Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals, Inc. (MCWAH) Benefits, Conditions, and Terms of Employment
The Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals offers its housestaff a comprehensive benefits package.
Questions about MCWAH benefits? Please reach out to Selena at gme_benefits@mcw.edu.
Terms of Employment & Stipends
Complete, sign, and return the GME Training Agreement.
Download the MCWAH Graduate Medical Education Training Form (PDF)
The Board of Directors of MCWAH establishes stipends for housestaff. The annual stipend levels for the academic year beginning July 1, 2026 are:
PGY1: $73,944
PGY2: $75,242
PGY3: $79,197
PGY4: $81,689
PGY5: $85,490
PGY6: $88,570
PGY7: $93,524
PGY8: $96,982
PGY9: $97,767
Annual stipend levels are set in relation to AAMC Resident\Fellow Stipend surveys for the National 75th percentile plus an additional approximately 2.0% in lieu of reimbursements.
The stipend is deposited directly every other Friday for a total of 26 pay periods per year.
The Post Graduate year is the one appropriate for the program in which the housestaff is currently enrolled and is determined by the number of years remaining before successful completion of the program. Only prerequisite years are included in the Post Graduate year determination.
Example: An individual has completed 5 years of previous GME and enters the first year of a Cardiology program. The training year level would be PGY4 if the individual successfully completed 3 years training in an Internal Medicine program as the prerequisite for Cardiology.
When a question exists with respect to the Post Graduate year, the Program leadership team should contact the appropriate Board or RRC to determine the amount of the individual’s previous training that can be counted towards their MCWAH program requirements.
Benefits
MCWAH provides accident insurance to housestaff who are involved in patient air transportation.
- Immediate coverage upon effective starting date in MCWAH program
- Annual Open Enrollment prior to every July 1st
- Housestaff pay 50% of the premium with a pre-tax monthly payroll deduction. The pre-tax monthly payroll deduction is $11.02 single and $35.34 family as of July 1, 2025.
- Immediate coverage upon effective starting date in MCWAH program
- No waiting period for pre-existing conditions (including maternity care)
- Annual Open Enrollment prior to every July 1st
- Housestaff pay 20% of the premium with a pre-tax monthly payroll deduction. The pre-tax monthly payroll deduction is $166.15 single and $411.31 family as of July 1, 2025.
Provider Network
- WPS Statewide Network: Most members of MCW faculty participate. Most MCWAH Affiliated Hospitals participate.
- MCW Physicians and Clinics: The faculty of MCW includes more than 800 physicians offering high quality care in primary care as well as in every medical and surgical specialty and subspecialty.
- See the Medical College of Wisconsin Physician and Provider Directory to find a doctor and to browse the major affiliated clinics including primary care, walk-in/urgent care, adult specialty and pediatric specialty clinics.
- Teledoc Health Services via the WPS Health Insurance Company
MCW Fitness Facility
The Tonken's Center is located on the lower level of the Medical Education Building and is open 24 hours a day. Locker rooms with showers are located directly across from the fitness center. There are no costs or fees associated with using this facility. An MCW badge is needed to gain entry to both the fitness center and locker rooms. Housestaff wanting to use these facilities should contact their program coordinator about obtaining an MCW badge.
WPS Active & Fit Direct Program
Offers discounts to participating facilities. WPS Active & Fit Direct Program (PDF)
Life and Accidental Death
All actively employed MCWAH housestaff are eligible for $50,000 of group term life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment coverage. Your group coverage is convertible to an individual policy upon leaving MCWAH on a guaranteed basis without evidence of health.
Note that the above is just a short summary of the Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment insurance benefit. MCWAH Employed housestaff have access to the plan certificate which is the governing document that should be consulted for specific details of the coverage, benefits, limitations, and exclusions.
