Overview

The premiums for the benefits plans are outlined below.

Benefits premium amounts listed are monthly amounts. Premiums are deducted from twenty four paychecks a calendar year or the first two paychecks each month (the amount listed in the charts divided by two).

 

Benefits Premiums

2024 Monthly
Employee Premiums

(without Uniform Dental)

Health Plan
(WRS benefits package)

High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP)
(WRS benefits package)

Health Plan
(Graduate Assistant / Short-Term Academic Staff benefits package)

 IndividualFamilyIndividualFamilyIndividualFamily

Health Plan & HDHP
(excludes Access Plans)

$112.00$276.00$39.00$97.00$56.00$138.00

Access Health Plan & Access HDHP

$267.00$663.00$194.00$484.00$133.50$331.50

Access Health Plan & Access HDHP
(if required to work outside of WI)

$170.00$428.00$97.00$249.00$85.00$214.00

2025 Monthly
Employee Premiums

(without Uniform Dental)

Health Plan
(WRS benefits package)

High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP)
(WRS benefits package)

Health Plan
(Graduate Assistant / Short-Term Academic Staff benefits package)

 IndividualFamilyIndividualFamilyIndividualFamily

Health Plan & HDHP
(excludes Access Plans)

$120.00$297.00$42.00$104.00$60.00$148.50

Access Health Plan & Access HDHP

$292.00$724.00$214.00$531.00$146.00$362.00

Access Health Plan & Access HDHP
(if required to work outside of WI)

$183.00$460.00$105.00$267.00$91.50$230.00
Additional Premium Information

Total Premium Information for Employees, Continuants, Retirees without Medicare:

University Staff employees need to complete two months of WRS State/Universities of Wisconsin service prior to being eligible for the employer contribution towards health insurance. Coverage would be effective on the first of the month on or after completion of two months of WRS State/Universities of Wisconsin service. University Staff employees that would like State Group Health prior to being eligible for the employer contribution may enroll; however, will pay 100% of the total premium until they have two months of WRS State/Universities of Wisconsin service.

Employees covered by the WRS working less than 50% and University Staff Temporary employees with one appointment pay 50% of the total premium.

Reminder: Crafts workers are eligible for the employer share towards health insurance.

Total Premium Information for Graduate Assistant / Short-Term Academic Staff Employees:

 

2024 Monthly
Employee Premiums

Uniform Dental*
(eligible if also enrolled in State Group Health)

Preventive Dental
(eligible if not enrolled in State Group Health)

Supplemental Dental - PPO Select

Supplemental Dental - PPO Plus Premier Select Plus
Individual$3.00**$36.10$9.08$21.60
Individual + Spouse$10.00$90.28$18.16$43.22
Individual + Child(ren)$10.00$90.28$12.24$40.12
Family$10.00$90.28$21.76$66.20

*The Universities of Wisconsin contributes toward the premium.

**For 2025: The Uniform Dental Insurance premium for individual coverage will increase to $4.00 per month. All other dental insurance premiums will remain the same for 2025.

 

2024 and 2025
Monthly Employee Premiums
Individual    $5.72
Individual + Spouse   $11.42
Individual + Child(ren)   $12.88
Family   $20.58

The Universities of Wisconsin does not contribute toward the premium.

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

Basic coverage is the first unit of coverage. Supplemental coverage is the second unit of coverage. Additional coverage of one to three units can be elected. Each unit of coverage is equal to your highest prior calendar year's actual earnings rounded up to the nearest thousand.

To calculate your premium divide your coverage amount (your highest prior calendar year's actual earnings rounded up to the nearest thousand) by $1,000 and multiply the result by the rate per $1,000 for the coverage level(s) for your age bracket listed in the chart below.

Monthly Employee Premiums and Coverage Levels
Effective April 1, 2024
Age as of April 1Basic and Supplemental
Rate per $1,000

Additional
Rate per $1,000

Spouse & Dependent Coverage
Under age 40$0.05$0.08One Unit of Coverage:
$2.10 for $10,000 Spouse
and $5,000 for each child
40-44$0.08$0.12
45-49$0.13$0.20
50-54$0.21$0.32Two Units of Coverage:
$4.20 for $20,000 Spouse
and $10,000 for each child
55-59$0.29$0.44
60-64$0.40$0.60
65-69$0.52$0.77
Over age 70 Additional Coverage 
Effective April 1, 2024
Age as of AprilRate per $1,000
70$1.00
71$1.15
72$1.25
73$1.45
74$1.60
75$1.80
76$1.95
77+$2.06

The Universities of Wisconsin contribution for basic coverage is 65.25% of the employee-paid premium. The employer contribution for supplemental coverage is 37.25% of the employee-paid premium. The premiums listed in the chart above are the employee portion of the premium.

