When you get married, you are eligible to add your spouse and any newly eligible children (for example, step-children) to your current benefit plans. You may also be able to enroll in certain benefit plans that offer an enrollment due to your marriage. You must enroll your spouse and newly eligible children to your benefits plans and/or enroll in a benefit plan for the first time within 30 days of your marriage.
To make changes 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 marry your domestic partner you may need to submit a to terminate your domestic partnership.
General information regarding domestic partner benefits at the Universities of Wisconsin can be found on the Domestic Partner web page.
Information on benefit changes specific to each benefit plan can be accessed below.
Additionally, if you have changes to your personal information as a result of marriage, update your information with the Universities of Wisconsin. Information on how to update your information can be found in the following resources:
- Name: Review Legal name Change-Employee (KB 144831) for information on how to update your legal name. Documentation may be necessary.
- Marital Status: Review Editing Personal Information in Workday-Employee (KB 144783) for information on how to update your marital status.
- Address: Review Home Contact Change-Employee (KB 144891) for information on how to update your home address.
- Emergency Contacts: Review Adding and Changing Emergency Contacts in Workday-Employee (KB 144939).
Reach out to your benefits contact within 30 days from the date of your qualifying life event with questions.
You may take the following actions within 30 days of your marriage.
Coverage for the below changes are effective date of marriage:
- Add your spouse and eligible children to your existing coverage.
- Enroll (if electing family coverage, must cover all eligible family members).
Coverage for the below changes are effective the first of the month on or following receipt of your application.
- Change health insurance plan carriers or health plan design.
- If you change your health insurance plan carriers (for example, GHC to Dean), all limits (deductible, benefit maximums and out-of-pocket limits) will reset to $0. Prescription drug and Uniform Dental accumulators and limits will not reset.
- Cancel coverage if you become eligible for and are enrolled as a dependent under your spouse’s health insurance plan (see Gain of Other Coverage for more information.)
- If both employees are State of Wisconsin employees, you may each enroll in your own individual plan OR you may enroll in one family plan.
You may take the following actions within 30 days of your marriage:
- Add your spouse and eligible children to your existing coverage (coverage is effective the date of marriage).
- Enroll in coverage and add eligible family members (coverage is effective the first of the month following marriage).
- Cancel coverage (effective the last day of the month following receipt of the application).
You may take the following actions within 30 days of your marriage:
- Add your spouse and eligible children to your existing coverage (coverage is effective the date of marriage).
- Enroll in coverage and add eligible family members (coverage is effective the first of the month following marriage).
- Cancel coverage (effective the last day of the month following receipt of the application).
You may take the following actions within 30 days of your marriage. Coverage is effective on the first of the month on or following 30 days from the date of your marriage.
- Enroll in Basic coverage (if not currently enrolled)
- Add one unit of employee coverage (if not already enrolled in maximum number of units)
- Enroll in one or two units of Spouse and Dependent coverage
- If already enrolled, spouse and newly eligible children are automatically covered (does not require an application)
If you previously established a domestic partnership with the Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF), submit an Affidavit of Termination of Domestic Partnership (ET-2372) to ETF to terminate your domestic partnership.
Review your beneficiary designation and update, if necessary.
Marrying your domestic partner does not offer any enrollment/change opportunities for you or your family members.
Review your beneficiary designation and update, if necessary.
You may enroll in Individual or Family coverage at any time. If enrolled in Family coverage, spouse and newly eligible children are automatically covered (does not require an application).
Changes to your coverage are effective the first of the month on or following receipt of your change.
Review your beneficiary designation and update, if necessary.
You may take the following actions within 30 days of your marriage.
- Add your spouse and eligible children to your existing coverage (coverage is effective the date of marriage)
- Enroll in coverage and add eligible family members (coverage is effective the first of the month following marriage)
- Cancel coverage (effective the last day of the month following receipt of the change)
This plan offers employee coverage and there is no enrollment opportunity due to your marriage.
You may take the following actions within 30 days of your marriage. Action must be consistent with the qualifying life event.
- 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)
Coverage or changes are effective the first of the month on or following the date of your marriage.
Note: Elections do not automatically continue into the next plan year. You must re-enroll in FSAs in the fall to participate in the upcoming calendar year.
If you enroll in a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) for health insurance, or change your health plan to an HDHP due to marriage, you are also required to enroll in the Health Savings Account (HSA). Complete your enrollment within 30 days of your marriage. There are special eligibility requirements to enroll in the HDHP. See the HDHP web page for more information.
You may make changes to your HSA contribution election at any time.
Review your beneficiary designation and update, if necessary.
If you previously established a domestic partnership with the Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF), submit an Affidavit of Termination of Domestic Partnership (ET-2372) to ETF to terminate your domestic partnership.
Review your beneficiary designation and update, if necessary.
You can enroll in or make changes at any time.
Review your beneficiary designation(s) and update, if necessary.
You can enroll in or make changes at any time.
Review your beneficiary designation and update, if necessary.
Review your tax withholding exemptions and update, if necessary. For information review:
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: 07/19/2025