2016 Employee Benefit Summary

for Graduate Assistants, Post-Doctoral Appointees and

Short-Term Academic Appointments
Revised 02/09/2016

Table of Contents
Enrollment Deadlines, Effective Date
and Dependent Coverage ------------ 2
Health Insurance ----------------------- 3
Summary of Health Benefits -------- 4
Uniform Dental Benefits ------------- 5
Payroll Information -------------------- 5

Your Needs. Your Benefits.

The UW System offers a comprehensive benefits package to meet the
diverse needs of our employees. The University contributes towards the
cost of several benefit plans, which is a valuable piece of your total
compensation. It is only through the understanding of your available
benefits options that you are able to get the most out of your benefit
programs.

Enrollment Deadlines and Effective Date

Optional Dental and Vision ---------- 6

Most benefit plans have a 30 day enrollment period from your hire date.

Flexible Spending Accts --------------- 7

You will either complete your enrollments with paper applications or with
the online benefit enrollment system, called eBenefits, depending on your
UW institution. Please contact your
Thirty Days!!
institutions benefits office to learn how to
enroll in your benefits.
Dont miss your opportunity to

Parking/Transit Benefits -------------- 7

Long Term Care Insurance ----------- 7
Life Insurance ---------------------------- 8
Career Related Educational
Reimbursement -------------------------- 8
LifeSuite ----------------------------------- 9
Retirement Savings -------------------- 9

Paid Leave --------------------------------- 10

About This Summary

This benefit summary is a high-level

overview of UW System employee
benefits and is not intended to be a
complete overview of coverage . For
more detailed information, please visit
the UW System website at
https://www.wisconsin.edu/ohrwd/.
Every effort has been made to ensure
the information in this benefit summary
is true and accurate. If there is any
discrepancy between this summary and
the official plan documents, the language
in the official documents shall be
considered accurate.

Most benefits are effective on the first of the enroll. Most benefit plans have
a 30 day enrollment period!!
month on or following your benefit eligibility
date if your application is received within 30
days of your eligibility date (either by paper
or through eBenefits) by your institutions
benefits office. Contact your institutions
benefits office for a Benefit Deadline
Worksheet.

Dependent Coverage
Your spouse, domestic partner and children are eligible for all benefit
plans that offer coverage to dependents.
If you have a domestic partner, you must complete a Domestic Partnership
Affidavit before you can cover your domestic partner and their children. Due
to IRS regulations, there may be state and federal tax consequences if you
cover a domestic partner and partners children on your health insurance.

MyUW Portal
Payroll, benefit, paid leave, personal information and eBenefits access are
all found at the MyUW portal (https://my.wisconsin.edu). UW-Madison

State Group Health Insurance

The health plans offered through the State Group Health Insurance program provide coverage mainly in Wisconsin
(some offer coverage in surrounding states) and one plan offers nationwide coverage. All plans offer hospital,
surgical, medical and prescription coverage.
Short-Term Academic Staff (includes Visiting Faculty) are eligible if you are expected to work at least:

21% for at least six months (12-month employees)

28% for at least one semester (9-month employees)

Student Assistants and Employees-in-Training are eligible if you are expected to work at least 33% time for at least six
months (12-month employees) or one semester (9-month employees).
Coverage

The University offers many health plans to choose

from including HMOs, Regional PPOs and the Access
Plan (a nationwide PPO).
HMOs use a specific network of doctors, clinics and
hospitals and you are expected to receive services
within the network. Out-of-network care is only available in an emergency or upon referral. Regional PPOs
provide the same level of benefits as the HMOs if
benefits are received in-network.
The Access Plan provides a nationwide network. Benefits are based on whether or not services are received in or out-of-network.

Uniform Benefits is the standardized level of benefits offered by an HMO or Regional PPO.

All health plans, except the State Maintenance

Plan, offer the option of electing Uniform Dental
Benefitsa standardized level of dental benefits.
If you do not elect a plan that includes Uniform
Dental, your monthly premium will be reduced.

IYC Health Plans have an annual deductible of

$250 (Single)/$500 (Family).

