Death of Employee

If family members were covered at the time of the employee’s death, coverage ends at the end of the month in which the employee passed away. UW-Shared Services, Service Operations will send a continuation notice to the employee’s family. The family then has 60 days from the date of the continuation notice to elect continuation coverage. If the family does not receive the continuation notice timely, they should contact UW-Shared Services, Service Operations at serviceoperations@support.wisconsin.edu or (888) 298-0141 (7:45-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday).

Coverage for a spouse and/or children may continue for up to 36 months or until they no longer meet the eligibility requirements of the plan, whichever occurs first.

Any premiums paid for coverage months following the date of death will be refunded.

If family members were covered at the time of the employee’s death, coverage ends at the end of the month in which the employee passed away. UW-Shared Services, Service Operations will send a continuation notice to the employee’s family. The family then has 60 days from the date of the continuation notice to elect continuation coverage. If the family does not receive the continuation notice timely, they should contact UW-Shared Services, Service Operations at serviceoperations@support.wisconsin.edu or (888) 298-0141 (7:45-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday).

Coverage for a spouse and/or children may continue for up to 36 months or until they no longer meet the eligibility requirements of the plan, whichever occurs first.

Any premiums paid for coverage months following the date of death will be refunded.

Survivors must submit a Death Benefit Information Request Form (ET-7301) to the Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF) to report the death. Survivors may also call ETF at (877) 533-5020 to report the death. ETF will notify Securian (State Group Life Insurance Plan carrier), who will send a claim form to the beneficiary. A Notice of Death (ET-6301) will also need to be completed and submitted to Securian.

If Spouse and Dependent coverage was in force at the time of the employee’s death, coverage for spouse and dependents ends 90 days after the date of death (no premium due during this period).

Surviving family members may convert Spouse and Dependent coverage to an individual life insurance policy by submitting a conversion application and first premium directly to Securian within 90 days from the date of death (each family member must convert coverage separately). Surviving family members can contact UW-Shared Services, Service Operations at serviceoperations@support.wisconsin.edu or (888) 298-0141 (7:45-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday) for a conversion application.

Any premiums paid for coverage months following the date of death will be refunded.

Survivors must reach out to the employee’s benefits contact to report the death. The Individual & Family Life Insurance Plan carrier (Securian) will send a claim form to the beneficiary.

If Spouse and/or Children coverage was in force at the time of the employee’s death, coverage for spouse and/or children ends at the end of the month in which the employee passed away.

Surviving family members may convert Spouse and Dependent coverage to an individual life insurance policy by submitting a conversion application and first premium directly to Securian within 31 days from the date of death (each family member must convert coverage separately). Surviving family members can contact UW-Shared Services, Service Operations at serviceoperations@support.wisconsin.edu or (888) 298-0141 (7:45-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday) for a conversion application.

Any premiums paid for coverage months following the date of death will be refunded.

Survivors should reach out to the employee’s benefits contact to report the death. The UW Employees, Inc. Life Insurance Plan carrier (Securian) will send a claim form to the beneficiary. Any premiums paid for coverage months following the date of death will be refunded.

Survivors must reach out to the employee's benefits contact to report the death. The University Insurance Association Life Insurance Plan carrier (Securian) will send a claim form to the beneficiary.

Contact the Accidental Death & Dismemberment Plan carrier (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 family coverage was in force at the time of the employee’s death, covered family members have 60 days from the date of death to convert coverage to an individual policy. Each family member must convert coverage separately. Family members may convert coverage by contacting Zurich American Insurance Company at (888) 634-6780 (reference UW System Policy # GTU-8364005). Family members can also contact UW-Shared Services, Service Operations at serviceoperations@support.wisconsin.edu or (888) 298-0141 (7:45-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday) for a conversion application.

Any premiums paid for coverage months following the date of death will be refunded.

If family members were covered at the time of the employee’s death, coverage ends at the end of the month in which the employee passed away. UW-Shared Services, Service Operations will send a continuation notice to the employee’s family. The family then has 60 days from the date of the continuation notice to elect continuation coverage. If the family does not receive the continuation notice timely, they may contact UW-Shared Services, Service Operations at serviceoperations@support.wisconsin.edu or (888) 298-0141 (7:45-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday).

Coverage for a spouse and/or children may continue for up to 36 months or until they no longer meet the eligibility requirements of the plan, whichever occurs first.

Any premiums paid for coverage months following the date of death will be refunded.

Funds remaining in the employee’s Health Care, Dependent Day Care or Limited Purpose Flexible Spending Account (FSA) is accessible after death for expenses incurred by the employee or eligible dependents prior to the date of death. Surviving family members must submit a claim form and proof of death to the FSA Administrator to receive reimbursement. Contact the FSA Plan Administrator at (833) 881-8158 to start the claims process.

How the employee's Health Savings Account (HSA) is handled when they pass away depends on whom they designated as the beneficiary.

• If the employee's spouse was designated the beneficiary, the HSA will be treated as the spouse's HSA after the employee's death.
• If the beneficiary is someone other than the spouse, the HSA can no longer be an HSA as of the date of death. The fair market value of the HSA becomes taxable to the beneficiary in the year the employee passes away.
• If no beneficiary designation was made, the employee's estate is the beneficiary.

For balances with the current HSA administrator (Optum, after January 1, 2020) call (833) 881-8158 to report the death and for information on accessing funds. For balances with the previous HSA administrator (TASC) call (844) 786-3947 to report the death and for information on accessing funds.

Contact recordkeeper(s) for information regarding benefits payable upon death.

Contact the Wisconsin Deferred Compensation (WDC) 457 Program administrator (Empower) at (877) 457-9327 for information regarding benefits payable upon death.