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University of Wisconsin-Madison
Office of Human Resources
Benefits Services

Read Your
UW Staff Benefits Statement Carefully

Are you enrolled in the benefit plans that you think you are?
Are you paying premiums for coverage you do not need?
Are you NOT enrolled in plans that you thought you were?

Your UW Staff Benefits Statement is provided to you annually in April.  The statement gives you an overview of all of the benefit plans in which you are enrolled, the level of coverage and the projected annual costs paid by you and the University.  If you are not enrolled in a specific benefit plan, the Coverage column will state NONE.

It is extremely important that you review this statement thoroughly.  The information is based on your payroll record on April 1.  The statement is created by taking all of your monthly deductions and salary and multiplying the information by the number of months in the year.  The information provided is based on a snapshot in time and may not be exact if there are changes to your income or benefit programs during the year.

HEALTH CARE BENEFITS:
State Group Health Insurance

Is the correct health plan listed?  Health insurance has two coverage levels: Family and Single.  Does the statement list family coverage, but you have no spouse or dependents?  Do you think you are carrying health insurance, but the Statement indicates “None”?

Dental - Excess Medical Insurance (EPIC)

This plan offers three levels of coverage: Employee, Two-Person, and Family.  Does the statement list family coverage, but you have a spouse only and no dependents or no spouse and only one dependent?  Do you only need two-person coverage?  Are you enrolled in two-person coverage but only need Employee coverage?

Dental Insurance (Anthem DentalBlue)

Are you insured in a dental plan?  If yes, your statement will indicate “Dental Insurance-UW” or “Dental Insurance-OSER” or “Dental Insurance-Union”.

This plan also offers three levels of coverage: Employee, Employee + 1, and Employee + 2. However, your coverage level will NOT be listed in the Coverage section.  So you can divide the annual contribution amount by 12 and refer to the Insurance Premium Rates for dental benefits to determine which level you carry.

Vision Insurance (Spectera)

Are you insured in the vision benefit?  If your statement indicates “Vision” you carry the coverage.

This plan offers four levels of coverage: Employee, Employee + Spouse / Domestic Partner, Employee + Children, and Employee + Family.  However, your coverage level will NOT be listed in the Coverage section.  So you can divide the annual contribution amount by 12 and refer to the Insurance Premium Rates for Vision benefits to determine which level you carry.

INCOME PROTECTION BENEFITS –
Income Continuation Insurance

If you are unclassified faculty or academic staff, is your waiting (elimination) period correct?  The four periods are 30-day, 90-day, 125-day, and 180-day.  You also may want to review how closely your sick leave balance matches your selected period.

If you are classified, is the correct category listed?  Placement into categories 1-3 is based on your sick leave balance as of the end of 2007.  Categories 4-6 are premium plateaus, so once placed in one of these categories you will not drop lower even if your sick leave balance drops in the future.

If you have supplemental coverage, is it listed?  Anyone enrolled in supplemental will see this coverage on the statement.

SURVIVOR BENEFITS:
State Group Life Insurance

Is the total coverage on your life correct?  Each unit of coverage is based on your highest calendar year of Wisconsin Retirement System reportable earnings rounded up to the next $1,000.  You can be insured up to 5 times your calendar year earnings.

Are you paying premiums for spouse and dependent/children coverage but have neither?  Do you think you have spouse and dependent/children coverage but it is not indicated on this statement?

UW Employees, Inc. Life Insurance

Your coverage is based on your age – Is it correct?  See the Insurance Premium Rates at our website.

Individual & Family Group Life Insurance

Note:  The 2008 Statement reflects the coverage in effect prior to the annual optional increase period.

Is the coverage indicated the level of coverage you selected?  Spouse/domestic partner and child coverage are also listed.  Are you insured in the correct program with the correct coverage level?  Do you have spouse/domestic partner or children coverage but have no spouse/domestic partner or children?  Do you think you carry spouse/domestic partner coverage or children coverage but it is not listed on this statement?

Accidental Death & Dismemberment Life Insurance

The coverage amount you carry is listed on the statement, but the coverage level, Single or Family, is not.  Refer to the Insurance Premium Rates on our website to confirm you are paying correctly.

University Insurance Association Life Insurance

This life insurance policy is mandatory for all eligible faculty and academic staff.  A premium in the amount of $24.00 is deducted from October earnings paid November 1 for the plan year October 1 through September 30.  New employees on payroll as of the April 1 check will have a premium in the amount of $12.00 deducted for plan year coverage from April 1 through September 30.  This is a decreasing term life plan and the amount of coverage is based on your age as of October 1.  Refer to the Insurance Premium Rates for your current coverage amount.  This benefit is not available to classified employees.

Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS)

Contributions to the Wisconsin Retirement System include both employee required and employer required contributions.  The University pays both contribution amounts on your behalf.

In addition to the WRS contributions, the University pays a percentage of your salary to pre-fund the Accumulated Sick Leave Conversion Credit and Supplemental Sick Leave Conversion Credit programs to pay for your health insurance premiums upon retirement. 

Note:  You will receive a separate Wisconsin Retirement System Annual Statement of Benefits via campus mail each year by early May.  This form is generated by the Department of Employee Trust Funds.

Social Security

In 2008 you and the University each contribute to your social security account at the rate of 6.2% of earnings up to a maximum of $102,000.  1.45% of your total income is contributed by both you and the University to the Medicare program (no earnings maximum). 

The programs below are listed under OPTIONAL PLANS.

OPTIONAL PLANS
Employee Reimbursement Accounts (ERA) Program

If you participate in the ERA program the statement will list the amount you contribute per pay period into a Medical and/or Dependent Care Account.

Tax Sheltered Annuity / Wisconsin Deferred Compensation

The amount(s) shown reflect the contributions deducted per pay period to the Tax Sheltered Annuity Program and/or the Wisconsin Deferred Compensation Program. 

Benefits Not Reflected on the Statement

A number of other deductions taken from your payroll check such as parking, union dues, SECC, etc. are not reflected on this statement.

Beneficiary Designations

Make sure your beneficiary designations are up to date for these plans:

If you are unsure about who you have named as a beneficiary, you may want to file new Beneficiary Designation forms.  The UW does not have any record of who you named on any of your beneficiary designations.  All beneficiary designations are to be sent directly to the administrator of the plan.  Beneficiary designations are available on our website at: http://www.bussvc.wisc.edu/ecbs/emp-forms-ben-designation.html.

Questions

If you note a discrepancy, need forms, want to know your enrollment options, or want general benefit information, then please contact us at:

Office of Human Resources – Benefits Services
Email:  Benefits@ohr.wisc.edu
Website:  http://www.bussvc.wisc.edu/ecbs/ecbs.html

UW1273  04/08