Action Required – Must Submit Updated Benefit Applications
Since your spouse is currently covered as a domestic partner on your benefit plans, you must submit new benefit applications to change the relationship status from domestic partner to spouse. The marriage date that you should enter on the applications is October 6, 2014 (the date that Wisconsin recognized same-sex marriage).
You can review who is listed as a dependent on your benefit plans by accessing your benefits summary in the myUW System Portal (https://my.wisconsin.edu) and going to the Benefit Information Box. You may also contact your benefits office to confirm who is covered.
Open Enrollment Opportunity
You also have a special open enrollment opportunity through November 14, 2014, to enroll your same-sex spouse and your spouse’s dependents in the following benefit plans (if not already covered):
• State Group Health Insurance
• Dental Wisconsin Dental Insurance
• EPIC Benefits+
• VSP Vision Insurance
• Individual and Family Life Insurance (restrictions may apply)
• State Group Life Insurance (restrictions may apply)
For a full list of benefit changes allowed when you marry your domestic partner, see:
[link destination="http://www.uwsa.edu/ohrwd/benefits/famchng/dp-marriage/" text="http://www.uwsa.edu/ohrwd/benefits/famchng/dp-marriage/"].
If you currently don’t cover your spouse on your health insurance, coverage will be effective October 6th (the date that Wisconsin recognized same-sex marriage) and all other benefits will be effective the 1st of the month on or following receipt of the application.
Note: if you marry a same-sex spouse after October 15, 2014, you have 30 days from your date of marriage to make any benefit changes.
Enrollment Deadline
All applications must be submitted to your institution’s benefits office by 4:30 p.m. on November 14, 2014.
All benefit applications are available at: [link destination="http://www.uwsa.edu/ohrwd/formspubs/" text="http://www.uwsa.edu/ohrwd/formspubs/"]. You must submit a paper application to add your spouse and spouse’s dependents to your coverage.
Imputed Income
Effective with your premium for October health insurance, you are no longer subject to state imputed income taxes. You will receive a refund of any state imputed income already paid for October and/or November coverage. As a reminder, you were already not subject to imputed income on a federal level.
Additional Information
For additional information, see the Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage in Wisconsin FAQ on the [link destination="http://etf.wi.gov/news/ht-2014-same-sex-marriage2.htm" text="Department of Employee Trust Funds website"].