40.32 History
History: 1995 a. 302;
1997 a. 237.
SOCIAL SECURITY FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYEES
40.40
40.40
State-federal agreement. The secretary may, upon receipt of a certified copy of a resolution adopted by the governing body of any employer in accordance with
s. 40.41 execute on behalf of the state a modification of the state-federal agreement with the secretary of the federal department of health and human services for the inclusion of a coverage group of the employees of the employer under the OASDHI system in conformity with federal regulations. The state and each employer included under the agreement or modification of the agreement shall thereafter be bound by federal regulations.
40.40 History
History: 1981 c. 96.
40.41(1)(1) Except as provided in
sub. (6), all the employees of any employer shall be included under OASDHI through adoption of a resolution by the governing body of the employer providing for the coverage and stating the effective date of coverage. All groups covered by OASDHI, under s.
40.41, 1979 stats., prior to January 1, 1982, shall continue to be covered by OASDHI. Whenever any employer is created, the territory of which includes more than one-half of the last assessed valuation of an employer which prior to creation of the new employer had adopted a resolution under this subsection, and the employer so created assumes the functions and responsibilities of the previous employer with respect to the territory, then the employees of the employer so created shall be covered from the inception of the created employer as if a resolution had been adopted under this subsection.
40.41(2)
(2) The resolution provided for in
sub. (1) may specify a coverage group comprised of persons under a retirement system which is eligible under federal regulations for inclusion under the state-federal OASDHI agreement, in which case a referendum in conformity with section 218 (d) (3) of the federal social security act shall be conducted. The governor may take any and all actions which may be required in connection with such a referendum. The agreement with the secretary of health and human services may be modified to cover the coverage group.
40.41(3)
(3) No agreement with the federal department of health and human services may be executed for the purpose of permitting one or more individuals to transfer by individual choice from that part of a retirement system which is composed of positions of employees who do not desire coverage under OASDHI to that part of a retirement system which is composed of positions of employees who desire OASDHI coverage.
40.41(4)
(4) Except as provided in
sub. (6), all state employees, all teachers, the participating employees of all participating employers under the Wisconsin retirement system and all employees who would have become a participating employee of a participating employer except for the requirement of
s. 40.22 (6) shall be included under OASDHI, notwithstanding
sub. (1).
40.41(5)
(5) Except as provided in
sub. (6), employees under any retirement system included in whole or in part under OASDHI, prior to January 1, 1982, under a referendum or a choice held in conformity with section 218 (d) (3) or 218 (d) (6) of the federal social security act, shall continue to be included under OASDHI in accordance with the results of the referendum or choice, notwithstanding
sub. (1).
40.41(6)
(6) The following services shall be excluded from OASDHI coverage, and subsequent modifications of the state-federal agreement shall continue to provide for their exclusion:
40.41(6)(a)
(a) Services performed by persons or in positions not eligible for inclusion under federal regulations. Any exclusion under this paragraph shall not continue if federal regulations are subsequently modified to include the services.
40.41(6)(b)
(b) Services performed by a member of a board or commission, except members of governing bodies, in a position or office which does not normally require actual performance of duty for at least 600 hours in each calendar year. For purposes of this paragraph, a "board" or "commission" is a body referred to in the statutes as a board or commission.
40.41(6)(c)
(c) Service performed in the employ of a school, college or university, if the service is performed by a student who is enrolled and regularly attending classes at the school, college or university.
40.41(6)(d)
(d) Services of an employee whose participating employment in a position covered by a specific retirement system is not covered by OASDHI by reason of eligibility for a choice provided by statute prior to January 1, 1982, but only with respect to services in a position covered by that retirement system.
40.41(6)(e)
(e) Services in police and fire fighter positions under a retirement system except:
40.41(6)(e)1.
1. If the services were covered under the federal OASDHI system under this section prior to the effective date of the retirement system coverage.
40.41(6)(e)2.
2. If the services have been covered under the federal OASDHI system under section 218 (m) of the federal social security act.
40.41(6)(f)
(f) Services in a position eligible for participation in the Wisconsin retirement system only by virtue of
s. 40.22 (2m). This exclusion does not apply to any employee who is a teacher, who is a participating employee in the Wisconsin retirement system or whose employer has adopted a resolution under
sub. (1).
HEALTH AND LONG-TERM CARE BENEFITS
40.51
40.51
Health care coverage. 40.51(1)
(1) The procedures and provisions pertaining to enrollment, premium transmitted and coverage of eligible employees for health care benefits shall be established by contract or rule except as otherwise specifically provided by this chapter.
