Author: sipiorsk@uwgb.edu

A new, simplified summer leave reporting process was implemented June 2 for 9-month Faculty, Academic Staff and Limited Appointees (FAASLI) who have a Summer Session or Summer Service position.

Nine-month FAASLI who are employed over the summer months are required to complete monthly summer leave reports even if no leave was taken during this time period. Failure to report leave during the summer will result in a sick leave reduction.

To access the new leave reporting process, Log into the MyUW System portal. Launch the Time and Absence app and click on the new tab: Summer Appointment Leave Reporting. Note: All monthly employees will see the new tab even if they do not have a Summer Session or Summer Service position. If an employee without a summer appointment clicks on the new tab, it will simply indicate that no Summer Session/Service found. Twelve month FASCLI should continue to report all of their leave via the Request Absence tab.

Highlights of the simplified summer leave reporting process include:

• One screen to record either sick leave taken or no leave was taken
• Elimination of the need to select a specific job for entry purposes
• Ability to enter summer leave beyond the summer period

Reference the tipsheet, Enter Summer Leave, for instructions on how to enter leave for the summer. If you have questions, contact Human Resources at payrollandbenefits@uwgb.edu or (920) 465-2390.

Source: UW Service Center

When was the last time you reviewed your beneficiary designations? Naming someone as beneficiary is an opportunity to pass a financial interest to your loved ones after you’re gone. If it’s been a while since you’ve reviewed your beneficiary designations, or if you have experienced a major life event such as a marriage, divorce or birth of a child, now may be a good time to review your designations.

To see which benefit plans you are enrolled in, log into the MyUW Portal. Go to the Benefit Information app and click “Launch full app.” Review the “Coverage” column on the “Summary” page to determine the plans you are enrolled in (“waive” indicates you are not enrolled). To see additional plans, click “Next” at the bottom of the screen. Then compare the plans you are enrolled in to the list below. These are the benefit plans that have benefits payable to beneficiaries:

• State Group Life Insurance
• Individual & Family Life Insurance
• UW Employees, Inc. Life Insurance
• University Insurance Association Life Insurance
• Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS)
• UW Tax-Sheltered (TSA) Annuity 403(b)
• Wisconsin Deferred Compensation (WDC) 457

Next, go to the UW System Beneficiary Information page to print the applicable beneficiary form(s). Note: Some of the plans may allow you to update your beneficiary designations online.
Once you have completed the appropriate forms, send them directly to the benefit plan listed on the form (not to your human resources office).

If you do not remember who you have listed as a beneficiary for your benefit plans, you can simply submit a new beneficiary designation. The beneficiary designation on file at the time of your death is binding in the payment of your benefits. If you do not have a beneficiary designation on file when you pass away, your benefits will be paid out according to standard sequence. Go to the UW System Beneficiary Information page to learn more about standard sequence.

Source: UW System Human Resources

ETF is offering a series of 30-minute, live, interactive webinars designed to increase your understanding of Wisconsin Retirement System benefits. Individuals can also ask questions at the end of these sessions. Visit ETF’s webinar page to learn more about any of the following sessions.

5 Basic Steps to Your Retirement

Consider this webinar your quick reference guide to starting the retirement process within the next 12 months. ETF will review: choosing a termination date, how to request a retirement estimate – and how to read and understand it. ETF will also cover how to schedule a retirement appointment and – drum roll here — how to submit the retirement application.

• Thu, May 2, 2019 11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
• Tue, May 7, 2019 6:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
• Wed, May 15, 2019 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
• Fri, May 24, 2019 12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Additional Contributions

Find out how making additional contributions to your WRS account can potentially increase your retirement. This webinar also provides examples of how contributions grow over time with interest, how to pay additional contributions (payroll deduction or direct pay), etc.

• Fri, May 3, 2019 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
• Mon, May 6, 2019 12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.
• Mon, May 13, 2019 6:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
• Thu, May 23, 2019 12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Understanding Your Annual WRS Statement of Benefits

Join ETF as they review key things you can find out about your WRS benefits, simply just by reading and understanding your WRS annual Statement of Benefits. Some topics ETF will review include:

• How much you and your employer have contributed to your WRS pension
• Your vesting status and years of service
• Your beneficiary designation – what happens to your account if you die before taking a benefit

Tip: Have your statement in hand while attending this webinar.

• Wed, May 1, 2019 6:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
• Wed, May 8, 2019 10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
• Tue, May 14, 2019 12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.

WRS Annuity Adjustments and Effective Rates

Do WRS accounts receive an investment return? Do investment returns affect how much a retiree will initially receive when they begin their pension? Do those retired in the WRS receive adjustments to their monthly pension amount over the years? This webinar will cover the process of how account effective rates and annuity adjustments are calculated, starting with the investment return reported by the State of Wisconsin Investment Board. Also covered during the webinar will be explanations of both the Core and Variable Trust Funds and the calculations specific to each fund for effective rates and annual adjustments. At the end of this webinar, it is hoped that you will have a better grasp on how State of Wisconsin Investment Board investment returns affect your WRS pension.

• Wed, May 1, 2019 12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.
• Thu, May 9, 2019 12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
• Fri, May 17, 2019 11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
• Wed, May 29, 2019 6:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Register for a webinar

Please contact Human Resources at (920) 465-2390 or payrollandbenefits@uwgb.edu with any questions.

 

Are you using the appropriate benefit ID cards at your office visits or dental appointments? The appropriate benefit plan ID cards should be presented at office visits, urgent care visits, emergency room visits, the pharmacy as well as dental and vision appointments. This article will explain which ID card to present for which types of services.

