The Health Assessment is Working

The ELCA Board of Pensions is reporting great news! The ELCA health plan contribution rate increase for sponsored members is being held to 2% in 2010 — partly a result of the improving health of plan members.

According to the Board of Pensions, it’s seeing favorable early signs that pastors, rostered leaders and lay employees are adopting healthy behaviors. Since the 2008 transition of the ELCA Health Benefits Plan to a wellness plan:

• potentially avoidable medical and pharmacy claims are down 3 percent from December 2007 to December 2008, bringing an estimated annual savings of $3 million
• 2 out of 3 plan members participating in Mayo Clinic’s lifestyle coaching program (a wellness plan feature) said they have been able to maintain their healthy behaviors six months after coaching ended
• of the more than 8,300 ELCA-primary plan members who completed the Mayo Clinic Health Assessment in both in 2008 and 2009, the reported percentage of participants at risk for specific medical and lifestyle conditions decreased in 10 of the 11 risk factors this year.

Call to Action!
Have you completed your assessment this year? Has your spouse? If you have ELCA-primary health coverage, take 30 minutes to:

• learn about your health strengths and risks
• earn your $150 to help offset your out-of-pocket medical costs
• do your part to keep health care costs down and leave more money for ELCA mission.

Take your assessment by April 30 to increase our chances of earning a synod-wide 2% discount on ELCA health contributions for 2010. We need 65% participation to receive the discount.

Take the assessment at www.elcaforwellness.org. Find instructions for how to register and take the assessment in Understand my benefits at www.elcabop.org.