Health Benefits.
Milwaukee Code of Ordinances § 350-30
in effect350-30. Health Benefits.
1. DEFINITIONS. In this section, unless stated otherwise in a certified collective bargaining agreement while it is in force and in effect, the following definitions shall apply:
a. “Creditable Service” means prior service plus membership service for which credit is allowable under s. 36-04.
b. “Dependent” means the spouse, child, step-child, foster child or adopted child of an employee each of whom has been certified with the department.
c. “Domestic partner” means a person registered as a domestic partner with the city under s. 350-245 or registered as a domestic partnership under ch. 770, Wis. Stats.
d. “Full-benefit employee” means any employee in a position which is authorized by the common council to work for at least 21 hours a week on an annual basis.
e. “Limited-benefit employee” means any employee in a position which is authorized by the common council to work for less than 21 hours a week on an annual basis.
f. “Premium” means with respect to a health benefit plan which is a group insurance policy issued by an insurer, the amounts charged as a consideration by the insurer to the policyholder to provide coverage for single, family and other tiers of coverage under the policy and, with respect to a self-funded health benefit plan of the city, the amounts of consideration, as determined by an actuary pursuant to a method approved by the common council, as the amounts equivalent to the cost of the premiums for such health benefit plan if it were provided under a group insurance policy.
g. “Retiree” shall have the following meanings:
g-1. For persons employed prior to January 1, 2017, “retiree” means a person receiving a service retirement allowance under s. 36-05-1, an immediate allowance under s. 36-05-06-c, or a deferred retirement allowance under s. 36-05-6-d-2.
g-2. For newly-employed persons hired by either the city of Milwaukee, the redevelopment authority of the city of Milwaukee, or the housing authority of the city of Milwaukee on or after January 1, 2017, “retiree” means a person receiving a service retirement allowance under s. 36-05-1, an immediate allowance under s. 36-05-6-c, or a deferred retirement under s 36-05-6-d-2. Newly-employed persons include persons who were employed prior to January 1, 2017, but who resigned or were separated under City Service Rule XI, sec. 1, and are rehired by or reinstated to employment with any of these entities on or after January 1, 2017.
g-3. “Retiree” also means a person receiving an ordinary disability retirement under s. 36-05-2 or a duty disability retirement allowance under s. 36-05-3, regardless of when the person was initially employed.
2. PROGRAM AUTHORITY. The department shall contract to provide health benefits, including prescription drugs, for employees and retirees as approved by the common council and make payments of premiums to an insurance company or fees and health care claims to a third-party administrator if the city maintains a self-funded health benefit plan.
3. ELIGIBILITY. a. Eligible. Unless stated otherwise in a certified collective bargaining agreement while it is in force and in effect, the following persons shall be eligible for health benefits:
a-1. Full-benefit employees, beginning on the 31st calendar day of employment with the city.
a-2. Limited-benefit employees, begin-ning on the 31st calendar day of employment with the city.
a-3. Retirees defined under sub. 1-g-1 if they separate voluntarily with at least 15 years of creditable service with the city, the housing authority of the city of Milwaukee, or the redevelopment authority of the city of Milwaukee, and have been enrolled since the date of retirement in any health plan without lapse of coverage. Retirees defined under sub. 1-g-2 and 3 shall be eligible if they have been enrolled since the date of retirement in any health plan without lapse of coverage.
a-4. Dependents of full-benefit employees or retirees.
a-5. Dependents of limited-benefit employees.
a-6. Surviving spouses or domestic partners of retirees who die while enrolled in a city health care plan.
a-7. Surviving spouses receiving an ordinary death allowance under s. 36-05-10, if the employee had at least 4 years of creditable service at the time of death, shall be eligible for a period of time equal to the employee’s creditable service.
a-8. Surviving spouses receiving an accidental death allowance under s. 36-05-5.
b. Not Eligible. Persons with the job titles provided under s. 350-237-2-c shall not be eligible to receive health benefits.
4. ONE-FAMILY RULE. An employee or retiree who is married to another employee or retiree shall enroll in one plan with dependent coverage effective the first of the month following the marriage.
5. EXCEPTIONS TO ELIGIBILITY. The following persons shall not be eligible to participate in a health insurance plan offered by the city:
a. An employee who returns to employment from an unpaid medical leave of absence, other than leave under state or federal family and medical leave acts, who has not physically returned to work for one entire workday of 8 consecutive hours without using vacation, sick pay or compensatory time-off.
b. An employee on an unpaid medical leave of absence, other than leave under state or federal family and medical leave acts, within the first 6 months of employment.
6. ADMINISTRATION. The department of employee relations shall administer all health benefit and prescription drug plans authorized by the common council for employees, except that the employes’ retirement system shall administer premium share payments, enrollment and determination of eligibility for retirees.
7. PAYMENTS.
a. Premiums. Unless stated otherwise in a certified collective bargaining agreement while it is in force and in effect, or by common council resolution, persons participating in a health insurance benefit plan shall pay a premium share in the following amounts:
a-1. Full-benefit employees and retirees defined under sub. 1-g-1 and 3 under age 65 retiring on or after January 1, 2014, unless specified otherwise in subd. 3, shall pay the balance of the premium due after payment by the city of an amount equal to 88% of the cost of the premium for the lowest-cost health insurance benefit plan offered by the city, excluding the high-deductible health plan.
a-2. Limited-benefit employees shall pay 25% of the premium for single coverage or 40% of the premium for family coverage.
a-3 Retirees defined under sub. 1-g-1 receiving an immediate allowance under s 36-05-6-c, or receiving deferred retirement benefits under s. 36-05-6-d-2, retirees defined under sub. 1-g-3 receiving an ordinary disability retirement allowance and retirees defined in sub. 1-g-1 and 3 who are age 65 or over shall pay 75% of the premium.
a-4 Persons eligible under sub. 3-a-6 shall pay the premium that would be applicable to the retiree if living.
a-5. Persons eligible under sub. 3-a-7 shall pay 75% of the premium.
a-6. Effective June 1, 2017, persons eligible under sub. 3-a-8 shall pay:
a-6-a. Up to age 65, no premium.
a-6-b. On and after age 65, 75%.
a-8 Retirees defined in sub. 1-g-2 shall pay 100% of the full cost of any health benefit plan offered by the city.
b. Wellness Program Fees. Additional fees as established by common council resolution shall be paid by persons who do not comply with the city’s wellness program requirements.
c. Other Payments and Charges. Additional co-payments, co-insurance payments and deductible charges as required by the common council shall be paid by persons participating in a health insurance benefit plan
8. ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION. Nothing contained in this section shall in any manner be construed or interpreted to mean that any additional compensation is being, or shall be, paid to any employee, officer or retiree of the city; nor shall any such person have or assert any claim against the city for payment by reason of any provision of the code relating to the payment of premiums for city employees, officers or retirees of the city.
9. RESERVATION OF RIGHTS. The city reserves the right to at any time suspend or terminate any health benefit plan, to modify any health benefit plan to provide different cost-sharing between the city and employees or retirees, or to amend any health benefit plan in any respect.
Source: City of Milwaukee Legislative Reference Bureau, Milwaukee City Charter and Code of Ordinances (city.milwaukee.gov master PDFs)URL: https://city.milwaukee.gov/ImageLibrary/Groups/ccClerk/Ordinances/Volume-3/CH350-sub2.pdf#page=6Fetched: 10/26/2026