State Group Health Insurance
Your health insurance plan ID card should be presented at office visits, urgent care visits, emergency room visits, routine eye exam services and during any other appointments that involve healthcare services.

Pharmacy Benefits
If you are enrolled in the State Group Health Insurance Program, you will have a separate ID card to use for pharmacy benefits. The pharmacy benefits are administered by Navitus; therefore, you should present your Navitus ID card when you visit a pharmacy to pick-up prescriptions. Contact Navitus at 1-866-333-2757 to request a new ID card or go to www.navitus.com for a temporary ID card.

Uniform and Supplemental Dental Insurance
Effective January 1, 2019, the Uniform Dental and Supplemental Dental Insurance plans are all administered by Delta Dental. There are separate ID cards for the Uniform Dental and Supplemental Dental Insurance plans. Present both Delta Dental ID cards at your dental appointment(s) if you are enrolled in the Uniform Dental Insurance plan as well as one of the Supplemental plans.

Go to www.deltadentalwi.com to print a dental insurance plan ID card. If you have created an account with Delta Dental, click the Sign In link in the upper right hand corner, or if you have not set up an account with Delta Dental, click the Register link. Once you are logged into your account, in the right hand navigation click ID Card. A screen will show your Information Card that can be printed. You may also contact Delta Dental at 800-236-3712 to request your plan ID cards.

Vision Insurance
VSP, the vision insurance plan administrator, does not issue ID cards. Employees enrolled in vision insurance should notify their vision provider that they have VSP vision insurance when they schedule their vision appointment. The provider will then contact VSP to verify coverage. Employees should also bring their Employee ID with them to their appointment. This will help their vision provider verify coverage with VSP.

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA)
The Health Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Limited Purpose Flexible Spending Account (LPFSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) are all administered by TASC. Use your debit cards for these accounts as follows:

• Health Care FSA: eligible expenses
• Limited Purpose FSA: eligible expenses
• Dependent Day Care FSA: eligible expenses

Contact TASC at 1customercare@tasconline.com or 844-786-3947 to request a new debit card.

Review Your Cards for Accuracy
Review the ID cards for accuracy. If there are errors or if you have not received your 2019 benefit plan ID cards, contact the benefit plan directly to request them.

Source: UW System Human Resources

Starting in April, and monthly thereafter, employees with missing leave reports and approvers who have leave requests pending approval will receive an email reminding them to take action. The email will be sent from the uwsystemhr@uwsa.edu address.

The missing leave report email reminders have been developed in an effort to reduce employee sick leave reductions.

All Faculty, Academic Staff and Limited appointees who have an active leave-eligible appointment are required to submit a leave report each month, whether or not leave is used.  This report should be submitted electronically through the My UW Portal.

Failure to submit timely leave reports will result in a reduction of employee sick leave hours. Even one unsubmitted leave report may reduce an employee’s sick leave balance. To review this policy:

• University of Wisconsin System UPS Operational Policy: BN 3, Sick Leave

Questions should be directed to HR at payrollandbenefits@uwgb.edu or (920) 465-2390.

Long-Term Care Insurance covers services that are typically not covered by health insurance, but are vital for a patient, such as assistance with activities of daily living (walking, eating, bathing, etc.). This type of insurance 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.

Review Long-Term Care Insurance for plan eligibility and enrollment information.

Each year, the Long-Term Care Insurance plan, authorized by the Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF), may distribute one advertisement piece to employees. This year, ETF is distributing a Long-Term Care Insurance Update prepared by HealthChoice, the plan vendor.

For questions contact HealthChoice at 1-800-833-5823 or info@healthchoice.com. Visit www.healthchoice.com/request.php to request an information packet.

Source: UW System Human Resources

Each year, State Group Life Insurance premiums are updated on April 1. For University Staff (paid bi-weekly), the premium update will be reflected on the March 28, 2019 paycheck. For Faculty/Academic Staff/Limited Appointees (paid monthly), the premium update will be reflected on the April 1, 2019 paycheck.

Current enrollees in the State Group Life insurance program can review their updated premiums at this link: State Group Life Premium Notice. Additionally, current enrollees in the program were sent an email with a link to this customized web page.

State Group Life Insurance premium and coverage levels are based on:

• An employee’s highest calendar year of eligible earnings
• An employee’s age as of April 1 each year
• The coverage level the employee has elected

Employees who have changed age categories, or have had a salary change since April 1, 2018, will have a premium change effective April 1, 2019.

Premium Increase

Effective April 1, 2019, in addition to the annual premium update, there is also a premium increase for the first time in many years. Whether or not an employee will experience a premium increase will depend on his/her age.

Employees in higher age ranges may have a slight premium increase. Employees in lower age ranges may not see an increase at all. View State Group Life insurance premiums and age ranges.  Please note the premiums for spouse and dependent coverage are not changing.

The premium increase was approved by the Group Insurance Board which oversees the administration of the State Group Life insurance program.

Questions?

For general information about the State Group Life insurance plan, visit the State Group Insurance plan page or visit ALEX. If you have questions about the premium update or increase, contact Human Resources at (920) 465-2390 or payrollandbenefits@uwgb.edu.

Source: UW Service Center

As a reminder, timely approval of absence requests (monthly leave reports) is essential for accurate absence balances for employees and tracking of missing leave reports. Faculty, academic staff and limited supervisors should be approving all absence requests by the 10^th of each month. Instructions for approving absence can be found here: Approving Monthly Absence Instructions. We are requesting supervisors to review their Approve Absences screen in the My UW Portal for any pending approvals. Contact HR at (920) 465-2390 or payrollandbenefits@uwgb.edu if you have any questions.