We’re gearing up for Member Benefits Open Enrollment Nov. 1- 17*. We’ll send your workers a postcard in the coming days announcing these dates and guiding them to the Member Benefits Open Enrollment webpage. There they can find the electronic 2024 Member Benefits Open Enrollment Guide, an OE checklist and more! If you are offering your workers the Concordia Health Plan in 2024, we’ll also send them, as well as any enrolled dependent not living at the primary member’s address, a packet with their 2024 Summary(ies) of Benefits & Coverage and legal notices.
We’ve created a webpage for employerswith quick access to the resources you need to engage with your workers about selecting benefit options. Even if your ministry doesn’t participate in the CHP, your workers are encouraged to participate in Member Benefits Open Enrollment because it’s important for them to review their financial benefits and beneficiaries.
An additional resource for your ministry is a webinar – "Preparing Employers for 2024 Member Benefits Open Enrollment" – at 1 p.m. CT Oct. 25. You’ll get the details you need to help your workers through Open Enrollment.
*Cycle 1 Open Enrollment is Nov. 1-17 and Cycle 2 is Dec. 4-15. If you’re not sure which cycle your workers fall in, contact your Account Manager.
Upcoming webinar on further leveraging the CRSP 403(b)
The Concordia Retirement Savings Plan 403(b) provides workers a flexible and dependable way to save for their retirement. By offering the CRSP, you are helping pave the way for your workers to have a more secure retirement. But did you know there’s more your ministry can do?
Join our retirement experts Oct. 24 at 1 p.m. CT for our webinar: “Get the Most Out of the CRSP and Help Your Workers Do the Same.” The content will cover additional levers you can use, including AutoSave, employer match and educational resources.
Later this month, an email will be sent to employers and members with a personalized link to a Concordia Plans survey that covers the benefits we offer, your experience with Concordia Plans and the resources available to you. It will only take a few minutes to complete. Your feedback is important and helps guide our direction and improve how we serve you.
2024 updates to the Concordia Disability and Survivor Plan
The disability benefits you offer to your workers through the CDSP provides them with peace of mind, knowing that they will have income replacement in times of need. Beginning Jan. 1, 2024, the disability benefit provided through the CDSP will be updated with the following changes:
Elimination Period Update – amount of time between when disability begins and when disability benefit payments begin.
Seven-day elimination period (benefits begin on the eighth day from the date of disability).
Healthcare Coverage Update (for those enrolled in the Concordia Health Plan):
Members and all enrolled dependents will continue coverage in the CHP with contributions waived beginning at the fourth month.
Monthly stipend beginning the first Jan. 1, following the seventh month of disability.
Example: Disability begins Mar. 1, 2024, stipend begins Jan 1. 2025
TIP: To prepare for these changes, we recommend reviewing your Employee Handbook to ensure your current PTO policy reflects the update to the elimination period.
HR Services gets a new look – same great service
Our HR Services vendor, Mineral, has updated their platform to streamline and automate HR compliance processes. With this new platform, opportunities for assistance are at your fingertips: the “Get Help” button opens a robust Help Center, where you may take an HR Assessment to understand your compliance risks and gain access to templates, tools and resources.
Interested in learning more about HR Services? Visit ConcordiaPlans.org/HRto see how HR Services can help you and your ministry.
2024 Annual Compensation Reports
Annual Compensation Reports (ACR) are necessary to ensure accurate billing and proper benefits for your workers. More information regarding 2024 ACR submissions will be available soon.
If your worker is using the Member Portal to make a new election for the Concordia Retirement Savings Plan 403(b), or a change to his or her contribution amount, we’ll send both you (as the employer) and your worker a confirmation email within 48 hours. If the confirmation email is not received, your worker should verify the election in his or her Member Portal. If the election does not appear, then he or she should initiate a new election – or contact Concordia Plans for help.
Retirement Connection: Redesigned with worker success in mind
Retirement Connection was introduced more than a decade ago as a way for members to better understand their retirement pension benefits and initiate the retirement benefits process. In September we implemented a Retirement Connection redesign that is easier to navigate, displaying benefit information and providing valuable resources – your workers are going to love it!
They now can easily:
See the retirement pension benefits your ministry is providing.
View the different types of benefits they're earning and savings they're accumulating.
Model their retirement income to assist with planning.
Initiate their Concordia retirement benefits.
Access tools and resources for financial and retirement planning.
Retirees can use Retirement Connection to update some of their benefit information such as tax withholdings or bank account information.
Please encourage your workers to visit the new Retirement Connection and see the benefits you’re providing. They access Retirement Connection through the Member Portalor directly at retirementconnection.ehr.com.
Church Worker Appreciation Month: The perfect time to say THANK YOU
Congregations and school communities are encouraged to use the month of October to demonstrate appreciation not only for their pastors but for all workers in the parish and schools. The LCMS thanks God for the many faithful church workers who serve in congregations and schools across our Synod. Here are some resources to show your gratitude and support for your workers.
Encourage your workers to practice self-care
God has very specific plans for each of your workers. Encourage them to care for their mental and physical health because it’s of the utmost importance to God, and it should be to you, too. Talk to your workers about practicing self-care.
An ideal time to start the discussion is “World Mental Health Day” Oct. 10. A good source for self-care is through the Cigna Employee Assistance Program (EAP), available to workers enrolled in the Concordia Health Plan. In addition to confidential counseling resources, your workers can earn 50 Vitality Points for attending either a live or recorded EAP Wellness Webcast. Good mental health support and points – you can’t beat that!
Have your workers log in to powerofvitality.com to find an EAP Wellness Webcast that will help them make self-care a priority.
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):
Member Open Enrollment for 2024 benefits
Members will receive an email and mailer directing them to ConcordiaPlans.org/OpenEnrollment for resources to help prepare for choosing their 2024 benefits.
Financial Wellness Webinar
Our Oct. 19 webinar on “Healthcare in Retirement” will be held at 10 a.m. CT.
CPS Survey
Invitations are being sent to both workers and employers to share their opinions and experiences with Concordia Plans through a survey.
Benefits Connector e-newsletter
The Benefits Connector quarterly member e-newsletter highlights timely information and benefit resources. These emails are segmented based on members’ enrollments and eligibilities.
Personal Statement of Benefits
The quarterly update to the PSOB will be made in October and members will receive an email reminding them to look at theirs in the Member Portal Communication Center.
Retirement Connection
We will send workers communications encouraging them to visit the redesigned Retirement Connection website so they can learn more about the pension benefits you’re providing.
Meet a Financial Educator
We’re holding a special Meet-a-Financial-Educator event Nov. 6-9, where workers can make one-on-one virtual appointments with an educator to discuss financial and retirement planning.