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 February 3, 2026
In This Issue
All Employers | All Insurance Benefits
Welcome to My Benefits Employer News, a newsletter to keep you informed about ETF’s new insurance administration system. Save time by only reading the articles relevant to you—this entire issue is focused on life insurance. The first line of each article identifies those employers to whom the article applies. View previous issues.
All Employers | Life Insurance Benefits
In the coming weeks, we will provide you the information you need to prepare for the transition to My Insurance Benefits through My Benefits Employer News. This edition of My Benefits Employer News lays out the transition details related to life insurance administration.
With the launch of My Insurance Benefits for all employers, administration of the Wisconsin Public Employers Group Life Insurance program will shift from Securian to ETF. Employees will submit life insurance elections and coverage changes in My Insurance Benefits. Employers will use My Insurance Benefits to manage their employee enrollments and changes. Employers will also need to access Securian’s LifeBenefitsExtra (LBE) online portal for billing and payment purposes after the July 1, 2026 launch of My Insurance Benefits.
All Employers | Life Insurance Benefits
As Securian prepares for My Insurance Benefits, they expect to deliver the renewal census reports to state employers by February 13, 2026, and to local employers by April 10, 2026. This will allow state employers to update their systems with the new premium rates and coverage amounts necessary for April 1, 2026, and local employers for July 1, 2026.
All Employers | Life Insurance Benefits
The following enrollment freeze dates will apply to ETF-administered life insurance:
April 17, 2026 – Life Insurance Enrollment with Evidence of Insurability (EOI) Freeze Begins
The last day for Securian to receive and process EOI applications is April 17, 2026. For EOI applications received by April 17, 2026, Securian will provide final decisions or closures by May 15, 2026. EOI applications received after April 17 and before My Insurance Benefits goes live on July 1, 2026 will be returned to the employee. The employee may reapply for life insurance requiring EOI after July 1 in My Insurance Benefits. Coverage will not be in place for EOI enrollments until Securian approves the enrollment.
Local & Non-STAR Employers & UWHC | Life Insurance Benefits
May 7, 2026 – Life Insurance Enrollment Freeze Begins
The last day for Securian to receive life insurance applications, cancellations, coverage changes, and terminations is May 6, 2026. This date also applies to employers who submit enrollment files to Securian. After May 6, employers should hold applications and changes until mid-June when My Insurance Benefits will be open for employer updates and confirmations. Applications received after May 6 will be returned to the employer for submission into My Insurance Benefits.
Enrollment File Cut-off Date
UWs, UWHC, DOA | Life Insurance Benefits
May 6, 2026 is the last day to send enrollment files to Securian.
All Employers | Life Insurance Benefits
On May 7, two new rules approved by ETF’s Group Insurance Board go into effect. Note that the date for new rule application is based on the employer-received date.
- The first rule aligns the life insurance coverage and premium effective dates for enrollments and changes received on or after May 7. See Life Insurance Coverage and Premium Effective Dates Align and this Premium & Coverage Effective Date Changes Job Aid for more information.
- The second rule changes the number of days retiring employees have to automatically continue their life insurance by starting their annuity from 31 days to 30 days. See Automatic Continuation of Life Insurance Retiree Requirement for more information.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the ETF Employer Insurance Unit for assistance.
All Employers | Life Insurance Benefits
Securian claims processes will not be interrupted by the transition to My Insurance Benefits. If an active employee death claim happens during the freeze, employers must call their ETF insurance case manager. Waiver of premium and living benefit claims will continue during the transition and should follow the current processes.
All Employers | Life Insurance Benefits
After go live, Securian will continue to provide billing services based on coverage information provided and maintained in My Insurance Benefits. Additionally, Securian is shifting from invoicing employers one month in advance of coverage for life insurance to current month billing beginning with the August 2026 coverage month.
Securian will update their LifeBenefitsExtra (LBE) online portal system to receive information from My Insurance Benefits and retire their administration system. This will lead to new billing processes beginning in August. The LBE system will be unavailable June 25, 2026 until the end of July 2026.
Cutover Billing
As the current systems are retired, life insurance billing processes will change as outlined below. Note: Employers will be required to pay life insurance premiums as billed by Securian for the bill produced on May 20, 2026, for July 2026 coverage and premiums.
- May 15 – July 1, 2026: No billing additions, terminations or adjustments will be accepted until after My Insurance Benefits is live.
- August 4, 2026: The August bill will be issued for August coverage and premiums, as ETF moves to month of billing.
- Premium adjustments needed between May 15, 2026 and July 1, 2026 will appear on the August invoice.
Future State Billing
Beginning in August 2026, Securian will bill employers for life insurance for the current month of coverage. Bills will be generated online on the 4th of each month; and payment will be due on the 24th of that same month for that month’s coverage and premiums.
Employers will adjust life insurance enrollments in My Insurance Benefits. Bills will be available online only in Securian’s LifeBenefitsExtra (LBE) system. Paper bills will no longer be mailed or available.
Securian will provide updated LBE access credentials to all employers at the end of July 2026 with the updated system expected to be available July 29, 2026. To establish access for employer agents, submit the ETF Online Access Security Agreement – IAS (ET-8928i) to ETF. Your LBE credentials will come to you from Securian.
Billing Timeline
April 24, 2026: June premium billed, due May 15, 2026.
May 20, 2026: July premium billed, due June 24, 2026. This is the final bill from Securian’s current administration system. Employers must pay as billed. Billed amounts cannot be adjusted. Changes submitted through My Insurance Benefits will be reflected on future invoices. Any premiums received that do not match billed amounts will be returned to employers.
June 25, 2026: Securian’s LBE system will be unavailable until the end of July 2026.
August 4, 2026: August premiums billed, due August 24. Employers will access the bill online in Securian’s LifeBenefitsExtra (LBE) system. Paper billing is no longer available.
Frequent Questions
All Employers | All Insurance Benefits
Q: Will employers who only offer life insurance or only income continuation insurance be required to use My Insurance Benefits?
A: Yes. All health, dental, vision, life, income continuation, and accident benefits will be administered through My Insurance Benefits, which offers secure, online access for both members and employers. Participation is not optional.
Q: Are employees going to be able to make any changes to life insurance in My Insurance Benefits?
A: Yes, like other benefits, employees may elect coverage as a new hire, make changes with a qualified life event, make updates through an evidence of insurability process, or cancel coverage within My Insurance Benefits.
Q: Will life insurance declinations continue to be required?
A: Yes, employees will decline the coverage through My Insurance Benefits and the employer will be able to see that declination.
Q: Will dependent verification be required for existing dependents covered by life insurance?
A: Existing employees will be brought into the My Insurance Benefits system, and they will not need to enter any documents for current dependents. After the system is live, any future qualifying life events and dependents will require documentation.
All Employers | All Insurance Benefits
- Tell employees who plan to retire after May 6 that they will need to take their WRS annuity within 30 days for their life insurance to automatically continue due to the policy change mentioned above.
ETF will continue to provide more detail on the above, communicate additional changes, and ensure you are prepared for the transition.
Local Employers: If you need support related to My Insurance Benefits, please contact ETF’s employer liaisons at ETFSMBIASEmployerSetupQuestions@etf.wi.gov.
State Employers: If you need support related to My Insurance Benefits, please contact the IAS Project Manager with whom you currently work.
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