SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 -------------- FORM 11-K -------------- ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998 Commission File No. 1-14177 UWSI/BCBSUW 401(k) PLAN (Full title of the plan) UNITED WISCONSIN SERVICES, INC. 401 West Michigan Street Milwaukee, WI 53203 (Name of the issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive office) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULES UWSI/BCBSUW 401(k) PLAN YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND 1997 UWSI/BCBSUW 401(k) Plan Financial Statements and Supplemental Schedules Years ended December 31, 1998 and 1997 CONTENTS Report of Independent Auditors.............................................................................1 Financial Statements Statements of Assets Available for Benefits, with Fund Information.........................................2 Statements of Changes in Assets Available for Benefits, with Fund Information..............................3 Notes to Financial Statements..............................................................................5 Supplemental Schedules Line 27(a) -- Schedule of Assets Held for Investment Purposes..............................................9 Line 27(d) -- Schedule of Reportable Transactions.........................................................10 Report of Independent Auditors Employee Benefits Committee UWSI/BCBSUW 401(k) Plan We have audited the accompanying statements of assets available for benefits of UWSI/BCBSUW 401(k) Plan (the Plan) as of December 31, 1998 and 1997, and the related statements of changes in assets available for benefits for the years then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the assets available for benefits of the Plan at December 31, 1998 and 1997, and the changes in its assets available for benefits for the years then ended, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. Our audits were performed for the purpose of forming an opinion on the financial statements taken as a whole. The accompanying supplemental schedules of assets held for investment purposes as of December 31, 1998, and reportable transactions for the year then ended, are presented for the purpose of additional analysis and are not a required part of the financial statements but are supplementary information required by the Department of Labor's Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. These supplemental schedules are the responsibility of the Plan's management. The Fund Information in the statements of assets available for benefits and the statements of changes in assets available for benefits is presented for purposes of additional analysis rather than to present the assets available for benefits and changes in assets available for benefits of each fund. The supplemental schedules and Fund Information have been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in our audits of the financial statements and, in our opinion, are fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the financial statements taken as a whole. Ernst & Young LLP June 1, 1999 1 UWSI/BCBSUW 401(k) Plan Statements of Assets Available for Benefits, with Fund Information DECEMBER 31, 1998 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- American American Templeton Express Express Trust PIMCO IDS AIM IDS New Foreign Trust Income Equity Index Total Return Mutual Constellation Dimensions Fund Fund II Fund II Fund Fund (Y) Fund Fund (Y) Class I ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASSETS Investments, at fair value (NOTE 3) $5,586,069 $19,542,595 $4,601,983 $8,249,470 $2,981,834 $3,430,059 $1,109,605 Receivables: Interest and dividends - - 23,476 - - - - Pending exchanges 6,500 23,652 (16,471) - - - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Assets available for benefits $5,592,569 $19,566,247 $4,608,988 $8,249,470 $2,981,834 $3,430,059 $1,109,605 ================================================================================================= DECEMBER 31, 1998 ------------------------------------------------------- UWSI AMSG Common Common Loan Stock Stock Fund Total ------------------------------------------------------- ASSETS Investments, at fair value (NOTE 3) $2,565,089 $3,508,587 $1,321,760 $52,897,051 Receivables: Interest and dividends (113) (81) - 23,282 Pending exchanges (6,500) (7,181) - - ------------------------------------------------------- Assets available for benefits $2,558,476 $3,501,325 $1,321,760 $52,920,333 ======================================================= DECEMBER 31, 1997 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- American American Templeton Express Express Trust PIMCO IDS AIM IDS New Foreign Trust Income Equity Index Total Return Mutual Constellation Dimensions Fund Fund II Fund II Fund Fund (Y) Fund Fund (Y) Class I -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASSETS Cash $ 13,404 $ 47,342 $ 13,203 $ 25,264 $ 12,457 $ 12,749 $ 6,757 Investments, at fair value (NOTE 3) 5,038,571 15,116,162 4,009,283 7,833,142 2,288,686 2,333,885 1,380,381 Interest and dividends receivable - - 122,549 - - - - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Assets available for benefits $5,051,975 $15,163,504 $4,145,035 $7,858,406 $2,301,143 $2,346,634 $1,387,138 ======================================================================================================== DECEMBER 31, 1997 ----------------------------------------- AMSG Common Loan Stock Fund Total ----------------------------------------- ASSETS Cash $ 47,042 $ (22,682) $ 155,536 Investments, at fair value (NOTE 3) 5,632,449 1,313,712 44,946,271 Interest and dividends receivable - - 122,549 ----------------------------------------- Assets available for benefits $5,679,491 $1,291,030 $45,224,356 ========================================= SEE ACCOMPANYING NOTES. 2 UWSI/BCBSUW 401(k) Plan Statements of Changes in Assets Available for Benefits, with Fund Information Year ended December 31, 1998 American American Express Express Trust PIMCO IDS AIM IDS New Trust Income Equity Index Total Mutual Constellation Dimensions Fund II Fund II Return Fund Fund (Y) Fund Fund (Y) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Additions: Net investment income (loss) $ (2) $ 294 $ 426,354 $1,108,404 $ 73,416 $ 197,523 Net realized and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments (NOTE 3) 306,840 4,291,564 (36,290) (376,180) 385,389 483,245 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 306,838 4,291,858 390,064 732,224 458,805 680,768 Contributions: Participants 301,483 1,253,225 308,735 613,042 387,973 382,000 Employers - - - - - - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 301,483 1,253,225 308,735 613,042 387,973 382,000 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total additions 608,321 5,545,083 698,799 1,345,266 846,778 1,062,768 Deductions: Cash transfers and rollovers (737,523) (48,227) (117,843) 361,290 (15,362) (276,813) Benefits, withdrawals and taxes 805,250 1,190,567 352,689 592,912 181,449 256,156 Transfer for spin-off - - - - - - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total deductions 67,727 1,142,340 234,846 954,202 166,087 (20,657) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Increase (decrease) in assets available for benefits 540,594 4,402,743 463,953 391,064 680,691 1,083,425 Assets available for benefits at beginning of year 5,051,975 15,163,504 4,145,035 7,858,406 2,301,143 2,346,634 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Assets available for benefits at end of year $5,592,569 $19,566,247 $4,608,988 $8,249,470 $2,981,834 $3,430,059 ==================================================================================== Templeton Foreign UWSI AMSG Fund Common Common Loan Class I Stock Stock Fund Total ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Additions: Net investment income (loss) $ 118,912 $ 14,251 $ 80,777 $ 114,792 $ 2,134,721 Net realized and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments (176,726) 716,212 (1,304,644) - 4,289,410 (NOTE 3) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (57,814) 730,463 (1,223,867) 114,792 6,424,131 Contributions: Participants 175,578 51,415 167,937 - 3,641,388 Employers - 298,135 841,116 - 1,139,251 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 175,578 349,550 1,009,053 - 4,780,639 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Total additions 117,764 1,080,013 (214,814) 114,792 11,204,770 Deductions: Cash transfers and rollovers 266,053 29,585 (16,880) (34,208) (589,928) Benefits, withdrawals and taxes 129,244 21,281 450,903 118,270 4,098,721 Transfer for spin-off - (1,529,329) 1,529,329 - - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Total deductions 395,297 (1,478,463) 1,963,352 84,062 3,508,793 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Increase (decrease) in assets available for benefits (277,533) 2,558,476 (2,178,166) 30,730 7,695,977 Assets available for benefits at beginning of year 1,387,138 - 5,679,491 1,291,030 45,224,356 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Assets available for benefits at end of year $1,109,605 $ 2,558,476 $ 3,501,325 $1,321,760 $52,920,333 ====================================================================== SEE ACCOMPANYING NOTES. 