​Be​nefits at a Glance and Resources


Important! All benefits services are provided by the UW Shared Services-Benefits Counseling Team. 

Schedule an appointment at Employee Benefits Counseling.

You may also contact them at 888-298-0141 or Benefits@uwss.wisconsin.edu. Plan to leave a message and they will return your call.



The University of Wisconsin System (UWS) offers a comprehensive benefits package to meet the diverse needs of our community. The University contributes towards the cost of several benefit plans. This is a valuable piece of employees' total rewards package. Other plans offer favorable group rates and convenient payroll deductions to employees. Some health and life insurance premiums are taken from salary on a pre-tax basis, saving employees money.

New Faculty and Staff

New Hire Introduction

Some benefits programs are offered to vary slightly based onemployee category and appointment percentage. Refer to your appointment letter and the below benefit summaries to help you determine your employee category and appointment percentage.

Benefit Orientations, Summaries, and Quick Guides

Visit the UW System Benefits Overview webpage for quick guides, benefit summaries, and walkthroughs.

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All Benefits at a Glance

Medical, Dental, & Vision Insurance

UW System offers comprehensive medical and prescription drug coverage to eligible employees and their family members through the State Group Health Insurance program. This program is administered by the Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF) and offers different plan designs. The plan designs differ in monthly premiums, cost-sharing and whether there is out-of-network coverage. All plan designs include pharmacy benefits (no additional cost) and may be elected with or without Uniform Dental (minimal additional cost). Choose the health insurance plan option that will best meet the needs of you and your family.

Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) are voluntary programs that allow you to establish accounts to reimburse certain expenses, including medical, dental, and child care expenses. These accounts allow for pre-tax payroll savings.

Supplemental Dental Plans options provide coverage for major services, such as crowns and implants. The primary differences between the plans are the provider networks, premium cost, annual maximums and whether orthodontia is covered (Select Plus Plan only). You may enroll in one supplemental dental plan (Select or Select Plus).

Vision Insurance is a supplemental vision insurance plan which provides an annual eye exam (which are also covered under some State Group Health plans) and helps offset the cost of frames, lenses, and contact lenses.

Long-Term Care Insurance covers services that are typically not covered by health insurance but are vital for the patient, such as assistance with activities of daily living (e.g. walking, eating, bathing). This plan provides financial protection from the rising costs of long-term care. Coverage for care in non-institutional settings, such as assisted living, adult day care, and in-home care, is also available.

Federal Health Insurance Marketplace (or Exchange) is a an option for people to obtain health insurance. If you have State Group Health Insurance coverage through your UW employment, you do not need to enroll in the Marketplace or take any action, unless you choose to do so. You may want to review the plans available through the Marketplace to see if they may better suit your needs. Take a few moments to review your Health Insurance Marketplace Notice. pdf

Portage County offers a number of medical center options: Portage County Medical Centers. *We do not promote a particular medical facility and this is not an exhaustive list of all medical providers in the area.

Life, Accident, and Disability Insurance

State Group Life, Individual and Family Group Life, and UW Employees, Inc. Life are voluntary life insurance plans available to most UWSP faculty and staff. Each has a unique premium/coverage table based on age and/or income.

University Insurance Association (UIA) Life is a term-life insurance program with one annual deduction and is mandatory for those faculty and academic staff who qualify.

Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) is voluntary coverage that pays benefits for accidental death or dismemberment injuries.

Income Continuation Insurance (ICI) is a voluntary disability insurance program that provides you with income while you are temporarily or permanently unable to work due to short- and long-term disabilities.  Premiums are based on salary and University contribution to premiums is dependent upon waiting period selected or accumulated sick leave balance.

Long Term Disability Insurance (LTDI) provides a monthly benefit of 40% of your final average earnings until you reach your normal retirement age (typically age 65). You must have a minimum amount of Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) service of at least 5 of the 7 years prior to your disability to be eligible.

Savings and Retirement

Edvest is a program that allows you to save for your child’s college education. Contributions to this program are not available through payroll deduction. Read more about 529 College Savings Plans.