40.51(2)
(2) Except as provided in
subs. (10),
(10m),
(11) and
(16), any eligible employee may become covered by group health insurance by electing coverage within 30 days of being hired, to be effective as of the first day of the month which begins on or after the date the application is received by the employer, or by electing coverage prior to becoming eligible for employer contribution towards the premium cost as provided in
s. 40.05 (4) (a) to be effective upon becoming eligible for employer contributions. An eligible employee who is not insured, but who is eligible for an employer contribution under
s. 40.05 (4) (ag) 1., may elect coverage prior to becoming eligible for an employer contribution under
s. 40.05 (4) (ag) 2., with the coverage to be effective upon becoming eligible for the increase in the employer contribution. Any employee who does not so elect at one of these times, or who subsequently cancels the insurance, shall not thereafter become insured unless the employee furnishes evidence of insurability satisfactory to the insurer, at the employee's own expense or obtains coverage subject to contractual waiting periods. The method to be used shall be specified in the health insurance contract.
40.51(3)
(3) The health insurance contract shall establish provisions by which an insured employee or dependents may continue group coverage or convert group coverage to a nongroup policy which, at a minimum, comply with
s. 632.897.
40.51(4)
(4) The group insurance board shall establish provisions for the continuance of insurance coverage which shall, at a minimum, comply with
s. 632.897.
40.51(6)
(6) This state shall offer to all of its employees at least 2 insured or uninsured health care coverage plans providing substantially equivalent hospital and medical benefits, including a health maintenance organization or a preferred provider plan, if those health care plans are determined by the group insurance board to be available in the area of the place of employment and are approved by the group insurance board.
40.51(7)
(7) Any employer, other than the state, may offer to all of its employees a health care coverage plan through a program offered by the group insurance board. Notwithstanding
sub. (2) and
ss. 40.05 (4) and
40.52 (1), the department may by rule establish different eligibility standards or contribution requirements for such employees and employers and may by rule limit the categories of employers, other than the state, which may be included as participating employers under this subchapter.
40.51(8)
(8) Every health care coverage plan offered by the state under
sub. (6) shall comply with
ss. 631.89,
631.90,
631.93 (2),
631.95,
632.72 (2),
632.746 (1) to
(8) and
(10),
632.747,
632.748,
632.83,
632.835,
632.85,
632.853,
632.855,
632.87 (3) to
(5),
632.895 (5m) and
(8) to
(14) and
632.896.
40.51(9)
(9) Every health maintenance organization and preferred provider plan offered by the state under
sub. (6) shall comply with
s. 632.87 (2m).
40.51(10)
(10) Beginning on July 1, 1988, any eligible employee, as defined in
s. 40.02 (25) (b) 11., may become covered by group health insurance by electing coverage within 60 days after the date on which he or she ceases to be a participating employee, and by paying the cost of the required premiums, as provided in
s. 40.05 (4) (ad). Any eligible employee who does not so elect at the time specified, or who later cancels the insurance, shall not thereafter become insured unless the employee furnishes evidence of insurability satisfactory to the insurer, at the employee's expense or obtains coverage subject to contractual waiting periods, and pays the cost of the required premiums, as provided in
s. 40.05 (4) (ad). The method of payment shall be specified in the health insurance contract.
40.51(10m)
(10m) Any eligible employee, as defined in
s. 40.02 (25) (b) 6g., may become covered under any health care coverage plan offered under
sub. (6), without furnishing evidence of insurability, by submitting to the department, on a form provided by the department and within 30 days after the date on which the department receives the employee's application for a retirement annuity or for a lump sum payment under
s. 40.25 (1), an election to obtain the coverage, by obtaining coverage subject to contractual waiting periods and by paying the cost of the required premiums, as provided in
s. 40.05 (4) (ad).
40.51(11)
(11) An eligible state employee who elects insurance coverage with a county under
s. 978.12 (6) may not elect coverage under this section.
40.51(12)
(12) Every defined network plan, as defined in
s. 609.01 (1b), and every limited service health organization, as defined in
s. 609.01 (3), that is offered by the state under
sub. (6) shall comply with
ch. 609.
40.51(13)
(13) Every defined network plan, as defined in
s. 609.01 (1b), and every limited service health organization, as defined in
s. 609.01 (3), that is offered by the group insurance board under
sub. (7) shall comply with
ch. 609.