3 UWSI/BCBSUW 401(k) Plan Statements of Changes in Assets Available for Benefits, with Fund Information (continued) Year ended December 31, 1997 American American Express Express Trust PIMCO IDS AIM IDS New Trust Equity Index Total Mutual Constellation Dimensions Income Fund II Fund II Return Fund Fund (Y) Fund Fund (Y) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Additions: Net investment income (loss) $ (99) $ 253 $ 334,900 $1,121,059 $ 162,624 $ 174,302 Net realized and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments (NOTE 3) 275,777 3,553,148 33,809 96,844 (21,129) 152,389 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 275,678 3,553,401 368,709 1,217,903 141,495 326,691 Contributions: Participants 328,086 1,235,106 326,588 668,258 283,224 265,469 Employers - - - - - - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 328,086 1,235,106 326,588 668,258 283,224 265,469 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total additions 603,764 4,788,507 695,297 1,886,161 424,719 592,160 Deductions: Cash transfers and rollovers (411,463) (747,071) 224,292 165,194 (956,575) (976,207) Benefits, withdrawals and taxes 344,644 1,050,130 158,666 303,351 55,240 32,952 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total deductions (66,819) 303,059 382,958 468,545 (901,335) (943,255) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Increase in assets available for benefits 670,583 4,485,448 312,339 1,417,616 1,326,054 1,535,415 Assets available for benefits at beginning of year 4,381,392 10,678,056 3,832,696 6,440,790 975,089 811,219 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Assets available for benefits at end of year $5,051,975 $15,163,504 $4,145,035 $7,858,406 $2,301,143 $2,346,634 ========================================================================================= Templeton Foreign AMSG Fund Common Loan Class I Stock Fund Total ---------------------------------------------------------- Additions: Net investment income (loss) $ 147,830 $ 93,472 $ 106,017 $ 2,140,358 Net realized and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments (NOTE 3) (141,188) (105,408) - 3,844,242 ---------------------------------------------------------- 6,642 (11,936) 106,017 5,984,600 Contributions: Participants 144,528 208,590 - 3,459,849 Employers 1,104,798 - 1,104,798 ---------------------------------------------------------- 144,528 1,313,388 - 4,564,647 ---------------------------------------------------------- Total additions 151,170 1,301,452 106,017 10,549,247 Deductions: Cash transfers and rollovers (791,478) 122,631 (38,862) (3,409,539) Benefits, withdrawals and taxes 20,560 279,939 (14,801) 2,230,681 ---------------------------------------------------------- Total deductions (770,918) 402,570 (53,663) (1,178,858) ---------------------------------------------------------- Increase in assets available for benefits 922,088 898,882 159,680 11,728,105 Assets available for benefits at beginning of year 465,050 4,780,609 1,131,350 33,496,251 ---------------------------------------------------------- Assets available for benefits at end of year $1,387,138 $5,679,491 $1,291,030 $45,224,356 ========================================================== SEE ACCOMPANYING NOTES. 4 UWSI/BCBSUW 401(k) Plan Notes to Financial Statements (continued) 1. DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAN AND EMPLOYER SECURITIES The UWSI/BCBSUW 401(k) Plan (the Plan) is a defined contribution plan which covers eligible salaried and hourly employees not subject to collective bargaining agreements of Blue Cross & Blue Shield United of Wisconsin (BCBSUW), United Wisconsin Services, Inc. (UWSI), and any of their subsidiaries to which participation has been extended (Employers). The Plan allows participants to direct their contributions (not the Employers' match, however) into one or a combination of several investment options offered by the Plan. Participants can make qualifying contributions of 2% to 5% of their basic compensation, which the Employers match on a 50% basis. Additional participant