It’s time to prepare for Employer Benefits Election!
The timeline for selecting your ministry’s 2023 health care options is Aug. 1 - Sept. 7. By choosing the best Concordia Health Plan options for your ministry’s 2023 health care coverage, you’ll be taking a great step toward helping your workers in their health and wellness journeys.
We’ve created an Employer Benefits Election information and resource hub on our website. We suggest you bookmark this page and check back often for updates! Here you will find:
Digital version of your Employer Benefits Election Guide.
New this year: We’re going green and have chosen to not mail printed guides. However, the digital version is printer-friendly, so you can print it if you prefer a physical copy!
Overviews of all 2023 CHP options, including dental and vision.
We encourage you to reach out to your account manager to discuss your health plan options. Don’t forget – you can take advantage of the town hall and webinar opportunities listed below for more Employer Benefits Election insight.
Starting Aug. 1, you can access your CHP rates via the Employer Election Tool located on the employer portal. Visit ConcordiaPlans.org/myaccount, and once you log in you’ll find a direct link to the tool under “Quick Links.”
District town halls about Concordia Health Plan
Account managers will be working with their District business administrators to schedule virtual town halls to discuss the 2023 Employer Benefits Election. These town halls will cover CHP options and information on what to expect during the Employer Benefits Election time period, as well as include the opportunity to ask questions during a Q&A.
Town halls kick off July 12 and run through the end of July, leading up to the Employer Benefits Elections, which begins Aug. 1. Look for an invitation from either your account manager or your District office!
Register for our '2023 Employer Benefits Election' webinar
In addition to the District town halls, we encourage you to register for one of our upcoming Employer Benefits Election webinars that will include benefits election information, an overview of the CHP and a demo of the Employer Election Tool. Choose the date that works best for you:
Only portal plan administrators have access to the Employer Election Tool, so take the time now to review your employer portal administrator’s roles. To check role assignments:
Log in to your employer portal.
Click on the “Admin Profile” button from the blue menu bar.
Review the role options which include Plan Administrator, HR Administrator, Financial Administrator and HR Read-Only.
If you need to update your portal roles, please have your plan administrator contact Concordia Plans at 888-927-7526 or email [email protected].
At Concordia Plans, we strive to ensure that the tools and resources we offer are meeting the needs of our ministries and their workers. This month we will be reaching out to employers AND members to gather opinions on our financial tools, resources and solutions. Be on the lookout for an email with a survey link mid-July.
Concordia Plans and your ministry have a shared interest: caring for your workers. In fact, it’s why we were created by the Synod nearly 60 years ago and today offer solutions that will help workers at any stage of their health and financial wellness journeys. We’ve dedicated a place on our website for workers to easily connect with physical, emotional and financial wellness resources. We've also included information from other LCMS groups who have resources that can help your workers be well, including Synod-wide entities and recognized service organizations.
You can find all these resources and solutions on our “Caring for You” page. We encourage you to check out this page and share it with your workers.
As of July 1, 2022, any newly hired workers will have to be age 21 or older to enroll in the Concordia Retirement Plan. If a newly hired worker is under age 21, he or she will not be enrolled in the CRP until he or she reaches age 21 (this will be done automatically at that time). However, new workers under age 21 still need to be reported to CPS as they should be eligible for enrollment in the Concordia Disability and Survivor Plan, and, if applicable, the Concordia Health Plan and Concordia Retirement Savings Plan 403(b). Invoices will reflect the correct enrollments for these workers.
New look for pension payments
Beginning Sept. 1, Concordia Plans will partner with Northern Trust Company to process Concordia Retirement Plan pension benefit payment deposits and checks. They have been carefully selected due to their best-in-class practices and expertise, and their long-standing relationship with CPS.
There will be no changes to retirees’/surviving spouses’ benefit amounts, no interruption to benefit payments and no action required.
However, there will be differences in the appearance and wording used on their pension payments. Because some retirees may turn to their former employer for additional information, we wanted to keep you in the loop regarding these changes. To help explain this transition in more detail, we created a webpage with additional information and samples of communications sent to retirees. Visit ConcordiaPlans.org/NorthernTrust to learn more.
Concordia Plans has been named a “Top Workplace in St. Louis” for the second straight year! The award is based on survey responses from our own staff … so, what does this mean for ministries and members? We hope the caring and collaborative working environment we’ve created for our own team is reflected in the way they serve you. We care about those we serve (and of course, each other!) and work together to support you as you spread the Word. Through our daily interactions with ministries and members, you’re a big part of what makes CPS a “Top Workplace!”
New BeFine app provides your workers free financial planning
A new financial resource for workers – the BeFine app – is coming soon to help your workers prepare for retirement. This free app is easy to use, automatically connects with the Concordia Retirement Plan pension and Concordia Retirement Savings Plan 403(b) and will provide workers with guidance on budgeting and improving their financial health. With BeFine your workers can:
Track expenses.
Create personal budgets.
Prioritize debt.
Understand the best path to retirement readiness.
See the benefits you are providing. And more!
BeFine is here to assist your workers in their journeys to financial freedom.
Upcoming member communications
Here’s a snapshot of the emails we’ll send your workers this month (they may also receive additional communications from our vendors):
Financial Wellness Education webinar series
Our next financial education webinar "Health care in retirement” will be held July 21 at 10 a.m and 4 p.m. CT.
July Benefits Connector
The July Benefits Connector email highlights the ways we care for workers with a variety of health and financial wellness solutions.
Financial Tool Awareness & Usage Survey
We are inviting members to participate in a survey to share their opinions on our financial tools, resources and solutions.
Included Health
If a CHP member has received a diagnosis this summer and wants a second opinion, he/she can look to IncludedHealth.com/ConcordiaPlans and get an expert opinion at no extra cost and without another office visit.
Mental Health
Self-care, anxiety and God’s plan for your life – not easy things to tackle but we’re here to help through LCMS resources. Visit Concordia Publishing Houseand use code CPSR for a 20% discount on items such as books, Bibles, devotionals and music.
Wondr
Apply between July 11 and 24 to participate in the next Wondr class, which kicks off Aug. 8. It’s a great time to learn the skills for weight loss while still being able to enjoy the summer cuisine you love!