It is important to prepare and save money now in order to support yourself during your retirement years. Experts estimate that you will need at least 70% of your pre-retirement income to maintain the same standard of living once you stop working. Several programs are available through your UW employment to help you meet your financial needs in retirement.

Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) is the retirement system for all public employees in Wisconsin.  Those eligible for WRS will contribute a percentage of income to the WRS that is matched by the employer. WRS not only provides retirement income but also provides disability, separation, and survivor benefits.

Tax-Sheltered Annuity 403(b) Program and the Wisconsin Deferred Compensation Program (WDC) allow you to invest a portion of your income for retirement on either a pre-tax basis, an after-tax basis (Roth), or a combination of both. with no employer matching. 

Additional retirement and savings resources from UW System

Additional retirement planning resources through Employee Trust Fund (ETF)

Additional savings and retirement resources:

MyMoney.gov offers a variety of resources for all ages, including budgeting worksheets, wellness checklists, and more.

SocialSecurity.gov 

Leave Benefits

Leave benefits are a valuable asset to University employees; providing both financial compensation and accommodating family, professional and personal needs. Depending on your employee category and appointment specifics, you may be eligible for Sick Leave, Vacation, and Personal Holidays.

The University is closed on legal holidays. Depending on your employee category and appointment specifics these may be paidholiday leave. Depending on the holidays, some holidays may be used as floating holidays. To identify the floating holidays, see the UWS current Legal Holiday Schedule.

Faculty, Academic Staff, and Limited Appointee Leave Benefits Guide

University Staff Leave Benefits Guide

Additional UWS Benefits

LifeStyle Benefits program offers legal, financial and grief resources, travel assistance, and legacy planning. This program is available to employees enrolled in State Group Life Insurance, Individual & Family Life Insurance, or University Insurance Association Life Insurance Programs. It is free of charge and no enrollment is required.

Employee education assistance** allows eligible employees to apply to receive reimbursement for one job-related or career-related course per term. **At UWSP employee education assistance is on hold due to budget constraints. There is one exception to this hold and is based on department requirements referred to as "grow your own". If you are eligible for this program, your department will notify you.

Federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the Wisconsin Family and Medical Leave Act (WFMLA) provide eligible employees the right to take job-protected leave with continued medical benefits when they need time off from work to care for themselves or a family member who is seriously ill, to care for a newborn or newly adopted child, or to attend to the affairs of a family member who is called to active duty in the military. To learn more visit UWSP's Family and Medical Leave webpage.

Employees who are performing work for the University within the scope of employment and are on the University payroll are covered under Worker’s Compensation for work-related injuries.

UWS provides a Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program as a benefit. Use the information within this website to complete a Public Service Loan Forgiveness request.

Wellness

UW-Stevens Point has abundant resources to promote and support your health and wellness. Perks and resources include two fitness centers at UWSP, an Employee Assistance Program, wellness programs through UWSP and UW System, financial wellness resources, and more. Learn about all wellness benefits and resources visitUWSP Employee Wellness.

Pointer Perks

As a UW-Stevens Point faculty or staff member, there are a variety of services and activities available to you and your family! Visit the UWSP Pointer Perks page to learn more.

Additional Current Employee Resources

Have a Reduced Work Schedule and/or Do Not Work Over Summer

UW System Administrative Policy 1244: Summer Prepay Deductions and Summer Sessions Benefits Eligibility

See some basic FAQs from UWS for this topic. Please note the information references 2019 but is still applicable.

Life Events and How to Change Benefits

If you have changes in your employment status or family structure, review all your benefits. Use the UWS Life Events resources to navigate employment and family changes which may impact your benefits.

When you gain a family member (e.g. marriage, birth, adoption, etc.), you can typically add the new family member to your benefit plans within 30 days of adding the individual to your family. You may also have the chance to enroll in or change your benefits at this time.

If you lose a family member (e.g. divorce, death, child meets certain age limits), you must take action to remove the person from your benefits. This does not occur automatically.


Thinking About Retirement

If you are planning/getting ready for retirement, refer to the UWS thinking about retirement webpage to plan effectively.

Also to support your transition from UWSP, visit and review the resources on the UWSP Offboarding webpage.

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