Consulting with Episcopal Leaders and Employees
Denominational Health Plan
Project team members have met with more than 1,000 employees in more than 75 diocesan and church-sponsored meetings. Findings indicate a strong consenus about the following:
- Establishment of a single healthcare benefits program for The Episcopal Church.
- All employees should be able to purchase healthcare benefits through their Episcopal employer (universal access).
- Episcopal employers should provide healthcare benefits to full-time employees, i.e., those working more than 1,500 hours per year.
- Full-time clergy and lay employees should be treated the same when it comes to healthcare benefits.
- Employees want access to affordable plans and are willing to pay higher deductibles to have lower premium costs.
- Limiting the number of plans and healthcare networks to bring additional savings is acceptable.
Bishops and administrators of more than 50 dioceses have met with project staff to review the financial impact of a denominational health plan and to discuss the proposed plan model. These meetings have produced meaningful and positive feedback as the team considers the final recommendations.