We’re gearing up for Member Benefits Open Enrollment Nov. 4-15. 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 2025 Member Benefits Open Enrollment Guide and more!
If you’re offering your workers the Concordia Health Plan (CHP) in 2025, we’ll also send your workers (as well as any enrolled dependent not living at the primary member’s address) a packet with their 2025 Summary(ies) of Benefits & Coverage and legal notices.
We’ve created a webpage for employers with 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 dependents/beneficiaries.
If you need additional help, resources to support your workers, or to set up Member Benefits Sessions, contact your Account Manager.
Join us for a webinar Oct. 23 at 1 p.m. CT to get a sneak peek of Open Enrollment for your workers. We’ll share action items for your workers, provide a look at the online enrollment process for workers and demo Open Enrollment reports you can run in the Employer Portal.
Recently we sent an email to employers and members with a personalized link to a Concordia Plans (CPS) survey that covers the benefits we offer, your experience with CPS and the resources available to you. Your feedback is important! It helps guide our direction and improves how we serve you. We review every response we receive because we really do care what you think. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
Annual Compensation Reports
Annual Compensation Reports (ACR) are necessary to ensure accurate billing and proper benefits for your workers. More information regarding 2025 ACR submissions will be available soon. If you still need to submit your 2024 ACR, please contact CPS at 888-927-7526 or [email protected].
HR & Compliance made simple
CPS has partnered with Mineral, a leader in HR Solutions, to bring HR Services as a solution for our employers. Mineral’s premium Human Resources platform seamlessly integrates live advisor expertise, innovative technology, and comprehensive instructional content, offering a user-friendly experience and time-saving features.
Join us for an informative webinar Oct. 9 at 1 p.m. CT to walk you through the tools and resources available to you. We’ll show you how to:
Consult your Mineral HR Experts.
Create your Employee Handbook that's never out-of-date.
Assign training to your employees from a catalog of hundreds of interactive courses.
Navigate a multitude of HR compliance resources, tools and templates.
While you’re focused on your active workers making their benefit elections, retirees who served your ministry are making elections, too.
CPS Medicare Open Enrollment runs Oct. 9-Nov. 12. Here are some helpful resources, in case you should receive any questions:
2025 State of Medicare Guide
Due to the changes from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), all retirees will see prescription drug coverage changes effective Jan. 1. This guide, created by CPS and our Medicare partner (Amwins), simplifies how the changes affect CPS Medicare options.
CPS Medicare Open Enrollment materials
We’ve streamlined our CPS coverage into three plan options to best benefit our retirees. Open Enrollment materials include an Enrollment Guide, FAQs and a comparison chart that can all be found on our website.
Medicare and CPS Medicare options recorded webinar
New this year, retirees can watch a recorded webinar (co-hosted by CPS and Amwins) that explains the basics of the Medicare 2025 changes and our CPS Medicare options.
Amwins Customer Care
Retirees (or active workers approaching Medicare age) can call CPS Medicare Customer Support through Amwins with questions at 877-517-1409, or they can schedule an appointment for a personal consultation.
The work of serving the church comes in many forms and each plays an important role in our LCMS community. The LCMS values the dedication of these individuals and has set aside special days throughout the year to show gratitude for their tireless efforts.
This October, there are two important opportunities to recognize and appreciate specific church workers.
Oct. 13 is Pastor Appreciation Day.
Oct. 25 is Deaconess, Director of Family Life Ministry, Director of Christian Outreach and Director of Church Ministries Appreciation Day.
Together, these observances remind us of the incredible work happening in our ministries every day.
CPS wants to express our gratitude to all these workers who serve in these important roles and work together to help carry out the mission of the church.
MEMBER PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT
Evernorth Confide Behavioral Health Navigator
Life’s challenges can affect your workers’ overall well-being, so it’s important they make mental health care a priority. Sometimes that’s difficult to do when your workers can’t find the care they need, feel uncomfortable seeking care or don’t know where to start, so they may delay getting help.
With the Evernorth Confide Behavioral Health Navigator, CHP members and anyone living in their households can get the help they need.
Through Evernorth Confide’s enhanced Employee Assistance Program (EAP), they’ll have access to expanded mental healthcare solutions, including personalized navigation designed to break down the most common barriers to getting behavioral health care.
Immediate 24/7/365 access to clinical help.
Appointment within three days of a request to talk to a counselor.
Digital self-guided assessment and support.
Immediate connection with and continuous support from a Care Navigator.
Eight free sessions per topic (from family to financial issues to substance abuse, emotional health and stress), per year.
Mobile app with digital tools for self-care.
Encourage your workers to connect with Evernorth Confide!
Members who previously registered will need to re-register on the new website app.evernorth.com, which replaces well.evernorth.com. You can also download the new Evernorth app, replacing the Well by Evernorth app.
Important: To register, use the Employer ID: CONCORDIA. For the Pastoral Support Network through Evernorth, use Employer ID: PASTOR.
Financial Wellness Corner
Social Security benefits are a big piece of your workers’ retirement puzzle, but they may not know how it fits into their overall retirement plan. Our Financial Educators will be covering Social Security benefits, including how they are calculated, at this month’s financial wellness webinar. Copy and paste this invitation and share it with your workers!
Subject: Social Security Planning
Do you know how your Social Security benefits fit into your overall retirement plan? Join the CPS Financial Educators Oct. 17 at 10 a.m. CT to learn how your Social Security benefits are calculated, where you can find your projected benefits, the pros and cons of starting your benefit early or later, and how they fit with your Concordia Retirement Plan (CRP) pension benefits and Concordia Retirement Savings Plan (CRSP) 403(b) retirement savings. Even if you can’t join the live webinar, you can register, and they will send you a link to the recording.
Upcoming member communications
Here’s a snapshot of the communications we’ll send your workers this month (they may also receive additional communications from our vendors):
Members and employers are invited to share their opinions and experiences with CPS through a survey.
Member Open Enrollment for 2025 benefits
Members will receive an email and mailer directing them to ConcordiaPlans.org/OpenEnrollment for resources to help prepare for choosing their 2025 benefits.
Evernorth Confide
Oct. 10 is World Mental Health Day, a reminder that mental wellness is equally as important as physical health and needs to be a priority.
Member Portal
Members will receive an email encouraging them to make sure they can log in to the Member Portal; check that their email is updated in their profile if necessary.
Quarterly Benefits Connector
The Benefits Connector email encourages members to plan their wellness journey and destination. These segmented emails go to members based on their plan enrollments and eligibilities.
Meet a Financial Educator Event
Members can register for our next “Meet a Financial Educator” event the week of Nov. 4.
