ELCA News Blog
September 25, 2009  

It's the final stretch for the ELCA's 2009 health assessment

by Frank Imhoff, ELCA News Service

People in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) primary health plan are approaching a Sept. 30 deadline. ELCA pastors, associates in ministry, deaconesses, diaconal ministers, employees and their eligible spouses have been able to take the online 2009 Mayo Clinic Health Assessment since Jan. 1. Those completing the assessment by Sept. 30 earn $100 to offset out-of-pocket medical expenses, and they have until Nov. 30 to earn an additional $300 by completing various health improvement activities. The financial incentive was developed by the ELCA Board of Pensions to encourage the health plan's members to tend to their well-being by taking at least one small step each year to consider the state of their health.

ELCA synods, seminaries and churchwide ministries earn a 2 percent discount on health contributions for the rest of 2009, once 75 percent of their respective eligible ELCA-primary plan members and spouses complete the assessment. Six seminaries, five synods and the ELCA Board of Pensions have already earned the discount this year, collectively saving nearly $253,000.

The ELCA Board of Pensions is collecting opinions on why only six in 10 health plan members have taken the assessment, despite the $100 and 2 percent discount incentives.