Get ready for the 2024 Employer Benefits Election by registering for one of the Town Halls scheduled throughout August. The Town Halls will cover Concordia Health Plan changes and rates, employer election details, and member open enrollment timeline. There will also be dedicated time for a Q&A session. Register by clicking on one of the following dates:
2024 Employer Renewal Notices and Employer Election
Keep an eye on your mailbox for your 2024 Employer Renewal Notice. This includes an overview of your ministry’s 2023 Concordia Plans elections and rates for 2024. If your ministry is enrolled in the Concordia Health Plan, you will see a comparison of your 2023 and 2024 CHP rates.
If your ministry is pleased with your current CHP option(s), no further action is needed – your CHP elections will automatically renew for 2024. If you are considering offering different or additional CHP option(s), please contact your Account Manager. If you decide to make changes, your Account Manager will complete your elections for you. Please note that all employer elections must be completed by Sept. 15 to secure CHP member ID cards for your workers in January. Again, if CPS does not hear from you prior to Sept. 15, your current CHP option(s) will automatically renew for 2024.
Last year two changes were made to the Concordia Retirement Plan to strengthen the commitment we make with LCMS ministries to care for workers in retirement. The changes further align the CRP with industry best practices, and to help make sure ministries are aware, we’re spotlighting them this month.
The withdrawal liability provision recognizes the strength brought to the CRP when ministries walk together. Depending on the current funding status of the plan, ministries that choose to leave the CRP may be charged their portion of the liability to cover the accrued retirement benefits of their active and retired workers.
The age 21 provision imposes a minimum age for enrollment in the CRP. This change was made in response to ministry feedback, and workers under age 21 are still eligible to participate in other applicable plans. Workers under 21 who were previously enrolled remained in the Plan.
Both provisions are in effect now. Please contact your ministry’s Account Manager with any questions.
Additional eSign forms available
In June we introduced our first form with digital signature capability, and we are excited to share that seven additional eSign forms are now available. When you complete the digital signature process through Adobe Sign, the form is submitted securely to Concordia Plans. This means no additional action is needed by you and there is no printing or scanning required. The eSign forms can be found on our website on the “Employer Forms” page and are noted as “eSign Forms.”
Soon, you will be able to submit digital signatures for forms that require completion and signatures from both you and your worker(s). Although the digital signature process is simple and seamless, there are some things you should know about submitting digital signatures for 2-signature forms.
The worker should complete their required sections first. You can initiate this by providing a link to the digital form to your worker. After completing and submitting a digital signature, the worker will be prompted to enter the employer benefit representative’s name and e-mail address. The worker will receive a copy of the signed document via e-mail AFTER you’ve completed your portion and provided your digital signature.
The employer representative (you) will receive an email at the email address the worker provided with a link to review and sign the digital form. After reviewing the worker’s entries, completing your required sections and submitting your digital signature, the form will be submitted securely to Concordia Plans. You and your worker will receive a completed copy via e-mail for your records only. You do not need to send it to Concordia Plans.
Introduce your new board members to Shareboard
It’s a new school year and a new season! Whether your ministry has newly elected school or church board members (or even those who have been serving for a while), they’ll benefit from connecting and having conversations with others in similar roles. These conversations are happening now on Shareboard.
Shareboard is an online LCMS community where lay leaders can connect and learn, as well as share information, best practices and experiences, to help support one another nationwide. Join conversations around:
How do you gather feedback from parents or congregation members?
How often does your board review and update your ministry’s personnel handbook?
How do you attract talent to your ministry?
More than 350 lay leaders across the LCMS have joined Shareboard. And there’s NO COST to join. Please share this valuable resource with your board members – they’ll thank you for it!
The monthly Group-Term Life Report indicating changes to your workers’ imputed income was not mailed in July. Reports regarding changes that occurred in June and July will be mailed in August. Please contact CPS at 888-927-7526 with questions in the interim.
Additional information regarding Group-Term Life Reports:
The Concordia Disability and Survivor Plan pays death benefits to beneficiaries upon the death of an enrolled worker or an enrolled dependent.
These benefits have been ruled by the IRS as taxable group-term life insurance benefits.
To help your ministry more accurately adjust payroll deductions for this taxable benefit, CPS mails an annual GTL Report for all of your workers at the beginning of each year, followed by a monthly mailing that includes changes only. If your workforce has no changes from the previous report, a new report will not be sent that month.
The monthly change report was not mailed in June or July. Changes that occurred in the month of June and July will be mailed in August.
CPS adds more Lutheran counselors to EAP counseling network
Stress, anxiety and frustration weighs on us daily – at work and home. Help your workers find someone to talk to using the Concordia Plans Employee Assistance Program (EAP). And with 100+ Lutheran counselors recently added, your workers can more easily find a counselor who aligns with their faith.
Because Concordia Plans cares about your workers and their mental health, Concordia Health Plan members have access to thousands of counselors through the EAP. Recognizing that sometimes it may be important to specifically talk with a Christian counselor, CPS has recently added more than 100 Lutheran counselors to the EAP counselor network. CHP members can now easily find a counselor who is aligned with their faith and counsels them in a way that they feel listened to and understood, but most importantly seeks God’s wisdom in his or her counsel. While EAP doesn’t feature a search for Lutheran counselors, they are found within the Christian and faith-based specialties when searching for a counselor in the EAP.
Workers in the CHP have access to EAP counselors nationwide via virtual counseling or they can talk to a counselor in person, which is available in many states. Remind them that the EAP provides six, free counseling sessions for each situation/topic – from family to financial issues to substance abuse, emotional health and stress.
Here’s a snapshot of the emails we’ll send your workers this month (they may also receive additional communications from our vendors):
Financial Tool survey
We are inviting members to participate in a survey to share their opinions on our financial tools, resources and solutions.
Wondr Health for weight loss
This month we’ll remind workers enrollment for the next Wondr class is Aug. 14-27. The program begins Sept. 11 and aims to help registered participants learn how to enjoy their favorite fall foods and while managing their weight. Wondr comes at no cost to CHP members, spouses and covered dependents age 18 and over.
Mental Health
Members will learn about the addition of 100+ Lutheran counselors to the Christian counselor network in EAP and can access them here.