2026 Employee and Employer WRS Contributions
Employees and employers will have new contribution rates for the Wisconsin Retirement System starting Jan. 1, 2026. The required contributions go to the WRS Trust Funds which, combined with investment returns, help fund employee’s WRS benefits.
By Tarna Hunter, ETF Budget and Management Director
Wisconsin’s 2025-2027 biennial budget bill (2025 Act 15) provides ETF one-time funding of $71 million to support the replacement of the antiquated pension administration system.
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2026 Insurance Open Enrollment on Oct. 6-31, 2025
For 2026, expect name changes for a few health plans, new administrators for vision insurance and pre-tax savings accounts, and increased medical deductible for the High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) and Access HDHP.
Switching to a health plan outside of the Group Health Insurance Program next year? You must opt out during open enrollment. For state employees, opting out means your unused sick leave credits will have no value unless you later reenroll in the program.
Slightly higher premiums for life insurance coverage will take effect on April 1 for the State plan and July 1 for the Local plan. Meanwhile, the Income Continuation Insurance (ICI) next year will have a 10% premium decrease for the State plan, as well as a premium holiday for the Local plan.
Group Health Insurance Program subscribers and spouses can earn their $150 prepaid card by completing the health assessment, health check, and a well-being activity.
A candidate must be a teacher currently working (not retired) for a WRS employer and not employed by a Milwaukee public school. Nomination forms are due Oct. 10, 2025. Term begins May 1, 2026.
Know where you stand in your retirement journey. Wisconsin Deferred Compensation Program (WDC) participants can schedule a complimentary, one-on-one Retirement Readiness Review online, by phone, or in person.
WRS members can be targets of scams and fraud, as well as unsolicited marketing. Know how to identify bad apples from legitimate communications about your retirement and other benefits.
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Explore your retirement, insurance, and other ETF-administered benefits. For more detailed information about your benefits, see your employer.
SWIB Strategically Navigates Real Estate Challenges
Despite significant headwinds in the commercial real estate market, SWIB’s $12 billion real estate portfolio remains a strong, long-term asset for the WRS, according to SWIB Head of Real Estate Jason Rothenberg.
SWIB's Head of Funds Alpha unpacks some of the economic challenges and opportunities investors are facing this year, as interest rates remain a dominant market theme in 2025.
The agency recently released the 2024 Retirement Funds Annual Report and the 2024 Schedule of Investments, a listing of SWIB’s holdings as of Dec. 31 of the year.
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SWIB Portfolio Manager Kirk Wolff has been selected for a pair of industry awards: Institutional Investor’s 2025 Rising Stars and Chief Investment Officer’s Class of 2025 NextGens.
Featured WRS Member: Maryann Barnett
"While born and raised in Chicago, I visited Wisconsin every summer. After college, I came here and within months was employed for the Wisconsin School for the Deaf. Another year later, I trained as a residential aide at the Southern Wisconsin Center. With my deaf education degree, I transferred back to the Wisconsin School for the Deaf. I have been a classroom and substitute teacher, coordinated the Captioned Media Program, and am now the Transition Coordinator for the Wisconsin Educational Services Program for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Deafblind Outreach. Count the positions! My ability to continue to move and grow has kept me busy, active, and always working with great people, both adult and children."
Share your personal journey in public service, and you might be featured in the next issues of WRS News Online and other ETF publications.
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