Leave of Absence

You may continue coverage for up to 36 months while on an unpaid leave, provided you continue to pay the premium.

You may continue coverage for up to 36 months while on an unpaid leave, provided you continue to pay the premium.

You may continue coverage for up to 36 months while on an unpaid leave, provided you continue to pay the premium. If you fail to pay premium by the due date your coverage will lapse. 

Eligible employees have thirty (30) days after returning from leave to re-enroll in lapsed coverage.

Note: If your Basic coverage is allowed to lapse, all other coverage levels (Supplemental, Additional and Dependent) will lapse. If you continue your Basic coverage while on an unpaid leave of absence, you may choose to continue and/or lapse your Supplemental, Additional and/or Dependent coverage(s). If you (or your dependent) pass away more than 31 days after coverage lapsed, a death benefit is not payable.

You may continue coverage for up to 36 months while on an unpaid leave, provided you continue to pay the premium. If you fail to pay premium by the due date your coverage will lapse.

Eligible employees have thirty (30) days after returning from leave to re-enroll in lapsed coverage.

Note: If your Employee coverage is allowed to lapse, all other coverage levels (Spouse/Domestic Partner and/or Child(ren)) will lapse. If you continue your Employee coverage while on an unpaid leave of absence, you may choose to continue and/or lapse your Spouse/Domestic Partner and/or Child(ren) coverage(s). If you (or your dependent) pass away more than 31 days after coverage lapsed, a death benefit is not payable.

You may continue coverage while on an unpaid leave.

Note: The UW Employees, Inc. Board has decided to terminate the UW Employees, Inc. Life Insurance Plan effective January 1, 2025. Employees enrolled in the plan as of December 31, 2023 will be provided coverage through December 31, 2024. Group coverage in the UW Employees, Inc. Life Insurance plan will end January 1, 2025.

If you have paid the premium for the plan year, coverage continues until December 31st following the start of your unpaid leave.

Note: The University Insurance Association Life Insurance Plan will terminate effective January 1, 2025.  Employees currently enrolled in the plan who have paid the annual premium will have coverage through December 31, 2024.  Group coverage will end January 1, 2025, and a limited conversion option may be available when the plan terminates. Additional information will be provided to covered employees in late 2024.

You may continue coverage for up to 36 months while on an unpaid leave, provided you continue to pay the premium.

You may continue coverage for up to 36 months while on an unpaid leave, provided you continue to pay the premium.

Income Continuation Insurance (ICI) premiums are paid for the current month of coverage. For example, the premium deduction from June earnings is for June coverage.

If you are not receiving ICI benefits while on an unpaid leave, you may continue coverage for up to 36 months, provided you continue to pay the premium. You are eligible for the employer contribution towards the premium for the first three months of your unpaid leave. You will pay the full premium after the third month.

If you are approved for ICI benefits while on leave, your ICI premium is waived (you pay no premium).

ICI Premium Calculation

Annually ICI premiums are reviewed and adjusted the following February. Premiums for faculty, academic staff and limited appointees are determined by the employee’s prior year’s eligible WRS earnings and elimination period elected. University staff premiums are determined by the employee’s prior year’s eligible WRS earnings and their Premium Category. The Premium Category is based on the total accumulated unused sick leave balance at the end of the year or the amount of sick leave earned in the prior year (Premium Category 3).

WRS eligible earnings and sick leave balances (for university staff only) will be based on the amounts in effect prior to your unpaid leave of absence and will continue to be used until you have a full calendar year of eligible earnings. As a result, your ICI premium will not change. Additionally, if you become disabled, the ICI benefit will be based on that same WRS eligible earnings.

Pre-tax contributions made via payroll will end on your last paycheck prior to your unpaid leave of absence.

Within 30 days of the start of your unpaid leave of absence, you may decrease your annual election by completing a Contribution Change Form pdf . You can decrease your annual election to an amount equal to or greater than what you have already contributed for the current plan year.

Return to Work: When you return to work, your annual election amount will be recalculated for the remaining payrolls in the calendar year and your pre-tax payroll contributions will resume. Within 30 days of your return to work, you may enroll in the FSA or increase your annual election by completing a Contribution Change Form pdf .

Incurring Eligible Expenses:

• Health Care FSA:
  • if you meet your annual election amount with your pre-tax contributions prior to and after your unpaid leave of absence, you may continue to incur eligible expenses while you are on an unpaid leave of absence.
  • If you do not meet your annual election amount with your pre-tax contributions prior to and after your unpaid leave of absence, expenses incurred during your unpaid leave of absence are not eligible for reimbursement.
• Dependent Day Care: Regardless of whether you meet your annual election amount with your pre-tax contributions prior to and after your unpaid leave of absence, you may continue to incur eligible expenses until December 31^st.

You may continue to request HSA distributions for qualified medical, dental and/or vision expenses if adequate funds are available.

Pre-tax employee contributions made via payroll will end on your last paycheck before your unpaid leave of absence. Your employee contributions will resume when you return to work. Employer contributions to your HSA will continue for up to three months while you are on an unpaid leave of absence (if eligible) if you continue your High Deductible Health Plan (i.e. do not let coverage lapse).

Contributions: Contributions end on your last paycheck and resume when you return to work.

WRS creditable service: You do not earn WRS creditable service while on an unpaid leave of absence. Depending on the number of days you are on an unpaid leave of absence and the employee class you are in you may receive a partial year of creditable service. A partial year is a percentage of the year that is equivalent to the hours spent in paid status (i.e. actual hours worked, vacation, sick leave or other paid leave status) divided by the number of hours required to qualify for a creditable year of service:

• For faculty, academic staff, or limited appointees 1,320 hours are needed from 7/1 – 6/30 to receive a full year of creditable service.
• For university staff employees, 1,904 hours are needed from 1/1 – 12/31 to receive a full year of creditable service.
• Note: An individual can only earn 1.0 year of creditable service in a 12-month period, no matter how many hours an employee is in paid status.

Note that for employees who first became eligible for the WRS after July 1, 2011, five years of creditable service are needed to be vested in the WRS.

WRS retirement benefit: Your WRS retirement benefit is calculated using two methods; the formula method and the money purchase method. At retirement the benefit is calculated under both methods and you receive the higher amount. Under the formula benefit method, your WRS retirement benefit is based on your three highest calendar (for university staff) or fiscal (for faculty, academic staff, limited appointees) years’ eligible earnings. The years do not need to be consecutive or the last years reported. Under the money purchase method, your WRS retirement benefit is based on your total employee and employer contributions made to the plan. 

While on an unpaid leave of absence, if your eligible earnings are reduced, it may not be one of your three highest calendar or fiscal years’ earnings used under the formula method. Under the money purchase benefit method, if your eligible earnings are reduced, your employee and employer contributions will be less.

For additional information on calculating your WRS retirement benefit review the ETF Calculating Your Retirement Benefits (ET-4107) brochure.

Contributions end on your last paycheck and resume when you return to work.

To increase or decrease your dollar or percentage amount, log into my.wisconsin.edu or complete a Salary Reduction Agreement (SRA) and submit it to your institution human resources office.

To stop your contribution or change your recordkeeper(s), complete a Salary Reduction Agreement (SRA) and submit it to your human resources office.

Contributions end on your last paycheck and resume when you return to work.

To change your contribution amount contact WDC directly at wdcquestions@empower-retirement.com or (877) 457-9327.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) benefits are available to employees on leave of absence. Review the EAP web page for information on contacting the EAP provider.