40.51(15m)
(15m) Every health care plan, except a health maintenance organization or a preferred provider plan, offered by the state under
sub. (6) shall comply with
s. 632.86.
40.51(16)
(16) Beginning on the date specified by the department, but not earlier than March 20, 1992, and not later than July 1, 1992, any eligible employee, as defined in
s. 40.02 (25) (b) 6m., may elect coverage under any health care coverage plan offered under
sub. (6) by furnishing, at the employee's expense, evidence of insurability satisfactory to the insurer or by obtaining coverage subject to contractual waiting periods, and by paying the cost of the required premiums, as provided in
s. 40.05 (4) (ad). The method to be used shall be specified in the health insurance contract.
40.51 History
History: 1981 c. 96;
1983 a. 27;
1985 a. 29;
1987 a. 27,
107,
356;
1987 a. 403 s.
256;
1989 a. 31,
93,
121,
129,
182,
201,
336,
359;
1991 a. 39,
70,
113,
152,
269,
315,
1993 a. 450,
481;
1995 a. 289;
1997 a. 27,
155,
202,
237,
252;
1999 a. 32,
95,
115,
155;
2001 a. 16,
38,
104.
40.51 Annotation
Monies appropriated to the Public Employee Trust Fund are not "state funds"; the legislature may not restrict the use of those funds by a statute governing the use of "state or local funds." The restrictions on the use of "state and local" funds for abortions under s. 20.927 do not apply to health plans offered under this section.
OAG 1-95 40.52
40.52
Health care benefits. 40.52(1)
(1) The group insurance board shall establish by contract a standard health insurance plan in which all insured employees shall participate except as otherwise provided in this chapter. The standard plan shall provide:
40.52(1)(a)
(a) A family coverage option for persons desiring to provide for coverage of all eligible dependents and a single coverage option for other eligible persons.
40.52(1)(b)
(b) Coverage for expenses incurred by the installation and use of an insulin infusion pump, coverage for all other equipment and supplies used in the treatment of diabetes, including any prescription medication used to treat diabetes, and coverage of diabetic self-management education programs. Coverage required under this paragraph shall be subject to the same exclusions, limitations, deductibles, and coinsurance provisions of the plan as other covered expenses, except that insulin infusion pump coverage may be limited to the purchase of one pump per year and the plan may require the covered person to use a pump for 30 days before purchase.
40.52(2)
(2) Health insurance benefits under this subchapter shall be integrated, with exceptions determined appropriate by the group insurance board, with benefits under federal plans for hospital and health care for the aged and disabled. Exclusions and limitations with respect to benefits and different rates may be established for persons eligible under federal plans for hospital and health care for the aged and disabled in recognition of the utilization by persons within the age limits eligible under the federal program. The plan may include special provisions for spouses and other dependents covered under a plan established under this subchapter where one spouse is eligible under federal plans for hospital and health care for the aged but the others are not eligible because of age or other reasons. As part of the integration, the department may, out of premiums collected under
s. 40.05 (4), pay premiums for the federal health insurance.
40.52(3)
(3) The group insurance board, after consulting with the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System, shall establish the terms of a health insurance plan for graduate assistants, and for employees-in-training designated by the board of regents, who are employed on at least a one-third full-time basis and for teachers who are employed on at least a one-third full-time basis by the University of Wisconsin System with an expected duration of employment of at least 6 months but less than one year.
40.52(3m)
(3m) The group insurance board, after consulting with the board of directors of the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority, shall establish the terms of a health insurance plan for graduate assistants, and for employees-in-training designated by the board of directors, who are employed on at least a one-third full-time basis with an expected duration of employment of at least 6 months.
40.52(4)
(4) The group insurance board shall establish the terms of health insurance plans for eligible employees, as defined under
s. 40.02 (25) (b) 9. and
11., who elect coverage under
s. 40.51 (7) or
(10).
40.52 Annotation
The denial of a homosexual employee's request for family coverage for herself and her companion did not violate equal protection or the prohibition of discrimination on the basis of marital status, sexual orientation or gender under s. 111.321. Phillips v. Wisconsin Personnel Commission,
167 Wis. 2d 205,
482 N.W.2d 121 (Ct. App. 1992).
40.52 Annotation
The insurance subrogation law permitting a subrogated insurer to be reimbursed only if the insured has been made whole applies to the state employee health plan. Leonard v. Dusek,