 

Monthly Employee Premiums and Coverage Levels
Effective April 1, 2025
Age as of April 1Basic and Supplemental
Rate per $1,000

Additional
Rate per $1,000

Spouse & Dependent Coverage

Under age 40$0.06$0.08One Unit of Coverage:
$2.10 for $10,000 Spouse
and $5,000 for each child
40-44$0.08$0.13
45-49$0.14$0.21
50-54$0.23$0.34Two Units of Coverage:
$4.20 for $20,000 Spouse
and $10,000 for each child
55-59$0.31$0.46
60-64$0.42$0.63
65-69$0.55$0.80
Over age 70 Additional Coverage 
Effective April 1, 2025
Age as of AprilRate per $1,000
70$1.00
71$1.15
72$1.25
73$1.45
74$1.60
75$1.80
76$1.95
77+$2.06

The Universities of Wisconsin contribution for basic coverage is 65.25% of the employee-paid premium. The employer contribution for supplemental coverage is 37.25% of the employee-paid premium. The premiums listed in the chart above are the employee portion of the premium.

Individual & Family Life Insurance employee and spouse/domestic partner coverage premium is based on the your age as of January 1st each year and your elected coverage level(s). Coverage for employee and spouse/domestic partner coverage can be elected in $5,000 increments. Child coverage can be elected in $2,500 increments.

Individual & Family Life Insurance initial enrollment coverage levels are $20,000 employee, $10,000 spouse/domestic partner, and $5,000 child. Coverage levels may be increased each year during the Annual Increase Option period or you may apply to increase coverage at any time through evidence of insurability. The maximum coverage levels allowed are $300,000 employee, $150,000 spouse/domestic partner, and $25,000 child.

To help you calculate your premiums, use the Individual & Family Life Insurance Premium Calculator xlsx . Otherwise divide your coverage amount by $1,000 and multiply the result by the rate per $1,000 for your age bracket listed in the chart below.

Monthly Employee Premiums*
Effective January 1, 2025
Age as of January 1Employee Coverage
Rate per $1,000
Spouse / Domestic Partner Coverage
Rate per $1,000
27 or under$0.023$0.031
28-30$0.025$0.034
31-33$0.032$0.043
34-36$0.037$0.050
37-39$0.045$0.061
40-42$0.068$0.092
43-45$0.108$0.145
46-48$0.130$0.176
49-51$0.181$0.245
52-54$0.232$0.314
55-57$0.323$0.436
58-60$0.403$0.528
61-63$0.556$0.658
64-66$0.799$0.918
67-69$1.117$1.278
70-72$1.724$1.981
73+$2.466$2.831

*Child coverage premium is $0.70 per $1,000 of coverage.

Employee coverage must be elected to enroll in Spouse/Domestic Partner and/or Child coverage and may not exceed the amount of Employee coverage in effect.

The Universities of Wisconsin does not contribute towards the premium.

 

Monthly Employee Premiums*
Effective January 1, 2024
Age as of January 1Employee Coverage
Rate per $1,000
Spouse / Domestic Partner Coverage
Rate per $1,000
27 or under$0.023$0.036
28-30$0.025$0.040
31-33$0.032$0.050
34-36$0.037$0.059
37-39$0.045$0.072
40-42$0.068$0.108
43-45$0.108$0.171
46-48$0.130$0.207
49-51$0.181$0.288
52-54$0.232$0.369
55-57$0.323$0.513
58-60$0.403$0.621
61-63$0.556$0.774
64-66$0.799$1.080
67-69$1.117$1.503
70-72$1.724$2.331
73+$2.466$3.330

*Child coverage premium is $0.70 per $1,000 of coverage.

Employee coverage must be elected to enroll in Spouse/Domestic Partner and/or Child coverage and may not exceed the amount of Employee coverage in effect.

The Universities of Wisconsin does not contribute towards the premium.

Effective January 1, 2025, the UW Employees, Inc. Life Insurance Plan will terminate. Employees enrolled in the plan as of December 31, 2023 will be provided coverage through December 31, 2024 at no cost. The UW Employees, Inc. Board authorized plan assets to be used to cover premium costs in 2024.

The level of coverage you are eligible for under the UW Employees, Inc. Life Insurance Plan is determined by your age as of January 1st of the current year. 