Once the deductible is met, you will pay 10% coinsurance for non-preventive services. (Federally
mandated preventive services are paid at 100%

2016 Monthly Employee Premium

IYC Health Plan
Health Planted
Most selected

Health Plans with Uniform Dental

(except Access Plan)

Health Plans w/o Uniform Dental
(except Access Plan)
Access Plan with Uniform Dental
Access Plan w/o dental

Single

Family

$44.50

$112.50

$41.50

$104.50

$128

$320

$125

$312

Summary of Benefits
When health services are received, you pay a deductible. After the deductible is met, you will usually pay either a copayment or 10% of
the charges (called coinsurance). When you meet your annual Out-of-Pocket Limit (OOPL), most covered services are paid in full by your
health plan for the rest of the calendar year. This chart reflects in-network coverage.
Benefit

IYC Health Plans

Annual Deductible

$250/individual $500/family

Primary Care Provider Office Visit

$15 copay per visit (doesnt apply to deductible)

Specialty Care Provider Office Visit

$25 copay per visit (doesnt apply to deductible)

Coinsurance2

After deductible: 10%

Annual Out-of-Pocket Limit (OOPL)

$1,250/individual $2,500/family

Routine Preventive

You pay nothing

Hearing Exam

You pay 10%

Well Vision Exam

$25 copay. No cost for children under age 5.

Hospital Days (no limit if medically necessary)

You pay 10%

Emergency Room

$75 copay4 per visit and you pay 10%

Ambulance

You pay 10%

Mental Health/Alcohol & Drug Abuse

You pay 10%

You pay 10%

Physical/Speech/Occupational Therapy

Up to 50 visits/year, plan may approve additional 50

$1,000 Annual Benefit Max (per person)

Uniform Dental Benefits

Preventive & Restorative covered at 100%

In-Network Benefitsif elected

Periodontal & Adjunctive covered at 80%

Child Orthodontics covered at 50% up to
Level 1 - $5
Level 2 - 20% ($50 max)
Level 3 - 40% ($150 max) 5

Prescription Drug Copays

(30 day supply)4

Specialty Drug Copays

(30 day supply)

Level 4 - Preferred: $50 if filled at a specialty pharmacy

Non-preferred: 40% ($200 max)

Level 1 & 2 - $600/individual, $1,200/family

Prescription Annual Out-of-Pocket Limit (OOPL)

Level 3 - Federal Max

Level 4 - $1,200/individual, $2,400/family

1
2
3
4
5

Annual Deductible - Amount you must pay out of pocket before your health plan will begin paying claims.
Coinsurance - Percentage you must pay of the cost of the covered service.
Out-of-Pocket Limit (OOPL) - The most you will pay out-of -pocket for covered costs in one year. Once OOPL is met, you are covered at 100%.
Copay - Set amount you must pay upfront for each service or prescription.
Does not apply to OOPL. Federal max applies.

Uniform Dental Benefits

To ensure that all members receive the same basic level
of dental coverage through their health insurance, all
health plans (except the SMP plan) offer the same dental
coverage. This is called Uniform Dental and is
administered by Delta Dental of Wisconsin. You may use
providers in the Delta Dental Premier or PPO networks.

Uniform Dental is included in your health insurance

coverage unless you elect not to enroll for Uniform Dental
when you enroll for health insurance. If you elect not to
enroll for Uniform Dental, your monthly premium will be
reduced. Uniform Dental provides coverage for
diagnostic, preventive and restorative services (such as
fillings). It does not include coverage for major dental
services, such as crowns, root canals or implants.

Summary of Uniform Dental Benefits

Key Plan Provisions
Benefit

Coverage

Deductible

$0

Annual Benefit Maximum

$1,000

Covered Services

Cleanings
Diagnostic/Preventive

100%

Routine Evaluations
X-rays

Fluoride Treatment
Restorative

100%

Fillings

Periodontal

80%

Periodontal

Adjunctive Services

80%

Local Anesthesia

Orthodontia

50%

Ortho Lifetime Maximum

$1,500

Payroll Information
All employees, except most students, have FICA taxes
withheld from their paychecks.

You are paid on a monthly basis and are paid on the first
of the month for the previous month. If the first of the
month is on a weekend or holiday, employees are paid the
previous business day, except June earnings are paid on
June 30th and December earnings are paid on the first
working day of January.

Social Security: You and the UW each pay 6.2% on

covered compensation up to $118,500.
Medicare: You pay 1.45% on covered compensation up
to $200,000 and 2.35% on covered compensation
thereafter. The UW pays 1.45% on all covered
compensation (no limit).

The University payroll is processed by the UW Service

Center.
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Dental and Vision Plans

The University offers dental and vision plans that provide coverage beyond the coverage available through your
State Group Health plan. You are eligible for the dental and vision plans if you are eligible for State Group Health
Insurance. Once enrolled, you must remain enrolled for the entire calendar year.
Dental Wisconsin is a dental insurance
plan that offers comprehensive dental
coverage. There are two benefit plans
you can choose to enroll in: the PPO
or the Select Plan. Dental Wisconsin is
administered by EPIC Life Insurance
Company.

