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.
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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. |