Overview
If you are currently eligible for benefits under the Graduate Assistant / Short-Term Academic Staff Benefit Package and become eligible for the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) Benefit Package you become eligible for additional benefit plans. You may enroll in the additional benefit plans within 30 days of becoming eligible for the WRS Benefit Package.
Review the Benefit Summary for the employment category you are moving to:
How Benefits Are Affected
Most of the benefit plans you are already enrolled in will continue automatically, depending on the employment category you are moving from. Review the benefit plan information below carefully for actions you may need to take.
To review which plans you are currently enrolled in log into Workday (myworkday.wisconsin.edu). Once in Workday, from the Menu in the upper left go to Personal, then select Benefits and Pay. In the Suggested Links, select My Insurance Benefits to access the benefits enrollment system.
If you are currently enrolled in health insurance under the Graduate Assistant / Short-Term Academic Staff Benefit Package, you must re-enroll in health insurance within 30 days of becoming eligible for the WRS Benefits Package in order to retain your health insurance. If you re-enroll your monthly premium contribution will increase. If your FTE is less than 50% you are required to pay 50% of the total premium rate. Review the Benefits Premiums web page for more information.
- Your health insurance coverage under the Graduate Assistant / Short-Term Academic Staff Benefit Package will end at the end of the month in which your Graduate Assistant / Short-Term Benefit Package-eligible position ends. This is immediately prior to your WRS-eligibility begin date.
- You will receive a continuation notice for the health insurance coverage ending under the Graduate Assistant / Short-Term Academic Staff Benefit Package. Contact UW-Shared Services, Service Operations a GetHelpUW@support.wisconsin.edu or (888) 298-0141 if you do not receive one.
- If you move from an appointment eligible for the Graduate Assistant / Short-Term Benefit Package to a University Staff appointment eligible for the WRS Benefit Package and have no eligible prior WRS service, you must complete 2 months of WRS service before becoming eligible for the employer contribution toward health insurance.
If you are not currently enrolled you have 30 days from becoming eligible for the WRS Benefits Package to enroll or opt-out.
If you are currently enrolled in these plans you will remain enrolled. No action is required by you.
If you are not currently enrolled in these plans you have 30 days from becoming eligible for the WRS Benefits Package to enroll.
When you become eligible for the WRS Benefit Package you have an enrollment opportunity in the State Group Life Insurance and Income Continuation Insurance Programs. You must enroll within 30 days of becoming WRS eligible.
If you are currently enrolled you will remain enrolled. No action is required by you.
If you are not currently enrolled you have 30 days from becoming eligible for the WRS Benefits Package to enroll.
If you are currently enrolled you will remain enrolled. No action is required by you.
If you are not currently enrolled you may enroll, change or cancel your coverage at any time.
If you are currently enrolled, you will remain enrolled. No action is required by you.
If you are not currently enrolled and:
- were not previously eligible, you have 30 days from becoming eligible for the WRS Benefits Package to enroll.
- were previously eligible, you do not have an enrollment opportunity when you become eligible for the WRS Benefits Package.
If you enroll in a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) for health insurance, or change your health plan to an HDHP, you are also required to enroll in the Health Savings Account (HSA). Complete your enrollment within 30 days of becoming WRS eligible. There are special eligibility requirements for the HSA. See the HSA web page for more information.
You may change your employee contribution at any time by logging into My Insurance Benefits. For assistance with enrolling or making changes to your HSA contribution amount review Making Changes to a Health Savings Account (ET-1142b).
If you become eligible for the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) Benefit Package, you are automatically enrolled in the WRS. Review the WRS web page for information on this program.
You can enroll in or make changes at any time.
- UW 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Program (SRP)
- Review Change Benefits-Supplemental Retirement-Employee (KB 144708) for information to make changes (start, edit, stop) to your enrollment.
- Wisconsin Deferred Compensation (WDC) 457 Program
- Contact the WDC administrator (Empower) directly at wdcquestions@empower.com or (877) 457-9327 to make changes (start, edit, stop) to your enrollment.
Review the Leave Benefits web page for information on leave you are eligible for under the WRS Benefit Package.
How to Make Changes
To re-enroll or enroll, log into Workday (myworkday.wisconsin.edu). Once in Workday, from the Menu in the upper left go to Personal, then select Benefits and Pay. In the Suggested Links, select My Insurance Benefits to access the benefits enrollment system.
Resources
Reach out to your benefits contact within 30 days from the date of your qualifying life event with questions.
Beneficiary Designations
Remember to review and update your beneficiary designations when you have a life event to make sure that your benefits are paid according to your wishes. Benefit plans that have beneficiary designations include life insurance plans, retirement plans and the health savings account.
For more information review the Beneficiary Information web page.
Every effort has been made to ensure this information is current and correct. Information on this page does not guarantee enrollment, benefits and/or the ability to make changes to your benefits.
Updated: 08/14/2025