EPIC Benefits+ offers supplemental

dental and vision coverage, a hospital/
surgery benefit and an accidental
death and dismemberment benefit.
EPIC Benefits+ is administered by EPIC
Life Insurance Company.

VSP Vision Insurance provides

coverage to help offset the costs of an
annual eye exam, prescription glasses,
and contact lenses. VSP Vision is
administered by VSP.

EPIC Benefits+ coverage includes:

Dental Wisconsin coverage includes:

Annual benefit maximum of

$1,000/person
Annual cleanings and x-rays (PPO
plan only)
Fillings, crowns, implants, bridges,
etc. (3 month waiting period)*
Orthodontia, if under 19, with a
lifetime max of $1,000/person (12
month waiting period)*
Davis Vision Discount Program

*Unless you have prior comparable dental

coverage

Would you like to see the

differences between Uniform
Dental Benefits, Dental Wisconsin
PPO, Dental Wisconsin Select and
EPIC Benefits+ dental coverage?
See the Dental Comparison Chart!

VSP In-Network coverage includes:

Annual benefit maximum of

$1,500/person

Fillings, crowns, implants, bridges,

etc.
Orthodontia, if under 19, with a
lifetime max of $1,200/person (12
month waiting period)
Hospital confinement and
outpatient surgery benefit
Accidental Death and

Dismemberment coverage up to
$15,000
Davis Vision Discount Program

Optional Vision Insurance for

additional premium including
coverage for:
$130 frame allowance every
other year after copay, lenses
every year after $25 copay
OR
Up to 8 boxes of contact
lenses per year
Additional coverage and
discounts on materials not
covered under the policy.

One well-vision exam per year

after $15 copayment
Coverage for glasses or contact
lenses each year
$130 frame allowance every
other year after $25 copay,
lenses every year after $25
copay
$130 contact lens allowance
per year
Discounts on additional glasses,
laser vision correction and some
services/materials not covered
under the policy.
KidsCare Program - allows two
exams per year, impact resistant
lenses, lenses replaced as needed,
frames replaced annually with $25
copay.

EPIC Benefits+ Vision package and

VSP Vision offer slightly different
benefits. How do you choose?
See the Vision Comparison Chart!

Monthly Premium

Employee

Employee +
Spouse/DP

Employee +
Child(ren)

Family

Dental WI Select

$20.52

$42.19

$48.68

$71.59

Dental WI PPO

$25.49

$53.96

$60.34

$91.21

EPIC Benefits+ Without Vision

$19.77

$39.54

$39.54

$59.31

EPIC Benefits+ With Vision

$24.02

$47.04

$47.04

$70.34

VSP

$6.54

$13.08

$14.73

$23.54

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

Parking and Transit

The Flexible Spending Account (FSA) program allows you

to set aside money on a pre-tax basis to pay for eligible
medical and dependent care expenses annually. You
decide how much to set aside and that amount is
deducted from each paycheck before Federal, State and
FICA taxes are calculated so you save money on taxes. The
FSA program is administered by TASC.

A Parking and/or Transit program is offered that allows

you to pay for transportation or parking costs on a pre-tax
basis. The limits are $130/month for transportation and
$250/month for parking. This program is administered by
TASC. For eligibility, refer to: https://www.wisconsin.edu/
ohrwd/benefits/fsa/#transitparking.

All employees are eligible except fellows, scholars,

trainees, grad intern/trainee or post-doc fellow/trainee.

Healthcare FSA Contribution Limits

You must re-enroll every year. Your annual enrollment will

not carryover from year to year.

You may only change your annual election amount during

the year if you have a Change in Status (e.g. marriage,
divorce, birth, leave of absence). Contact your institutions
benefits office within 30 days of any event that may be
considered a Change in Status.

Dependent Day Care FSA Contribution

Limits

A Healthcare FSA is used to pay for eligible medical,

dental, vision and prescription expenses that arent
covered by your insurance. These expenses can be
incurred by you, your spouse and your qualifying child or
relative.
A Dependent Day Care FSA is used to pay for eligible
dependent care expenses such as after school care, babysitting fees, adult or child daycare and preschool. Eligible
dependents include your qualifying child, spouse and/or
relative.
Plan Year and Rollover
The plan year for all FSAs is January 1 - December 31st. If
there is any remaining money in your Healthcare or
Limited Purpose FSA account on December 31st, up to
$500 will carryover to the new plan year. Anything over
$500 will be lost. Any funds left in your Dependent Day
Care FSA at the end of the plan year will be lost.
Claims Deadline
The claims deadline is 90 days from the end of the plan
year. This is called the run-out period. All claims for the
2016 plan year must be submitted to TASC by March 30,
2017.