contributions of up to 11% of their basic compensation are also permitted, subject to statutory limitations. Employers' matching contributions are invested in United Wisconsin Services, Inc. Common Stock in the UWSI Common Stock Fund. The UWSI Common Stock Fund included $4,177,670 of plan assets that were not participant directed at December 31, 1998. The American Medical Security Group Common Stock Fund included $4,146,996 of plan assets that were not participant directed at December 31, 1997. See Note 2 for more information regarding the creation of these stock funds. Earnings of the Plan are allocated daily to individual participant accounts, as defined in the Plan. The participants' contributions and earnings thereon are 100% vested at all times. Participants' contributions may be withdrawn, subject to certain limitations, prior to termination of participation in the Plan. Earnings thereon may be withdrawn only upon termination of employment. Employers' contributions and earnings thereon become vested based on years of service and may be withdrawn only upon termination of employment. Employees may enter the Plan following the completion of one year of service with no minimum age requirement. Forfeited Employers' contributions are used to offset subsequent Employer contributions. Although they have not expressed any intent to do so, the Employers have the right under the Plan to discontinue their contributions at any time and to terminate the Plan subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). In the event of Plan termination, participants' Employers' contribution accounts will become 100% vested. A description of the Plan is summarized in the SUMMARY PLAN DESCRIPTION, which can be obtained from the Plan administrator. 5 2. DESCRIPTION OF THE SPIN-OFF TRANSACTION On May 27, 1998, the Board of Directors of American Medical Security Group, Inc. (AMSG) (formerly United Wisconsin Services, Inc.) approved a formal plan to spin off its managed care companies and specialty business to its shareholders. The spin-off involved the creation of a new corporation originally named Newco/UWS, Inc., subsequently renamed United Wisconsin Services, Inc. The spin-off resulted in the distribution of one share of common stock of UWSI on September 25, 1998 (Spin-off date) for each share of AMSG common stock held as of September 11, 1998. AMSG received a private letter ruling from the Internal Revenue Service that the spin-off is tax free to AMSG, UWSI and their shareholders. 3. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES INVESTMENT VALUATION Certain assets of the Plan are held by American Express Trust Company under a master trust agreement dated July 1, 1996, under which the assets of the Plan are segregated and invested separately from the remainder of the trust's funds. Investments are valued at fair value based on quoted market prices, except for participant loans, which are valued at their current outstanding balances, which approximate fair value. CONTRIBUTIONS Contributions from participants are recorded in the period the Employers make corresponding payroll deductions. Contributions from the Employers are recorded based upon amounts required to be contributed as determined by the Plan. ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES With the exception of fees on personal loans, all administrative expenses in 1998 and 1997 were paid by the Employers. Forfeited Employers' contributions are used to offset subsequent Employer contributions. 6 3. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED) USE OF ESTIMATES The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Such estimates and assumptions could change in the future as more information becomes known, which could impact the amounts reported and disclosed herein. 4. INVESTMENTS Investments that represent 5% or more of the Plan's assets at either December 31, 1998 or 1997 are as follows: 1998 1997 ---------------------------------- United Wisconsin Services, Inc. Common Stock $ 2,565,089 $ - IDS Mutual Fund (Y) 8,249,470 7,833,142 IDS New Dimensions Fund (Y) 3,430,059 2,333,885 PIMCO Total Return Fund 4,601,983 4,009,283 American Express Trust Income Fund II 5,586,069 5,038,571 American Express Trust Equity Index Fund II 19,542,595 15,116,162 AIM Constellation Fund 2,981,834 2,288,686 American Medical Security Group, Inc. Common Stock 3,508,587 5,632,449 5. INCOME TAX STATUS The Plan has received a determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service dated May 1, 1995, stating that the Plan is qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (IRC) and, therefore, the related trust is exempt from taxation. Once qualified, the Plan is required to operate in conformity with the IRC to maintain its qualification. The Plan Administrator believes the Plan is being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the IRC and, therefore, believes that the Plan is qualified and the related trust is tax exempt. 