Leave:
Use to provide care for spouse or partner during illness
|
Employees who are eligible to use sick leave to care for a domestic partner during illness include:
- Unclassified employees
- Non-represented classified employees
- Classified employees covered by SEA (State Engineering Association), UPQHC (United Professionals for Quality Health Care), WPEC (Wisconsin Professionals Employees Council) and WSP (Wisconsin Science Professionals) bargaining units
Employees currently not eligible to use sick leave to care for a domestic partner during illness include:
- Classified employees covered by CRAFTS (Wisconsin State Building Trades), WEAC (Wisconsin Educational Association Council), WSEU (Wisconsin State Employees Union) and PERSA (Professional Employees In Research Statistics and Analysis) bargaining units.
|
Compensation Plans
Collective Bargaining Agreements
|
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) |
Employees cannot use FMLA leave to care for a domestic partner with a serious health condition. |
Federal Law
U.S. Dept. of Labor |
Wisconsin Family and Medical Leave Act (WFMLA) |
Employees cannot use WFMLA leave to care for a domestic partner with a serious health condition. |
Dept. of Workforce Development
Wisconsin Statutes |
*The Board of Regents has some discretion in contractual amendments. UW-System Administration contracts with the plan vendors.
is required for enrollment in any insurance and the ERA program. The completed form must be sent to the campus Human Resources Office.