This fall, your organization needs to decide which ELCA-Primary health benefit option to offer plan members in 2014, even if none of your plan members have ELCA health benefits today.
In 2014, the ELCA Health Benefits Plan will offer four ELCA-Primary health benefit options instead of one. The options differ in contribution amounts for sponsoring employers and costs for plan members. Before Employer Selection begins, you need to understand the new 2014 options and consider how your choices will affect your organization and plan members.
The ELCA Church Council has recommended that in order to maintain the current level of health benefits for our rostered leaders and lay church workers, congregations offer to provide the Gold+ ELCA health plan option in 2014 for their rostered leaders and lay church workers. The Gold + option most closely resembles the 2013 ELCA Primary health coverage. Having all congregations choose the Gold + health plan option will both continue to care for the health of all who serve under call or terms of employment and eliminate many of the variables facing congregations and rostered leaders and lay church workers in the midst of change.
Sept. 16 – Oct. 14, 2013: Employer Selection
During Employer Selection, you will enter your health benefit selection on EmployerLink, inform plan members of your selection, and encourage them to sign in at myPortico to generate their own Personal Comparison Report and use the other Open Enrollment resources.
Nov. 1 – 22, 2013: Plan Member Enrollment
Beginning Nov. 1, you will be able to use the Employee 2014 Open Enrollment Summary to track which employees have completed open enrollment and which need a reminder to enroll by Nov. 22. Remind those who haven’t enrolled to sign in to myPortico to make 2014 benefit elections.
- Plan members will either enroll in the health benefit option your organization selected, buy up to another option and pay the cost difference through payroll withholding, or waive health benefits if they qualify.
- Plan members must make important decisions about enrolling in tax-advantaged accounts and supplemental and dependent life insurance:
- Health flexible spending account (FSA) if they have the Platinum+ or Gold+ health benefit option
- Health savings account (HSA) if they have the Silver+ or Bronze+ health benefit option
- Dependent (day) care flexible spending account (FSA)
- Supplemental and dependent life insurance
