Southern Ohio Synod. Evangelical Lutheran Church in America | The 2% Discount...How It Works and What You Can Do to Get It!

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01/08/2013

The 2% Discount...How It Works and What You Can Do to Get It!

What is the 2% Discount?

The 2% discount on health contributions is offered by Portico Benefit Services to reward seminaries, churchwide ministries and employers in synods with strong health assessment participation. Collectively, the ELCA can save $2.2 million if all synods (and employers within a synod), seminaries and churchwide ministries qualify for the discount.

How the 2% Discount is Earned

ELCA employers (i.e., congregation, seminary, organization) earn a 2% discount on the current year's ELCA health benefit contribution payments if 65% or more of the ELCA-primary plan members and eligible spouses within a synod, seminary or churchwide ministry take the online Mayo Clinic Health Assessment between January 1 and April 30 of that year.

How the 2% Discount Works

Portico Benefit Services separates ELCA employers into three groups:
Synods (includes synod office, congregations and other organizations)
Seminaries
Churchwide ministries (Lutheran Center offices, Portico Benefit Services, Augsburg Fortress)
In early January, we calculate the number of eligible plan members and spouses receiving ELCA-primary health coverage for each synod, seminary and churchwide ministry.
At the end of January, February, March and April we identify what percentage of eligible plan members and spouses for each synod, seminary and churchwide ministry have taken the health assessment.
Early in the next month, we post the results on the Progress Toward 2% Discount page.
Any employers who, as an organization or collectively with their synod, reached 65% health assessment participation during the previous month receives the 2% discount for the year (retroactive to January 1).
Following April 30, the closing date for the 2% discount, final results are posted, and any additional employers who reach 65% health assessment participation by midnight, April 30 receive the discount retroactive to January 1.

How the 2% Discount Affects You

If your synod (collectively), seminary or churchwide ministry earns the 2% discount, it reduces the amount you’ll have to pay for ELCA benefits by 2% for all of that plan year.

The 2% discount is offered to encourage and reward employers for their efforts to communicate the value of taking the health assessment to their employees.

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