The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those wh

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• The elders who direct the affairs of the church
  well are worthy of double honor, especially those
  whose work is preaching and teaching. . . The
  worker deserves his wages. -- 1 Timothy 517-18
• The pastoral committee shall seek to provide for
  the pastors welfare, including remuneration.
  Manual of Doctrine and Government, Article XVI,
  Section 2, E

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• 2005 Brotherhood Health Plan discontinued due to
  declining participation
• 9/07-12/07 Task force explores options for
  re-instituting a denominationally sponsored
  health plan and solicits advice from pastors and
  congregations

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• 1/08-2/08 Potential health plan designed and
  approved in principle by the General Conference
  Board
• 2/08-5/08 Case for a denominationally sponsored
  health plan made at regional conferences, along
  with details of the proposed plan

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• 3/08-5/08 Proposed health plan presented to
  pastors and congregational leaders at regional
  meetings
• 6/08 Delegates to General Conference affirm the
  concept of a denominational health plan and the
  expectation of participation

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• 7/08-9/08 Regional meetings and church-by-church
  conversations
• 9/15/08 Waive deadline
• 10/3/08 Enrollment deadline
• 1/09 Coverage begins for employees of churches
  enrolled in the BIC Church Health Plan

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• The goal To provide high quality health benefits
  for BIC pastors and other church workers at
  competitive rates.

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• Stewardship We are committed to focusing
  congregational dollars most effectively on
  ministry priorities.
• Community (or brotherhood) We are committed to
  caring for one another within our immediate and
  extended church family.

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• A BIC Health Plan must
• Offer guaranteed insurability.
• Provide portability across the U.S.
• Provide international coverage.
• Provide competitive pricing.

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• A BIC Health Plan must
• Include maternity coverage.
• Give local churches choices.
• Be adaptable into the future.

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• External challenges
• Volatile national health care climateEscalating
  and uncertain health care costs

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• BIC-specific challenges
• Wide variety in congregational size, resources,
  and cultural contexts
• National scope of the church
• Competition from regional providers
• Attracting and maintaining adequate participation
  levels

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• Criteria in selecting a provider
• National provider network
• Flexibility in rate and benefit structure
• Experience with denominational plans
• Willing to base premiums on BIC health experience
• Solid company financials
• Fit with BIC mission and core values

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• MMA Insurance Company
• Selected as the plan administrator based on rate
  and benefit flexibility
• Highmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield PPO
• Selected as the provider network based on
  national brand acceptance, extensive network of
  doctors and facilities, negotiated/discounted
  rates, and international coverage

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Stop loss insurance (Catastrophic insurance
coverage)
Brethren In Christ Base Fund
Deductible (either 2,000/4,000 or
3,000/6,000)
Preventive services (covered 1st dollar NOT
SUBJECT TO DEDUCTIBLE)
Blues on Call 24/7 hotline
Optional dental vision plans are available
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Step 1 Determine if church has eligible
employees/waives

• Eligibility criteria
• Credentialed pastor at 24 or more hours a week
• Staff member at 36 or more a week

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Step 1 Determine if church has eligible
employees/waives

• Employees may waive coverage if receiving group
  health insurance through spouse or Medicare
• All of a churchs eligible employees must have a
  valid waive for a church to be excused from
  participation in the BIC Health Plan.

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If the church HAS eligible employees
If the church DOES NOT HAVE eligible employees
Explore the possibility of the churchs
participation in the BIC Health Plan
Submit Employer Enrollment Form (1 per
church) Employee Enrollment Form (1 per eligible
employee) indicating that coverage is being
waived. Waive deadline September 15
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Step 2 If your church has eligible employees,
explore participation in the BIC Health Plan.
If the decision is yes to the possibility of
participation
If the decision is no to the possibility of
participation
Complete and submit the decline form, along with
the minutes from the church board meeting at
which the decision not to participate was
approved

• Select a deductible amount,
• Determine how the
• deductible will be handled
• Consider possible additional
• insurance coverage

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• Church boards that choose not to enroll in the
  BIC Church Health Plan should understand that
• There will not be an annual open enrollment
  period for the BIC Health Plan.
• If in the future the church decides to
  participate in the BIC Health Plan, churches must
  go through the underwriting process and may be
  declined enrollment based on their total health
  risk assessment.

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• Two deductible options
• 2,000 or 3,000 deductible for individuals
• 4,000 or 6,000 deductible for family
• Both options are a true aggregate deductible

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• Health Savings Account (HSA) A trust account
  owned by the employee for the purpose of paying
  for medical expenses not covered by the
  employers health plan.
• Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) An
  arrangement by the church to reimburse the pastor
  and other church employees for all or part of
  their out-of-pocket deductible expenses up to a
  set amount per year.

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• Three ways to fund the HSA
• The church funds the HSA.
• The employee funds the HSA.
• The employee and the church share in funding the
  HSA.
• It is NOT required that the HSA is funded
• completely.

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• Two options for establishing an HRA
• Option A 100 reimbursement by the church of the
  deductible amount.
• Option B 70 reimbursement by the church of the
  deductible amount.

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• Dental and vision insurance is optional, and
  churches can choose
• Dental only
• Vision only
• Dental and vision
• Neither dental nor vision
• All employees must select the same option.
• Churches can stay with current plans.

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Step 3 The church board approves the churchs
enrollment in the Brethren in Christ Health Plan.
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Step 4 The church submits enrollment forms and
establishes HSA or HRA accounts.
Employer Enrollment Form (Form A) 1 per church
Employee Enrollment Form (Form B) 1 per
eligible employee
Enrollment deadline October 3, 2008
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Step 5 The church is enrolled in the plan. All
current and future employees are now eligible to
participate in the Brethren in Christ Church
Health Plan without underwriting.