If you end your domestic partnership, you must remove your ex-domestic partner and their children (who are not your dependent children) from your benefits. If you had benefits through your former domestic partner’s plans and lose those benefits, you may enroll in certain benefits through the UW System due to a qualifying life event (loss of comparable coverage). See Loss of Other Coverage for more information.
You must submit an application to remove your ex-domestic partner and their children (who are not your dependent children) from your benefits within 30 days of terminating your domestic partnership.
If you are removing your ex-domestic partner and ex-domestic partner’s children from your coverage through the UW System, benefit plan continuation notices will be sent to your ex-spouse to their last known address. If their address has changed, provide their new address to your human resources office so the continuation notice is sent to their correct address. Your ex-domestic partner 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) to request applicable continuation notices.
The information provided below assumes you have completed the proper paperwork to terminate your domestic partnership. See the Domestic Partner Benefits web page for more information.
If you are terminating your domestic partnership due to marriage, see Domestic Partner to Marriage.
Note: The 2017 – 2019 Wisconsin Biennial Budget (2017 Wisconsin Act 59) was signed into law on September 21, 2017 eliminated the Chapter 40 domestic partnership program. As a result, domestic partners and partner’s children (who are not also your dependent children) are no longer eligible for most benefits as of January 1, 2018. Review the Domestic Partner Brochure (ET-2166) for details.
Review the information below for details specific to each plan.
Visit the Forms & Resources web page for plan applications, forms, and brochures.
If you have changes to your personal information as a result of a divorce, update your information through the MyUW portal. Information on how to update your information can be found in the following resources:
- Name Change: Notify your institution's human resources contact. Documentation may be necessary.
- Marital status: Personal Details – Marital Status tip sheet
- Address: Personal Details – Address tip sheet
- Emergency Contacts: Personal Details – Emergency Contacts tip sheet
If you were covered by your ex-domestic partner’s health insurance and lost that coverage, you may enroll (along with your dependent children that lost coverage) within 30 days of losing your comparable coverage. See Loss of Other Coverage for more information.
If you were covered by your ex-domestic partner’s dental insurance and lost that coverage, you may enroll (along with your dependent children that lost coverage) within 30 days of losing your comparable coverage. See Loss of Other Coverage for more information.
If you were covered by your ex-domestic partner’s vision insurance and lost that coverage, you may enroll (along with your dependent children that lost coverage) within 30 days of losing your comparable coverage. See Loss of Other Coverage for more information.
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.
Coverage for your ex-domestic partner and their children (who are not also your dependent children) ends on the date your domestic partnership is terminated.
If enrolled in Spouse/Domestic Partner coverage, submit an application to cancel coverage within 30 days of terminating your domestic partnership.
If enrolled in Child coverage, and you do not have any other eligible children, submit an application to cancel Child coverage within 30 days of terminating your domestic partnership. This can be done via the same application with which you remove your ex-domestic partner.
Your ex-domestic partner and their children may convert coverage to an individual policy by submitting a conversion application and premium to Securian within 31 days of the coverage end date. Your ex-domestic partner 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.
Review your beneficiary designation and update, if necessary.
This plan offers employee coverage and is not affected by terminating your domestic partnership.
Review your beneficiary designation and update, if necessary.
This plan offers employee coverage and is not affected by terminating your domestic partnership.
Review your beneficiary designation and update, if necessary.
Coverage for your ex-domestic partner and their children (who are not also your dependent children) ends on the date your domestic partnership is terminated.
If you have Family coverage, and you do not have any other eligible children, submit an application to change to Employee Only Coverage.
Your ex-domestic partner and their children may convert coverage to an individual policy by contacting Zurich American Insurance Company at (888) 634-6780 (reference UW System Policy # GTU-8364005) within 60 days of the coverage end date. Your ex-domestic partner 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.
Review your beneficiary designation and update, if necessary.
This plan offers employee coverage and is not affected by terminating your domestic partnership.
If expenses associated with your ex-domestic partner and/or their children (who are not your dependent children) qualified under the Health Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Dependent Day Care Account, you may take the following actions within 30 days of terminating your domestic partnership. Action must be consistent with the qualifying life event.
- If you lost coverage under your ex-domestic partner's Health Care FSA, you may enroll in a Health Care FSA.
- If you lost coverage under your ex-domestic partner's Dependent Day Care Account, you may enroll in a Dependent Day Care Account to accommodate newly-eligible dependents.
- Increase, decrease, or cancel your Health Care FSA and/or Dependent Day Care Account
You must submit a Change of Election Form within 30 days of terminating your domestic partnership to your institution benefits contact to enroll in or makes changes. If you enroll, coverage is effective the first of the month on or following the date in which your domestic partnership terminated.
You may make changes to your per paycheck contributions 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.
A portion of your WRS account may be granted to your ex-domestic partner. This may occur if the court issues a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO). The order may direct ETF to divide your account and your creditable service (up to 50%).
Review your beneficiary designation and update, if necessary.
Your 403(b) account can be included in a settlement if the court issues a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) that is acceptable to your 403(b) recordkeeper(s).
You can enroll in or make changes at any time.
Review your beneficiary designation(s) and update, if necessary.
If you established a domestic partnership with the Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF), a portion of your WDC account may be granted to your ex-domestic partner. This may occur if the court issues a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO). The order may direct WDC to divide your account.
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.
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.