Monthly Employee Premiums and Coverage Levels
Age as of January 1Benefit AmountPremium
Under 35$33,000$0.74
35-39$28,000$0.96
40-44$25,000$1.20
45-49$18,000$1.50
50-54$15,000$1.80
55-59$13,000$2.86
60-64$12,000$3.26
65 and over$7,000$2.26

The Universities of Wisconsin does not contribute to the premium.

Effective January 1, 2025, the University Insurance Association Life Insurance Plan will terminate. Employees enrolled in the plan as of January 1, 2024 have coverage through December 31, 2024. Group coverage will end January 1, 2025.

The annual premium for the University Insurance Association life insurance plan is $38.40 and was deducted from the January 25, 2024 paycheck.

The Universities of Wisconsin does not contribute to the premium.

MONTHLY EMPLOYEE PREMIUMS AND COVERAGE LEVELS

Coverage Level      

Individual Coverage
Monthly Premium

Family Coverage
Monthly Premium
$25,000$0.65$1.00
$50,000$1.30$2.00
$100,000$2.60$4.00
$150,000$3.90$6.00
$200,000$5.20$8.00
$250,000$6.50$10.00
$300,000$7.80$12.00
$350,000$9.10$14.00
$400,000$10.40$16.00
$450,000$11.70$18.00
$500,000$13.00$20.00

The Universities of Wisconsin does not contribute towards the premium.

If you enroll in Family coverage, the benefit amount of your family member(s) coverage will be a percentage of the employee benefit amount. Domestic partners are eligible for this plan.

 

2024 and 2025
Monthly Employee Premiums
Individual    $3.72
Individual + Spouse    $5.32
Individual + Child(ren)    $7.16
Family   $10.46

The Universities of Wisconsin does not contribute toward the premium.

Faculty, Academic Staff, and Limited Appointees

Income Continuation Insurance (ICI) premiums for Faculty, Academic Staff and Limited appointees are based on eligible earnings and the elimination period that you elected. Elimination periods are 30, 90, 125, or 180 days. The longer the waiting period, the lower the premium.

Your eligible earnings are evaluated at the end of every calendar year and your premiums are adjusted the following February.

Monthly Premiums
Effective February 1, 2024
Elimination
Period
EmployEE Rate
per $1,000 of Annual Earnings
EmployER Rate
per $1,000 of Annual Earnings
Total Rate
per $1,000 of Annual Earnings
Employees with MORE than 1 Year of State WRS Service
30-Day$0.462$0.271$0.733
90-Day$0.125$0.271$0.396
125-Day$0.096$0.271$0.367
180-Day$0.000$0.271$0.271
Employees with LESS than 1 Year of State WRS Service
30-Day$0.733$0.000$0.733
90-Day$0.396$0.000$0.396
125-Day$0.367$0.000$0.367
180-Day$0.271$0.000$0.271

To help you calculate your premium, use the Income Continuation Insurance (ICI) Premium Calculator xlsx .

The Universities of Wisconsin contributes a portion of the premium after you have more than one year of state service and varies based on the elimination period you elect. For Faculty, Academic, and Limited Appointees below is the percent of gross premium the Universities of Wisconsin contributes based on elimination period elected:

  • 30-day – 37%
  • 90-day – 69%
  • 125-day – 76%
  • 180-day – 100%

 

University Staff

Income Continuation Insurance (ICI) premiums for University Staff employees are based on your eligible earnings and your accrued unused sick leave hours (premium category). The more sick leave hours* you retain, the lower your premium.

Your eligible earnings and sick leave balance are evaluated at the end of every calendar year and premiums are adjusted the following February.

Monthly Premiums
Effective February 1, 2024
Premium
Category
Sick Leave
Hours
EmployEE Rate
per $1,000 of Annual Earnings
EmployER Rate
per $1,000 of Annual Earnings
Total Rate
per $1,000 of Annual Earnings
1Less than 184 hours$0.875$0.000$0.875
2184 - 519 hours$0.657$0.000$0.657
380 hours$0.156$0.317$0.473
4520 - 727 hours$0.078$0.263$0.342
5728 - 1,040 hours$0.042$0.238$0.280
6Greater than 1,040 hours$0.000$0.280$0.280

To help you calculate your premium, use the Income Continuation Insurance (ICI) Premium Calculator xlsx .

Premium Category 3 is a special enrollment category. If you have accrued at least 80 hours of unused sick leave during the calendar year as of the last payroll of the year you are eligible for this category (prorated if part-time).

