Death of Spouse, Domestic Partner or Child

Life Events

Overview

If your spouse, domestic partner, or child passes away you will need to update your benefits to remove your dependent within 30 days of the death and apply for any death benefits available.

How Benefits are Affected

Information specific to each benefit plan can be accessed below.

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.

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You have 30 days from the date of death to remove your deceased spouse or child from your existing coverage.

Note: If you do not remove your deceased dependent within 30 days, you may be responsible for any premiums paid by the Universities of Wisconsin in error.

If you were covered by your deceased spouse’s health insurance, you may enroll (can only cover family members that lost coverage) within 30 days of losing your comparable coverage due to your spouse’s death. Coverage is effective the date your other insurance terminates.

You have 30 days from the date of death to remove your deceased spouse or child from your existing coverage.

You have 30 days from the date of death to remove your deceased spouse or child from your existing coverage.

If enrolled in Spouse/Dependent coverage:

Review the beneficiary designation for your employee policy and update, if necessary.

If enrolled in Spouse/Domestic Partner or Child coverage:

  • Contact your benefits office to report death. Securian will send you a claim form.
  • If your spouse or domestic partner passed away, update your coverage to cancel Spouse/Domestic Partner coverage within 30 days of the death.
  • If your child passed away and you have no other children eligible for coverage, update your coverage to cancel your Child coverage within 30 days of the death.

Review your beneficiary designation and update, if necessary.

If you carried Family coverage and the death of your spouse, domestic partner, or child was accidental, call the Zurich American Insurance Company at (866) 841-4771 to report the death and request a claim form. Zurich must receive the claim form within 90 days of death.

If you have Family coverage, and you have no other eligible dependents (spouse, domestic partner, or children), update your coverage to Employee Only Coverage. The change to your coverage will be effective the first of the month following the date of death.

Review your beneficiary designation and update, if necessary.

You have 30 days from the date of death to remove your deceased spouse or child from your existing coverage.

Review your beneficiary designation and update, if necessary.

This plan offers employee coverage and is not affected by the death of your spouse, domestic partner, or child.

You may take the following actions within 30 days of the date of death:

  • Enroll in a Health Care and/or Dependent Day Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
  • Increase, decrease, or cancel your Health Care and/or Dependent Day Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) election (if already enrolled)

If you enroll, coverage is effective on the first of the month on or following the event date.

Review your beneficiary designation and update, if necessary.

You can enroll in or make changes at any time. Review Change Benefits-Supplemental Retirement-Employee (KB 144708) for information to make changes (start, edit, stop) to your enrollment.

Review your beneficiary designation(s) and update, if necessary.

You can enroll in or make changes at any time. Contact the WDC administrator (Empower) directly at wdcquestions@empower.com or (877) 457-9327 to make changes (start, edit, stop) to your enrollment.

Review your beneficiary designation and update, if necessary.

How to Make Changes

To update your benefits 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.

Personal Updates

If necessary, update your personal information with the Universities of Wisconsin. Instructions for how to update your information can be found in the following resources:

Tax Withholding

Review your tax withholding exemptions and update, if necessary. For information review:

Resources

Reach out to your benefits contact 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: 07/23/2025