News

Flexible Spending Account changes coming in 2011

Active pastors who participate in the IGRC FLEX plan (also called Section 125 Plan, Cafeteria Plan, Flexible Medical Spending Plan, FSA Plan) will notice a change in the rules regarding the purchase of over-the-counter (OTC) medications with the FLEX plan beginning in 2011. The recent Health Care Reform Act (PPACA)  vastly reduces your ability to claim reimbursements for OTC medications. Pastors should consider these changes in making plans for their salary-reduction...

Health insurance changes among issues to discuss, act upon

Lay and clergy members who have attended for several years know there are certain reports that are received and considered at annual conference each year, many of these with financial implications. This year’s reports include proposed changes to the conference’s health insurance program, the setting of pension rates for retirees; proposed changes to standing rules involving clergy housing, the closing of churches that have completed their mission; a resolution on employment...

No changes to Health Miles program for 2013

HealthMiles – the IGRC Group Health Insurance department is announcing that there will be no changes to the HealthMiles program in 2013. The 2013 plan will run exactly the same as the 2012 plan. There will be a $50 reward for meeting your HealthMiles goal each quarter, for a potential reward of $200. If you meet your goal each quarter, there is a $100 bonus at the end of the year for a maximum reward of $300. Clergy and spouses who are in the IGRC health insurance plan (both active and...

Health Care Update

I am writing from DFW while waiting for my connecting flight home from New Orleans.  I am one of several conference leaders who attended the Quadrennial Benefits Conference 2012, (QBC) an event hosted by the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits. At Annual Conference I shared that changes regarding our health care plan were certain, but the changes were largely dependent upon factors external to the church.  Since Annual Conference the Supreme Court upheld almost all...

Health Miles program announces changes, includes retirees, spouses

For Active and Retired participants in the IGRC Group Health Insurance Plan: Changes are coming to the HealthMiles walking program: Retirees and Spouses who are in the IGRC health insurance plan can now join the program. Go to www.virginhealthmiles.com/igrc to sign up. Hint: choose "Other" for your department. The Preachers' Aid Society and Benefit Fund is paying for retirees' participation. For all members - the Rewards system is changing. It will be goal-based instead of total...

HealthScope new conference health benefits administrator

  Effective January 1, 2012, RightChoice Benefit Administrators will no longer be the third-party administrator (TPA) for the IGRC group health insurance plans.   The Conference Board of Pension and Health Benefits has approved HealthScope Benefits as our new Third Party Administrator. We are very hopeful that this change will result in a level of customer service that our participants expect and deserve.   HealthScope was chosen over several potential vendors. The main...

Walgreens, Express Scripts at odds over prescription benefit

You may be aware that Walgreens and Express Scripts have not been able to come to an agreement regarding pharmacy benefits management in year 2012. While we are very hopeful that an agreement will yet be successfully negotiated between Express Scripts and Walgreens, you may wish to take proactive steps soon to ensure that you do not experience a lapse in prescription availability early next year. These provisions DO NOT AFFECT Medicare-eligible retirees, since they will all be moving to...