Premium Category 4, 5, and 6 are considered permanent plateau categories. Once you reach a plateau category (hours of unused sick leave as of the last payroll of the calendar year you will not drop to a lower category even if your sick leave balance falls below the category’s threshold.

*University Staff-Temporary employees do not earn sick leave and will always be in Premium Category 1.

The Universities of Wisconsin contributes a portion of the premium after you have more than one year of state service and varies based on your premium category. For University Staff employees below is the percent of gross premium the Universities of Wisconsin contributes:

  • Category 1 - 0%
  • Category 2 - 0%
  • Category 3 - 67%
  • Category 4 - 77%
  • Category 5 - 85%
  • Category 6 - 100%

 

Effective February 1, 2024 the ICI program changed. The Standard and Supplemental coverage levels were consolidated into one coverage level and the premium rate tables were simplified.

 

 

Faculty, Academic Staff, and Limited Appointees

Income Continuation Insurance (ICI) premiums for Faculty, Academic Staff and Limited appointees are based on eligible earnings and the elimination period that you elected. Elimination periods are 30, 90, 125, or 180 days. The longer the waiting period, the lower the premium.

Your eligible earnings are evaluated at the end of every calendar year and your premiums are adjusted the following April (starting in 2025).

Monthly Premiums
Effective April 1, 2025
Elimination
Period
EmployEE Rate
per $1,000 of Annual Earnings
EmployER Rate
per $1,000 of Annual Earnings
Total Rate
per $1,000 of Annual Earnings
Employees with MORE than 1 Year of State WRS Service
30-Day$0.420$0.240$0.660
90-Day$0.110$0.240$0.350
125-Day$0.090$0.240$0.330
180-Day$0.000$0.240$0.240
Employees with LESS than 1 Year of State WRS Service
30-Day$0.660$0.000$0.660
90-Day$0.350$0.000$0.350
125-Day$0.330$0.000$0.330
180-Day$0.240$0.000$0.240

The Universities of Wisconsin contributes a portion of the premium after you have more than one year of state service and varies based on the elimination period you elect. For Faculty, Academic, and Limited Appointees below is the percent of gross premium the Universities of Wisconsin contributes based on elimination period elected:

  • 30-day – 37%
  • 90-day – 69%
  • 125-day – 76%
  • 180-day – 100%

 

University Staff

Income Continuation Insurance (ICI) premiums for University Staff employees are based on your eligible earnings and your accrued unused sick leave hours (premium category). The more sick leave hours* you retain, the lower your premium.

Your eligible earnings and sick leave balance are evaluated at the end of every calendar year and premiums are adjusted the following April (starting in 2025).

Monthly Premiums
Effective April 1, 2025
Premium
Category
Sick Leave
Hours
EmployEE Rate
per $1,000 of Annual Earnings
EmployER Rate
per $1,000 of Annual Earnings
Total Rate
per $1,000 of Annual Earnings
1Less than 184 hours$0.790$0.000$0.790
2184 - 519 hours$0.590$0.000$0.590
380 hours$0.140$0.290$0.430
4520 - 727 hours$0.070$0.240$0.310
5728 - 1,040 hours$0.040$0.210$0.250
6Greater than 1,040 hours$0.000$0.250$0.250

Premium Category 3 is a special enrollment category. If you have accrued at least 80 hours of unused sick leave during the calendar year as of the last payroll of the year you are eligible for this category (prorated if part-time).

Premium Category 4, 5, and 6 are considered permanent plateau categories. Once you reach a plateau category (hours of unused sick leave as of the last payroll of the calendar year you will not drop to a lower category even if your sick leave balance falls below the category’s threshold.

*University Staff-Temporary employees do not earn sick leave and will always be in Premium Category 1.

The Universities of Wisconsin contributes a portion of the premium after you have more than one year of state service and varies based on your premium category. For University Staff employees below is the percent of gross premium the Universities of Wisconsin contributes:

  • Category 1 - 0%
  • Category 2 - 0%
  • Category 3 - 67%
  • Category 4 - 77%
  • Category 5 - 85%
  • Category 6 - 100%

 

Effective February 1, 2024 the ICI program changed. The Standard and Supplemental coverage levels were consolidated into one coverage level and the premium rate tables were simplified.

Additional Information

The deduction schedule can be accessed on the Payroll web page.

Information on paying premiums while on a leave of absence can be found on the Employment Life Events Leave of Absence web page.

For information on how premiums are deducted to maintain insurance coverage during the summer for employees paid on an academic year (9-month) basis review the Summer Prepay Insurance Premiums 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: 11/13/2024