Full-time employee benefits

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Please note that most links on this page lead to external websites.

Welcome to the Wisconsin Court System Benefits Overview. Summaries and links to important information is included below. If you have questions or concerns, please contact one of the Payroll and Benefits Specialists:

Chris Marsh
(608) 266-7441
christina.marsh@wicourts.gov

Terry Hopkins
(608) 266-6808
terry.hopkins@wicourts.gov

Most benefit plans have a 30-day enrollment period from the date of eligibility (typically the employee's hire date). You also typically have 30 days from a qualifying life event to make changes to your benefits. Qualifying life events include:

  • Marriage, divorce, or legal separation
  • Birth, adoption or legal guardianship of a child
  • Death of spouse or dependent
  • Loss of health insurance coverage for you or family member
  • Change in employment status of spouse or dependent
  • Change in tax dependent status of a child

Failure to provide notice of a qualifying life event within the 30 day window may disqualify you from changing the benefit.

Please note that employees can enroll in Wisconsin Deferred Compensation, long term care, and Edvest at any time.

Health insurance and uniform dental

Health Insurance is offered to qualifying employees through the Employee Trust Fund (ETF). This coverage can include basic dental coverage. For additional information on available plans and monthly premiums, please click here.

Dental insurance

Qualifying Wisconsin Court System employees can elect for additional supplemental dental insurance through DeltaDental. To learn more about dental benefits, click here.

Vision insurance

Qualifying Wisconsin Court System employees can get coverage for eye exams, glasses, contacts, and more with vision coverage through DeltaVision. To learn more about the vision benefits, click here.

Life insurance

Qualifying employees can protect their loved ones financially by enrolling in the State of Wisconsin Group Life Insurance Program. Please click here to learn more. Please note that members may be able to continue coverage in retirement or add coverage after a life change event. It is important to carefully consider Life Insurance options upon hire, or after adding a dependent (marriage, birth, or adoption) because Life Insurance is not part of the annual open enrollment opportunity.

Income continuation insurance (ICI)

Income Continuation Insurance (ICI) is a program that can act as an income replacement plan that replaces a portion of your income if you are unable to work because of sickness or injury. Sometimes ICI is commonly referred to as short or long term disability. Click here to learn more about this insurance program. Like above, it is important to carefully consider Income Continuation Insurance (ICI) options upon hire, or after a deferred enrollment event (you will be notified if you qualify) because ICI is not part of the annual open enrollment opportunity.

Accident plan

As a qualifying Wisconsin Court System employee, you have the opportunity to participate in accident insurance coverage. This plan helps to put some spending money in your pocket in the event of an accident. Click here to learn more about accident insurance, coverage options, and plan features.

Pre-tax savings accounts

Qualifying Wisconsin Court System employees can save on a wide variety of everyday medical, dental, vision, day care, parking and transit expenses with a pretax savings account through Optum Financial (formerly named Connect Your Care). Plans can help save costs related to:

  • Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for healthcare costs.
  • Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for dependent care.
  • Pre-Tax parking and transit accounts.
  • Health Savings Accounts (for High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) enrollees only).

These plans allow you to set aside money before payroll taxes are applied. This reduces your taxable income for income tax purposes and allows you to spend the savings on applicable costs instead of taxes. To learn more, click here.

Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS)

Qualifying Wisconsin Court System Employees can participate in the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS). WRS is a pension plan administered by the Employee Trust Fund (ETF). Participation by qualifying employees is mandatory. Contribution rates for both the employer and the employee are set annually by ETF. An evaluation of you eligibility is done upon hire. Employees participate in the WRS Core Fund (50% stocks and 50% fixed income and other assets with returns averaged over a 5-year period, less variability), or the Variable Fund (100% stocks with returns realized annually so there is more variability. WRS-eligible employees may also make post-tax additional voluntary WRS contributions so they have more income for retirement. These additional contributions earn the same rate of interest as your employee-required contributions. To learn more about WRS, additional contributions, the Core Fund, and Variable Fund, click here.

Wisconsin Deferred Compensation

The Wisconsin Deferred Compensation (WDC) Program is an optional, supplemental retirement savings plan for all working state employees. The WDC is an Internal Revenue Code Section 457 deferred compensation plan. This plan allows you to save money directly from your paycheck for retirement, and offers tax benefits and deferred investment options. Your WDC investment consists of only employee contributions and is optional. To learn more about WDC, click here.

Long term care insurance

Wisconsin Court System employees have access to Long Term Care Insurance through Mutual Omaha Long-Term Care Insurance Administered by HealthChoice. Long-term care includes medical services, such as nursing care or therapies, and additional supportive services. Employers do not contribute to the premiums for this plan. To learn more about coverage and enrollment, click here.

Edvest 529 College Savings Plan

Wisconsin Court System employees can start saving for college and technical college through Edvest. Edvest is a simple way to save for college. Anyone including parents, grandparents, extended family, and friends can open an Edvest account for anyone else. You can even open one to save for any of your own continuing education plans. Learn more about Edvest here.

For additional information, please see the Benefits at a Glace Quick Guide.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

The Wisconsin Court System offers an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through Kepro. This program offers a variety of services designed to help employees and family members resolve a wide range of issues to restore both personal and professional effectiveness. EAP services are free, 100% confidential, and available to you and household family members. Click here to learn more.

Additional services are available to judges and attorneys through the State Bar of Wisconsin. Click here to learn more.