184 Wis. 2d 267,
516 N.W.2d 463 (Ct. App. 1994).
40.52 Annotation
Barring spouses who are both state employees from each electing family medical coverage does not discriminate on the basis of marital status. Kozich v. Employee Trust Funds Board,
203 Wis. 2d 363,
553 N.W.2d 830 (Ct. App. 1996).
40.52 Annotation
Barring spouses who are both public employees from each electing family medical coverage is excepted from the prohibition under ch. 111 against discrimination based on marital status. Motola v. LIRC,
219 Wis. 2d 589,
580 N.W.2d 297 (1998).
40.55
40.55
Long-term care coverage. 40.55(1)
(1) Except as provided in
sub. (5), the state shall offer, through the group insurance board, to eligible employees under
s. 40.02 (25) (bm) and to state annuitants long-term care insurance policies which have been approved for sale in this state by the office of the commissioner of insurance and which have been approved for offering under contracts established by the group insurance board if the insurer requests that the policy be offered and the state shall also allow an eligible employee or a state annuitant to purchase those policies for his or her spouse or parent.
40.55(2)
(2) For any long-term care policy offered through the group insurance board, the insurer may impose underwriting considerations in determining the initial eligibility of persons to cover and what premiums to charge.
40.55(4)
(4) The group insurance board may charge a fee to each insurer whose policy is offered under this section, but the fee may not exceed the direct costs incurred by the group insurance board in offering the policy.
40.55(5)
(5) An eligible state employee who elects insurance coverage with a county under
s. 978.12 (6) may not elect coverage under this section.
DISABILITY BENEFITS
40.61
40.61
Income continuation coverage. 40.61(1)
(1) The procedures and provisions pertaining to enrollment, premium transmitted and coverage of eligible employees for income continuation benefits shall be established by contract or rule except as otherwise specifically provided by this chapter.
40.61(2)
(2) Except as provided in
sub. (4), any eligible employee may become covered by income continuation insurance by electing coverage within 30 days of initial eligibility, to be effective as of the first day of the month which begins on or after the date the application is received by the employer, or by electing coverage within 30 days of initially becoming eligible for a higher level of employer contribution towards the premium cost to be effective as of the first day of the month following the date the application is received by the employer for teachers employed by the university and effective as of the following April 1 for all other employees. Any employee who does not so elect at one of these times, or who subsequently cancels the insurance, may not thereafter become insured unless the employee furnishes evidence of insurability under the terms of the contract, or as otherwise provided by rule for employees under
sub. (3), at the employee's own expense or obtains coverage subject to contractual waiting periods if contractual waiting periods are provided for by the contract or by rule for employees under
sub. (3). An employee who furnishes satisfactory evidence of insurability under the terms of the contract shall become insured as of the first day of the month following the date of approval of evidence. The method to be used shall be determined by the group insurance board under
sub. (1).
40.61(3)
(3) Any employer under
s. 40.02 (28), other than the state, may offer to all of its employees an income continuation insurance plan through a program offered by the group insurance board. Notwithstanding
sub. (2) and
ss. 40.05 (5) and
40.62, the department may by rule establish different eligibility standards or contribution requirements for such employees and employers and may by rule limit the categories of employers which may be included as participating employers under this subchapter.
40.61(4)
(4) An eligible state employee who elects insurance coverage with a county under
s. 978.12 (6) may not elect coverage under this section.
40.62
40.62
Income continuation insurance benefits. 40.62(1)(1) The group insurance board shall establish an income continuation insurance plan providing for full or partial payment of the financial loss of earnings incurred as a result of injury or illness with separate provisions for short-term insurance with a benefit duration of no more than one year and long-term insurance covering injury or illness of indefinite duration. Employees insured under the plan shall be eligible for benefits upon exhaustion of accumulated sick leave and completion of the elimination period established by the group insurance board.
40.62(1m)
(1m) Notwithstanding
sub. (1), no employee may be required to use more than 130 days of accumulated sick leave unless required to exhaust accumulated sick leave under
s. 40.63 (1) (c).
40.63
40.63
Disability annuities. 40.63(1)
(1) Any participating employee is entitled to a disability annuity from the Wisconsin retirement system, beginning on the date determined under
sub. (8) if, prior to attaining his or her normal retirement date, all of the following apply:
40.63(1)(a)
(a) The employee has earned at least one-half year of creditable service in each of at least 5 calendar years not including any calendar year preceding by more than 7 calendar years the year in which the application for the disability annuity is received by the department, or has earned a total of at least 5 years of creditable service during that period of time, or, if the disability was a result of employment as a participating employee for an employer, last rendered services to a participating employer not more than 2 years prior to the date the application for the disability annuity is received by the department.