Long Term Disability Insurance
Base Group Plan
All actively employed MCWAH housestaff are eligible for the base group policy which provides 80% of a housestaff’s base stipend to a maximum monthly benefit of $5,000. Disability is defined as the inability to perform with reasonable continuity the material duties of your own occupation. Benefits start two months (60 days) after the onset of disability. Benefits can be payable to social security normal retirement age (SSNRA). This policy can be converted upon leaving MCWAH without evidence of health.
Note that the above is just a short summary of the Long Term Disability insurance benefit. MCWAH Employed housestaff have access to the plan certificate which is the governing document that should be consulted for specific details of the coverage, benefits, limitations, and exclusions.
Voluntary Supplemental Individual Plan
MCWAH employed housestaff are eligible for a voluntary, supplemental, individual disability policy. The policy is True Own Occupation/Specialty coverage. Premiums are guaranteed and substantially discounted. This policy is portable and may be continued and increased upon graduation and after.
Short Term Disability
All MCWAH residents and fellows are eligible to apply for Short Term Disability coverage if they are planning for, or on an approved medical leave, focusing on their own serious health condition. The MCWAH Short Term Disability plan will pay up to 60% of current salary and benefits start after a 7-day waiting period for an injury or after a 14-day waiting period for an illness (including pregnancy/child birth).
Note that the above is just a short summary of the Short Term Disability insurance benefit. MCWAH Employed housestaff have access to the plan certificate which is the governing document that should be consulted for specific details of the coverage, benefits, limitations, and exclusions.
Per our Affiliation Agreements, the affiliated hospitals are required to provide housestaff with equipment, resources and facilities including without limitation cafeteria, library access and suitable sleeping quarters for night and weekend call.
All MCWAH residents and fellows will be automatically enrolled at a 3% payroll deferral rate.
**Unless you’ve taken action to enroll and chosen your contribution rate within 18 days of your hire date, you will be automatically enrolled in the plan at 3% of your compensation. Your contribution rate will increase automatically by 1% each year on the anniversary of your automatic enrollment day and stop when your contributions reach 10%. Unless you choose otherwise, your account will be invested in a T. Rowe Price Target Date Fund based on an assumed retirement age of 65.**
MCWAH will contribute $100 per month to every actively employed resident and fellow.
- This non-elective contribution is made regardless of your own deferral.
- You are 100% vested in all contributions immediately upon enrollment.
As a plan participant, you’ll have access to digital tools, educational resources, and professional financial guidance.
Vacation
Housestaff are allowed annual paid vacation of three weeks for a total of 15 days not including weekends and 21 days including weekends. Vacation time is not cumulative from year to year, and unused vacation cannot be carried over to another academic year.
Sick Time
Sick time accrues to housestaff at the rate of two weeks (10 days without weekends and 14 days including weekends) per year to a maximum of four weeks from previous academic years. Unused sick leave is not paid upon separation of employment or the end of Trainee’s term or Agreement.
Educational Leave
Housestaff (PGY2 and above) are allowed up to one week of educational leave, without interruption of pay or benefits, contingent upon the approval by the Program Director. Educational leave may be used for conferences, seminars, professional association meetings and/or board or ITE preparation including home study.
The Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals, Inc. provides family and medical leave in accordance with the Federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the Wisconsin Family and Medical Leave Act (WFMLA).
FMLA Resources
A Vision Insurance Plan is available to MCWAH employed Housestaff at no cost. This plan is provided through Delta Vision and includes benefits toward eye exams, glasses, contacts and more.
All MCWAH employed housestaff are protected by Worker's Compensation insurance in case of work-related injury or illness. Any incident resulting in injury or illness must be reported promptly to the service chief or Program Director and a report form must be submitted to the MCWAH Office within 24 hours of the incident. Compensation for loss of duty assignment time or for medical expenses incurred as a consequence of such incident will be provided according to Wisconsin law.
Need to file a claim? Please complete the Accident/Injury Report for Housestaff; must be a current MCWAH employed housestaff.