6. YEAR 2000 (UNAUDITED) The Plan sponsor has determined that it will be necessary to take certain steps in order to ensure that the Plan's information systems are prepared to handle Year 2000 dates. The Plan sponsor is taking a two-phase approach. The first phase addresses internal systems that must be modified or replaced to function properly. Both internal and external 7 6. YEAR 2000 (UNAUDITED) (CONTINUED) resources are being utilized to replace or modify existing software applications, and test the software and equipment for the Year 2000 modifications. The Plan sponsor anticipates substantially completing this phase of the project by mid-1999. Costs associated with modifying software and equipment are not estimated to be significant and will be paid by the Plan sponsor. For the second phase of the project, Plan management established formal communications with its third-party service providers to determine that they have developed plans to address their own Year 2000 problems as they relate to the Plan's operations. Plan management is not aware of any third-party service providers with a Year 2000 issue. If modification of data processing systems of either the Plan, the Plan sponsor, or its service providers is not completed timely, the Year 2000 problem could have a material impact on the operations of the Plan. Plan management has not developed a contingency plan, because they are confident that all systems will be Year 2000 ready. 8 Supplemental Schedules UWSI/BCBSUW 401(k) Plan Employer Identification Number 39-0138065 Plan Number 336 Line 27(a) - Schedule of Assets Held for Investment Purposes December 31, 1998 DESCRIPTION OF INVESTMENT, INCLUDING MATURITY DATE, RATE OF INTEREST, IDENTITY OF ISSUE, BORROWER, COLLATERAL, UNITS, PAR OR CURRENT LESSOR OR SIMILAR PARTY MATURITY VALUE COST VALUE - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- American Express Trust Income Fund II 302,899 $ 5,065,654 $ 5,586,069 American Express Trust Equity Index Fund II 588,526 11,641,543 19,542,595 PIMCO Total Return Fund 436,621 4,540,954 4,601,983 IDS Mutual Fund (Y) 633,405 8,599,191 8,249,470 AIM Constellation Fund 97,701 2,647,618 2,981,834 IDS New Dimensions Fund (Y) 118,913 2,887,317 3,430,059 Templeton Foreign Fund Class I 132,253 1,365,530 1,109,605 UWSI Common Stock Fund 387,114 3,676,174 2,565,089 AMSG Common Stock Fund 313,231 3,814,290 3,508,587 Participant loans Interest rates are 1% over the prime rate at the time of loan application; maturity dates vary with terms of 5 years or less - 1,321,760 ----------------------------------- $44,238,271 $52,897,051 =================================== 9 UWSI/BCBSUW 401(k) Plan Employer Identification Number 39-0138065 Plan Number 336 Line 27(d) - Schedule of Reportable Transactions Year ended December 31, 1998 CURRENT VALUE OF ASSET ON NET PURCHASE SELLING COST OF TRANSACTION GAIN DESCRIPTION OF ASSETS PRICE PRICE ASSET DATE (LOSS) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ CATEGORY (III)--SERIES OF TRANSACTIONS IN EXCESS OF 5% OF ASSETS American Express Trust Equity $2,012,580 $ - $2,012,580 $2,012,580 $ - Index Fund II - 1,877,712 1,203,817 1,877,712 673,895 American Express Trust Income 1,498,207 - 1,498,207 1,498,207 - Fund II - 1,257,548 1,145,138 1,257,548 112,410 IDS Mutual Fund (Y) 2,032,966 - 2,032,966 2,032,966 - - 1,240,463 1,189,548 1,240,463 50,915 There were no category (i), (ii) or (iv) transactions during 1998. Lease Rental and "Expense Incurred with Transaction" are not applicable. 10 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the undersigned member of the Blue Cross & Blue Shield United of Wisconsin Employee Benefits Committee has duly caused this annual report to be signed as of the date set forth below. UWSI/BCBSUW 401(k) PLAN June 29, 1999 By: /s/ Gail L. Hanson -------------------------------------- Gail L. Hanson, a member of the Blue Cross & Blue Shield United of Wisconsin Employee Benefits Committee