State Group Life Insurance

State Group Life (SGL) Insurance offers term life insurance to you, your spouse and eligible children. Coverage is based on your eligible earnings. You may elect coverage of up to five times your eligible earnings, up to $20,000 of spouse coverage and up to $10,000 of child coverage.

In addition to benefits payable in the event of a death, this plan provides the following:

State Group Life Insurance is administered by the Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF) and is underwritten by Securian Financial Group.

Eligibility

The following requirements must be met to be eligible for this plan:

Enrollment

You have 30 days from your date of employment or your newly benefits-eligible job to enroll in State Group Life Insurance. Coverage will begin on the first day of the month following 30 days from your eligibility date.

If you do not enroll during your initial 30-day enrollment period, you may apply for coverage if you have a qualifying life event (see Life Events). You may also apply at any time through Evidence of Insurability (approval not guaranteed). The State Group Life Insurance Medical Evidence of Insurability Form (ET-2305) can be accessed in the Forms & Resources section below.

For enrollment through a qualifying life event, coverage is effective on the first of the month following 30 days after the date of event. Coverage through evidence of insurability is effective on the first of the month on or following the approval of your application by the plan.

Note: You may decrease or cancel coverage at any time during the year.

Coverage Levels

Employee Coverage

You may enroll in one to five units of Employee coverage. Each unit of coverage is equal to your highest calendar year’s earnings, rounded to the nearest $1,000. Your coverage level is adjusted annually and will automatically increase if your salary increases. The following is a summary of the Employee coverage options available.

The Universities of Wisconsin System contributes towards the cost of Basic and Supplemental coverage. Employees pay the full cost of Additional coverage.

Spouse & Dependent Coverage

You may elect one or two units of spouse & dependent coverage. Each unit insures your spouse for $10,000 and each dependent child for $5,000. All children will be covered under dependent coverage. Employee’s must enroll in Employee coverage in order to enroll in Spouse & Dependent coverage.

For detailed information on who you can cover on this plan, see the Dependent Eligibility Chart (UWS 25) pdf .

Disability Premium Waiver

Overview

If you become disabled, you may be eligible to continue your State Group Life Insurance at no cost.

Premium Waiver eligibility

premium waiver information

You may also be eligible for a disability premium waiver through the Income Continuation Plan if you are currently enrolled.

Continuation & Conversion

Continuation of group policy coverage at retirement is available (eligibility requirements must be met). Continuation of group policy coverage is also available at termination with at least 20 years of WRS service (eligibility requirements must be met). Basic employee coverage will continue after age 65 in reduced amount at no cost to you. Continuation at retirement is automatic if you begin a WRS annuity within 31 days of when your active employee coverage ends. If you do not begin your WRS annuity, submit a continuation form within 31 days after your active employee coverage ends.

Conversion of coverage to an individual policy at the end of employment (not retirement) is available if you were continuously insured for six months preceding termination of coverage. To convert coverage submit a conversion form and pay the required premium within 31 days after your group coverage ends.

Contact UW-Shared Services, Service Operations at serviceoperations@support.wisconsin.edu or (888) 298-0141 (7:45-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday) to obtain a continuation or conversion form.

Beneficiary Information

You are encouraged to designate a beneficiary(ies) to ensure benefits are paid according to your wishes. Review and update beneficiary designations whenever a life event occurs (marriage, divorce, or birth of a child). Beneficiary designations can be changed at any time.

For more information on beneficiary designations, see the Beneficiary Information web page.

Benefit Premiums

For State Group Life Insurance premiums review the Benefit Premiums web page.

Employee premiums are based on your highest calendar year of eligible earnings, your age as of April 1st each year and your elected coverage level(s).

The Universities of Wisconsin System contributes 65.25% of the employee premium for basic coverage and an additional 37.25% of the employee premium for supplemental coverage. Employees pay the full cost of Additional, Spouse, and Dependent coverage.

Forms & Resources

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.