Employee Matters
This column is prepared by staff from the Office of Human Resources. E-mail questions to benefits@ohr.wisc.edu or call 262-5650. For more information, visit Payroll Services and Benefits Services.
Benefit Coverage for Domestic Partners
What benefits does the university offer to the domestic partners of UW–Madison employees?
Once an employee has established a domestic partnership, the partner is eligible for coverage under the following employee benefit plans:
- Individual & Family Group Life Insurance
- Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance (AD&D)
- Spectera Vision Care Insurance
- Anthem DentalBlue Dental Insurance
- Employee Reimbursement Accounts (ERA): They are eligible if the domestic partner receives more than half of his/her financial support from the UW–Madison employee and resides with the employee.
If covering a domestic partner under Spectera or Anthem DentalBlue, the premiums cannot be taken on a pre-tax basis.
Why are domestic partners only eligible for some of the insurance benefit plans?
The plans are administered by governing authorities and have different rules and regulations. For example, the authority for the state group health insurance plan is with the Department of Employee Trust Funds and is governed by Wisconsin statutes. The statutes do not allow coverage for domestic partners. View a complete listing of governing authorities and which plans offer domestic partner benefits, see domestic partner information.
How does an employee establish a domestic partnership for purposes of benefits eligibility?
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 must meet the criteria set forth in the Domestic Partner Affidavit (UWS-50). A domestic partner may be of the same or opposite sex.
When must the affidavit be submitted?
The affidavit is required for enrollment in any insurance and/or the ERA program and must be completed and submitted to the Office of Human Resources (OHR) when submitting applicable insurance and/or ERA enrollment forms. Initial and special deadlines for enrollment must still be met.
What if my partnership terminates?
A Statement of Termination (UWS-51), found at http://www.uwsa.edu/hr/benefits/ins/uws51.pdf, must be completed and submitted to OHR along with the applicable insurance and ERA cancellation forms.
Are domestic partners eligible for any other benefits/services on campus?
Yes. Other services available include University Housing, recreational sports facilities, dual-career couple program, Student Health Insurance Plan, University Health Services, UW Athletics and libraries.
The UW–Madison Declaration of Domestic Partnership Form should be submitted to establish these other benefits/services. Visit the Provost web site for additional information, including the form and the complete UW–Madison Domestic Partnership policy.
For more information, contact a benefits specialist.