‘Administrative Basics' webinar June 21 at 1 p.m. CT
Join us for our monthly “Administrative Basics" webinar, which introduces employers to Concordia Plans and provides fundamental instruction regarding Plan administration, as well as a question and answer session. Whether you are a new employer or an existing employer wanting a refresher, this webinar is for you. This webinar is held every month, so if the June date doesn’t work for your schedule, you can choose a future webinar that is convenient for you.
We are blessed to provide benefits today, while helping workers prepare for their future. As you can imagine, a lot happens behind the scenes to ensure the Plans are properly managed and we’re meeting our fiduciary responsibilities, so we’re inviting you to pull back that curtain and have a look.
We’re pleased to introduce a new report about how we serve ministries and workers of the LCMS – The Stewardship Report – which shares information about how we manage the contributions entrusted to us that provide benefits through the Concordia Plans.
The Stewardship Report shows how we’re diligently working to manage the investments and assets of the Plans, carefully monitoring healthcare costs, and thinking one step ahead to serve workers now and into their retirement.
Go ahead - take a closer look at how we're serving the ministries and workers of the LCMS. And we encourage you to share the report with your lay leaders or anyone who has an interest in how we manage Plan contributions. We're proud to share our expertise with LCMS ministries in service of their workers.
Did you know that if you are enrolled in the Concordia Health Plan, you have access to Cigna Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Wellness Webcasts? These webcasts include both wellness seminars and management trainings. You can register for a live event or use the on-demand replay to listen at your convenience. As employer leaders, we recommend watching “Managers: Mental Health at Work” which covers signs of mental health distress and ways to support your workers. Visit cigna.com/EAPWebcasts for more information.
Update: Mailed invoices and Member Cost File report
We recently told you the June invoice mailing would include a Member Cost File report that provides details on recent benefit changes for your workers that affect payroll deductions. As we transition to our new billing system, this report is being developed.
While we are unable to include the Member Cost File report in the invoice mailings at this time, once it’s available, it will be included in future invoice mailings. If you have questions, please contact us at 888-927-7526 or [email protected].
New website navigation: Quick Links
We’ve recently updated our website navigation to include a convenient way to find links to the 90 Degree Benefits Service Center, HealthEquity Employer Site and Further Employer Site. Visit ConcordiaPlans.org, click the "Employers" tab in the main navigation and then click the "Resources" drop-down menu. You will see the links to these sites under the Quick Links header. We hope you find this update helpful.
New portal experiences
Last month we introduced new online portals for employers and members. We segmented the Employer Portal rollout based on many factors, with our goal to provide the best CPS experience for all employers. For some employers that means accessing the portal to administer benefits, run reports, or view and pay invoices. Other employers prefer not to access the Employer Portal. If you are interested in exploring different options to access the new portal as an employer, please contact your Account Manager or CPS at 888-927-7526.
All members can use the new Member Portal, which offers a better experience with more efficient access and benefit management. All members must register prior to logging in to the new portal. To register, members can go to ConcordiaPlans.org, click "My Account," select "Member Login," then "Register." If members have questions or need help managing benefits, they can reach out to CPS at 888-927-7526 or [email protected].
Update on ACH auto payment deduction date
If you use the new Employer Portal to view and pay your invoices online, you may have noticed the “End of Month” option is not available in the ACH deduction date selection list. We had hoped this functionality would be available and had recommended using this option in our introductory webinars. Based on current functionality, we recommend selecting the 28th of the month for your recurring payment date. Payment dates that fall on the weekend or a holiday are processed the next business day. By selecting the 28th of the month, you can “set it and forget it” and know your payment deduction will be pulled in the month the bill is due.
New eSign forms available
As part of our ongoing commitment to serve you better, we’re introducing forms with digital signatures! These enhanced forms can be completed, signed and submitted online – no printing or scanning required. The first eSign form is located on our website at www.ConcordiaPlans.org/Forms in the Enrollment and Status Changes section. We will add more eSign forms as they become available.
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 Webinar
Our June 15 webinar is “Finances for New Parents.” Our educators are ready to help workers budget for a new bundle of joy.
Meet a Financial Educator event
Our next “Meet the Financial Educator” event will be held the week of July 10. Workers will be sent an invitation to register for the event in late June.
Member Portal
Members who haven’t registered for the new Member Portal will be sent a reminder to register and access their portal.