Maximum: $2,550

Maximum: $2,500 - $5,000 (varies by tax

filing status)

You must re-enroll in the FSA each year

if you wish to participate.

Long Term Care Insurance

Long-term care insurance (LTCi) provides financial
protection for the costs of long-term care. It covers
services that are typically not covered by health insurance
but are vital, such as walking, eating, bathing, etc. LTCi
includes care in non-institutional settings, such as assisted
living, adult day care, and in-home care. You may apply
directly to the vendor at any time.
Long Term Care Insurance is available to you, your spouse
or domestic partner, your parents and your spouses or
domestic partners parents. Anyone covered by the plan
must live in Wisconsin.

Life Insurance Plans

Individual and Family Group Life Insurance

Accidental Death and Dismemberment

Insurance (AD&D)

The Individual and Family Group Life Insurance plan offers

term life insurance for employees and their spouse or
domestic partner and eligible children. You are eligible for
this life insurance plan if you are eligible for State Group
Health Insurance.

The AD&D Insurance plan offers accidental death and

dismemberment insurance for employees and their spouse
or domestic partner and eligible children. You may select
Employee Only or Family coverage. This plan includes
Zurich Travel Assist coverage and several benefits to
support you and your family after a covered loss. AD&D is
eligible for continuation at retirement at the group policy
rate.

An employee may initially select up to $20,000 of

employee coverage, $10,000 of spouse or domestic
partner coverage, and $5,000 of child coverage. During
each Annual Increase Option you can increase your
coverage levels by amounts ranging from $5,000-$20,000.
University Insurance Association Life
Coverage maximums are $300,000 for employee coverage,
$150,000 for your spouse or domestic partner and $25,000 Insurance (UIA)
for eligible children.
The UIA Life Insurance plan offers employee-only
decreasing term life insurance to eligible Faculty, Academic
UW Employees, Inc. Life Insurance
Staff, and Limited appointees. If you meet the monthly
UW Employees, Inc. Life Insurance plan offers decreasing
salary requirement, you will be automatically enrolled in
term life insurance for employees only. Coverage is based this plan. No application is required. UIA is eligible for
on age and ranges from $33,000-$7,000. You are eligible
continuation at retirement at the group policy rate.
for this life insurance plan if you are eligible for State
The annual premium of $24.00 is deducted from your
Group Health Insurance.
October earnings.
Coverage ranges from $101,000 - $3,400 depending on
your age.

Life Events
During the course of your employment, you may have Life Events such as marriage, domestic partnership, birth or
adoption, employment changes or termination of employment.
You typically have 30 days from a life event to make changes to your benefits. You should contact your benefits office
as soon as a life event occurs.

Career-Related Education Reimbursement

Employees with a half time or greater appointment are eligible to be reimbursed for up to 100% of the cost of one
course (up to 5 credits) per semester at any state accredited public or private higher educational institution.
Coursework at a UW System institution is encouraged. Employees must receive prior authorization from their
supervisor. Approval will rely on the potential for the employees increase in knowledge and skills and availability of
department funding.
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Retirement Savings Programs

Most employees are eligible for both of these plans and can enroll, change or cancel at any time. Fellows, scholars,
graduate interns/trainees and post-doctoral fellows/trainees do not receive wages and therefore are not eligible for
these programs. Enroll with the investment company of your choice and start saving today!

Tax-Sheltered Annuity 403(b) Program (TSA) Wisconsin Deferred Compensation 457

Program (WDC)
The UW Tax-Sheltered Annuity 403(b) Program is a
supplemental retirement savings program regulated by
Section 403(b) of the Internal Revenue Code and
administered by the University. Through the TSA Program
you can invest a portion of your income for retirement on
either a pre-tax basis, an after-tax basis (Roth) or a
combination of both. Participation in the UW TSA Plan is
voluntary. You make the entire contribution; there is no
employer match. You may participate for as little as $8 per
paycheck.

