Overview

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 benefit plans that you were not previously enrolled in. 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. If you married your domestic partner, see the Domestic Partnership web page.

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.

You may take the following actions within 30 days of your marriage.

Coverage for the below changes is effective date of marriage.

  • Add your spouse and eligible children to your existing coverage.
  • Enroll in individual coverage or family coverage (if family coverage, must cover all eligible family members).

Coverage for the below changes is 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 carrier (for example, GHC to Dean), all limits (deductible, benefit maximums and out-of-pocket limits) will reset to $0. Pharmacy benefit and Uniform Dental accumulators and limits will not reset.
  • Cancel coverage if you become eligible for and are enrolled under your spouse’s comparable health insurance plan (see Gain of Other Coverage).
  • 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.

Review the Life Change Events and Documentation Requirements (ET-2846) for information on documentation required to confirm eligibility.

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)

Review the Life Change Events and Documentation Requirements (ET-2846) for information on documentation required to confirm eligibility.

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).

Review the Life Change Events and Documentation Requirements (ET-2846) for information on documentation required to confirm eligibility.

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)

Review your beneficiary designation and update, if necessary.

If enrolled in Employee coverage, 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.

  • Add Spouse/Domestic Partner coverage
  • Add Child coverage if this is the first time you have an eligible child to cover.

If already enrolled in Child coverage, newly eligible children are automatically covered.

Review your beneficiary designation and update, if necessary.

You may enroll in Employee Only 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 on the first of the month on or following the receipt of your application.

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 application).

Review the Life Change Events and Documentation Requirements (ET-2846) for information on documentation required to confirm eligibility.

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 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 FSA election (if already enrolled).

Coverage or changes are effective on 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 High Deductible Health Plan. See the HDHP web page for more information.

You can make changes to your HSA contribution election at any time.

Review your beneficiary designation and update, if necessary.

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 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.

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 within 30 days from the date of your qualifying life event 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