ELCA News Blog
June 5, 2009  

ELCA saves $167,000 on 2009 health benefits costs so far

by Frank Imhoff, ELCA News Service*

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is saving up to $167,000 this year on health benefits costs because of discounts from the ELCA Board of Pensions, Minneapolis, according to the Board's May 28 news release.  The ELCA's 65 synods, eight seminaries and other churchwide ministries are eligible for the discounts. They earn 2 percent discounts on ELCA health contributions when 75 percent of their respective employees and spouses, who receive ELCA-primary health benefits, complete an online Mayo Clinic Health Assessment.

Reaching the 75 percent mark in April were the ELCA Northwest Synod of Wisconsin, Rice Lake, which saved $40,000; Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago ($13,000) and Wartburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa ($11,000). They join the ELCA Board of Pensions ($43,000); Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn. ($33,000); Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, Pa. ($10,000); Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, Columbia, S.C. ($8,000); and Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, Ohio ($9,000), which earned discounts for 2009.

Plan members and spouses who complete the health assessment receive a $100 credit that goes into a personal wellness account to offset out-of-pocket medical costs. The ELCA Board of Pensions said it developed the financial incentive to encourage the health plan's eligible pastors, church workers and spouses to tend to their well-being by using health benefits proactively. The 2009 Mayo Clinic Health Assessment is open to plan members through Sept. 30.

*Information provided by Kami Lund, marketing and communications, ELCA Board of Pensions