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.
- - -
About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
