Employee Matters

This column is prepared by staff of the Employee Compensation and Benefits Services office. E-mail the office at employee@bussvc.wisc.edu, or call 263-7556 or 262-5650. For more information, visit the EC&BS Web site, http://www.bussvc.wisc.edu/ecbs/ecbs.html, or e-mail employee@bussvc.wisc.edu.

Domestic Partnership Coverage

The University of Wisconsin is committed to diversification of the student body, faculty and staff and to serving the needs of these groups. To that end, domestic partners are entitled to the same benefits and services extended to spouses in accordance with state law and UW policy.

How does UW define a domestic partner relationship?

A pair of individuals who are in a relationship of mutual support, caring and commitment and who intend to maintain that relationship. The partners may be of the same or opposite sex.

For which insurance benefits are domestic partners eligible?

Individual and family group life, accidental death and dismemberment, and non-represented dental coverage. Authority for these benefit plans is vested at the UW, with the board of regents and UW System administration. The Employee Reimbursement Accounts tax savings program also is available, subject to IRS dependency rules.

Why are domestic partners eligible only for some of the insurance benefit plans?

The plans have various governing authorities, making it necessary for each to respond to different sets of rules and regulations. For a complete listing of governing authorities, see domestic partner information at http://www.bussvc.wisc.edu/ecbs/emp-info.html.

How is eligibility established?

The employee and her/his 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, http://www.uwsa.edu/hr/benefits/ins/uws50.pdf. The affidavit is required for enrollment in any insurance and/or the ERA program and must be completed and filed with your employer along with the applicable insurance and/or ERA enrollment forms. Only one affidavit is required to be on file.

What if my partnership terminates?

A statement of termination, UWS-51, http://www.uwsa.edu/hr/benefits/ins/uws51.pdf, must be completed and submitted to EC&BS 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.

Specific groups of employees are eligible to use sick leave to care for a domestic partner during illness. Currently, unclassified employees, nonrepresented classified employees and classified employees covered by SEA, UPQHC, WPEC and WSP bargaining units are eligible to use sick leave to care for a domestic partner during illness. Neither the federal Family and Medical Leave Act nor the Wisconsin Family and Medical Leave Act provide for an employee to use leave to care for a domestic partner with a serious health condition.

Additional information on the above services and the domestic partnership policy can be located at http://www.provost.wisc.edu/dppolicy.html.

You also can find more at http://www.bussvc.wisc.edu/ecbs/emp-info.html.