The Wisconsin Deferred Compensation Program is a

supplemental retirement savings plan, regulated by
Section 457 of the Internal Revenue Code and
administered by the Department of Employee Trust Funds,
through a third-party administrator, Empower Retirement.
Through the WDC Program you can invest a portion of
your income for retirement on either a pre-tax basis, an
after-tax basis (Roth) or a combination of both.
Participation in the plan is voluntary. You make the entire
UW TSA 403(b) Program investment options include a wide contribution; there is no employer match. There is no
minimum monthly contribution.
array of mutual funds and fixed and variable annuities
managed by five
WDC offers 22 investment
Contribution Limits and Fees
investment companies:
options:

TIAA-CREF

Fidelity

T. Rowe Price

Ameriprise/
RiverSource Life
Insurance

Lincoln National Life

Insurance

TSA and WDC Annual Contribution Limits

6 Lifecycle Funds

Under age 50: $18,000

10 mutual funds

Age 50 and over: $24,000

4 commingled trust options

You may contribute the annual maximum to both plans.

1 stable value option

1 FDIC-insured bank option

Special catch-ups may be available. Contact your

institutions benefits office for more information.
TSA Annual Fee: None

All funds are no load,

WDC Annual Fee: $0-$180 depending on the value of
most funds have loweryour account
than-average expenses,
and many funds with
low-cost institutional
share classes are available. There are also many lifecycle
and index fund options to choose from.

In addition, the WDC plan has a

self-directed brokerage account
offered by an independent
brokerage firm for
knowledgeable investors.

LifeSuite Program
The LifeSuite Program offers travel assistance, legal services, beneficiary financial counseling and legacy planning
services.
You do not have to enroll in this program, it is offered free of charge.

For eligibility, refer to: https://www.wisconsin.edu/ohrwd/benefits/misc/#lifesuite.

9

Paid Leave
You are eligible for paid leave if you hold an academic staff position and are expected to work at least 21% in an annual
appointment or 28% in an academic year appointment for at least one year. If you are less than 100% time, your leave
hours will be pro-rated based on your appointment percentage. Paid leave is allocated on a fiscal year basis - the fiscal
year runs from July 1 - June 30. Academic year employees are not eligible for Vacation and Personal Holiday.

Vacation
Bank Unused
Vacation

You will earn 176 hours of vacation per fiscal year. You may use vacation before its earned. Unused
vacation earned in a fiscal year can be carried over for one fiscal year and then will expire.
After 10 years of service, you may put up to 40 hours of unused vacation into an Annual Leave Reserve
Account (ALRA) each year where it can be used at any time and will not expire.
After 25 years of service, you may put up to 80 hours of unused vacation into ALRA each year.
New employees are given 176 hours of sick leave for use during the first 18 months of employment.

Sick Leave

After the first 18 months of employment, you will earn 96 hours of sick leave per fiscal year.
Sick leave accumulates without limit and does not expire. It cannot be used before its earned. If you do not
submit all required leave reports, your sick leave balance will be reduced.

Personal Holidays

You will be given 36 hours of personal holiday per fiscal year. Personal holiday hours will expire at the end
of the fiscal year in which they are given. They do not carryover.

Legal Holidays

You will be paid for 9 legal holidays during the year: New Years Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial
Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Years Eve. Academic year
employees will only be paid for the legal holidays that fall within the academic year.
All employees who meet the eligibility requirements of 1,250 hours of state employment in preceding 12

Family Medical
months (FMLA) and/or 1,000 hours of state employment in the preceding year (WFMLA) are eligible for up
Leave (W/FMLA)
to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave each fiscal year for specified family and medical reasons.

Military Leave

Jury Duty
Voting

All employees are eligible for job-protected leave for active duty or required field training. Eligible
employees will receive differential pay for up to 30 days per calendar year for duty or training lasting 3 days
or more. Eligible employees will also receive up to 4 years of differential pay and eligible benefits if on active
duty.
You will receive paid leave when summoned as a witness for the employer or impaneled as a jurist.
You will receive paid leave to vote if you cannot vote outside of work hours.

Bone Marrow and Employees who request to serve as a bone marrow or human organ donor are eligible for paid leave. If you
are a bone marrow donor, you may receive up to 5 work days off with pay. If you are a human organ donor,
Human Organ
you may receive up to 30 days off with pay.
Donation
Catastrophic
Leave Program

The Catastrophic Leave Program is available to help support employees who need to take an extended,
unpaid leave of absence from work due to illness or injury that incapacitates either the employee or the
employees immediate family member. The program allows employees to donate certain types of paid leave
to other employees granted an unpaid leave of absence due to a catastrophic need.

10