40.63(1)(b)
(b) The employee becomes unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or to be of long-continued and indefinite duration.
40.63(1)(c)
(c) The employee is not entitled to any earnings from the employer and the employer has certified that it has paid to the employee all earnings to which the employee is entitled, that the employee is on a leave of absence and is not expected to resume active service, or that the employee's participating employment has been terminated, because of a disability as described in
par. (b) and as a consequence the employee is not entitled to any earnings from the employer. In this paragraph, "earnings" does not include bonus compensation to which the employee was entitled under s.
25.156 (7) (a), 1997 stats.
40.63(1)(d)
(d) Except as provided in
sub. (8) (h) 2., the employee is certified in writing by at least 2 licensed and practicing physicians approved or appointed by the department, to be disabled as described in
par. (b).
40.63(2)
(2) For purposes of
sub. (1) a participant shall be considered a participating employee only if no other employment which is substantial gainful activity has intervened since service for the participating employer terminated and if the termination of active service for the participating employer was due to disability. For purposes of
sub. (1) an elected official shall be considered to have terminated active service due to disability if a disability is determined, under
sub. (1), to exist at the end of the elected official's term of office.
40.63(3)
(3) For purposes of
sub. (1) (a) only, if a participant was previously receiving a disability annuity which was terminated, the participant is deemed to have received full creditable service for any month for which the previous disability annuity was paid.
40.63(4)
(4) Notwithstanding
sub. (1) (b), a protective occupation participant is not disqualified from receiving a disability annuity if the participant has accumulated 15 or more years of creditable service and would attain age 55 in 60 months or less after the occurrence of disability and the medical evidence, as provided in
sub. (1), establishes a disability to the extent that the participant can no longer efficiently and safely perform the duties required by the participant's position, and that the condition is likely to be permanent.
40.63(5)
(5) The department shall make a report based on the evidence prescribed in
subs. (1) to
(4) as to whether a disability benefit shall be granted and the department shall submit the report to the teachers retirement board for teacher participants and to the Wisconsin retirement board for participants other than teachers. A copy of the report and notice of the date that the report was presented, or will be presented, to the appropriate board and the board's name, shall be mailed to the applicant and to the applicant's former employer. Either the applicant or the employer may request a hearing under
s. 227.44 to contest the department's determination by filing a timely appeal with the appropriate board. If a request for a hearing is not timely filed, and the appropriate board does not disapprove the department's determination or request additional information within the time allowed for filing appeals, the report shall be final. If the board requests additional information, the report shall be final 30 days after the board's receipt of the requested information unless the board disapproves the report. If the report is disapproved, notice of the board's action shall be sent to the applicant and the applicant's former employer. Either the applicant or the employer may contest the board's action by submitting a written request for a hearing under
s. 227.44 to the appropriate board within 30 days following the date on which the notice of the board's action was mailed to the applicant or the employer.
40.63(6)
(6) Any person entitled to payments under this section who may otherwise be entitled to payments under s.
66.191, 1981 stats., may file with the department and the department of workforce development a written election to waive payments due under this section and accept in lieu of the payments under this section payments as may be payable under s.
66.191, 1981 stats., but no person may receive payments under both s.
66.191, 1981 stats., and this section. However any person otherwise entitled to payments under this section may receive the payments, without waiver of any rights under s.
66.191, 1981 stats., during any period as may be required for a determination of the person's rights under s.
66.191, 1981 stats. Upon the final adjudication of the person's rights under s.
66.191, 1981 stats., if waiver is filed under this section, the person shall immediately cease to be entitled to payments under this section and the system shall be reimbursed from the award made under s.
66.191, 1981 stats., for all payments made under this section.
40.63(7)
(7) If an application, by a participant age 55 or over, or by a protective occupation participant age 50 or over, for any disability annuity is disapproved, the date which would have been the disability annuity effective date shall be the retirement annuity effective date if so requested by the applicant within 60 days of the disapproval or, if the disapproval is appealed, within 60 days of final disposition of the appeal.
40.63(8)
(8) Disability annuity effective dates and amounts shall be determined in the same manner and shall be subject to the same limitations and options as retirement annuities except that separate actuarial tables may be applied and except that:
40.63(8)(a)
(a) The creditable service shall include assumed service between the date the disability occurred, or the last day for which creditable service was earned, if later, and the date on which the participant will reach the participant's normal retirement date. The assumed service shall be prorated if the participant's employment was less than full time.
