News you can Use . . .

 

 

10.01.08 –         OCTOBER 2008 STATEMENTS – October 2008 statements were mailed on Thursday, October1, 2008.   Your prompt payment – sent directly to the Commerce Bank Lockbox – would be appreciated by October 25, 2008. 

 

     The Diocesan Health and Welfare Benefits Trust

     of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania

     (Insurance Account)

     PO Box 95000-5001

     Philadelphia, PA 19195

 

 

06.18.08 –         IIMPORTANT  INFORMATION ABOUT THE DIOCESAN MENTAL HEALTH RIDER FOR 2008 –The Commission on Clergy Salaries and Pensions, in its role as the Board of Directors of the Diocesan Health and Welfare Benefits Trust, increased the maximum benefit for the Diocesan Mental Health Rider from $2,000 to $3,000 for 2008.  A copy of the Trust’s letter can be found here.

 

The effect of this action is that the mental health rider will pay a maximum benefit of up to $3,000 for eligible claims from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2008.  All other terms and conditions for the mental health rider remain the same.  Please note that this is a special extension for this year only.

 

 

01.11.08 –         A PRIMER FOR PARISH TREASURERS AND ACCOUNTING WARDENS ABOUT PENSIONS AND REPORTING OF SALARIES – Turnover in your positions is frequent.  Often publications that were in the filing cabinet have been misplaced.  The CPG Publication What Every Pension Administrator Should Know is an excellent resource.  A second resource that is helpful to clergy and lay leaders alike is the CPG publication A Guide to Your Benefits – Now and in the Future.

 

01.11.08 –         CHURCH LIFE INSURANCE PACKETS – Church Life Insurance packets for newly insured group life policy holders are being mailed by CLIC/CPG on Monday, January 14, 2008.  These packets include a form in which you can designate your beneficiaries.  That form can also be found here. It should be returned directly to Church Life Insurance Company, 445 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016.

 

 

01.03.08 –         PARISH CENSUS – A census to collect and update parish salaries for the year 2008 was mailed on Thursday, January 3, 2008. Your response by January 25, 2008 would be most appreciated.  A letter sent with the census can be found here. We encourage you to report all employees who work at least 20 hours a week, even if they are not covered by a Diocesan Health Insurance plan, inasmuch as they are eligible for both life and disability coverages

 

12.05.07 –         MAILING TO ALL ACTIVE CLERGY AND PARISH ADMINISTRATORS  – WHAT’S NEW FOR 2008 - The Mailing by the Commission on Clergy Salaries and Pensions to all Active Clergy, Wardens and Parish Administrators has been released.  It is available in two formats:  EASY TO READ ONLINE and EASY TO PRINT

12.04.07 –         SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM DISABILITY COMPARISONS FOR CLERGY AND LAY.  We attach a convenient comparison of the new short-term and long-term disability program for lay employees, along with the same comparison for clergy here.

12.03.07 –         CHRISTMAS MAILING – A summary of new programs for 2008 was sent with the statements and can be found here.

 

11.13.07 –         2008 INSURANCE RATES – The final rates for 2008 have been released by the Commission on Clergy Salaries and Pensions.  The rates are up for both Personal Choice and Keystone HMO an average of approximately 9.5%. Dental Benefits have been enhanced for 2008 for active employees to $2,000 per person per year and, as an added benefit, will include implants. The new  can be accessed by clicking on 2008 Rates on the Menu listing to the left, or by clicking here . . .  2008 Rates 

Please note that several new programs are included in the Rate information. These new programs will be effective as of January 1, 2008 and OPEN ENROLLMENT will begin shortly. Your parish will receive an email, as well as a first class mailing by November 26th.

 

The first is a new Group Life Insurance program – available for both Clergy and Lay Employees – which offers coverage of 100% of a clergy or lay salary at very advantageous group rates.  The Commission has negotiated a rate that is 26% lower than the current rate for limited life coverage through the Church Life Insurance Company.  The supplemental life insurance brochure can be found here.  The application for an employee can be found here.   The application for a dependent can be found here. The beneficiary form can be found here.

 

The second program is a new Disability Program for Lay Employees which parallels the coverage that is provided for clergy by the Church Pension Fund.  The new coverage will seamlessly incorporate both Short-Term Disability coverage (Day 30-360) and Long-Term Disability coverage (day 360 on). The coverage is offered by the Church Insurance Company and will be administered by Information about Long-Term Disability coverage for Lay employees can be found here.

 

Finally, in addition to the above employer paid benefits, both clergy and lay employees will be eligible for Supplemental Group Life Insurance coverage of up to $500,000 through the Church Life Insurance Company, a subsidiary of the Church Pension Group.

 

NOTE: Enrollment and billing will be handled by the Diocesan Health and Welfare Benefits Trust and will be on the monthly billing. More information, including enrollment applications, will be sent out on or about November 26th.

 

11.13.07 –         SO YOU ARE ABOUT TO RETIRE . . .  – Here is a handy one page sheet of key points you need to consider when you are “one year out”.  So you Are About to Retire 

 

                        The Medical Trust has just released its 2008 Benefit Guide for Retirees.  You can read it here.  ECMT Benefit Guide 2008

 

                        Further questions?  Email Fran Murphy at fran@patientpartner.com (856) 296-7395 or Parke Rouse at parke@patientpartner.com (215) 668-0000.

 

 

PLEASE READ THESE VERY IMPORTANT NEWS ITEMS FOR 2007.

 

04.01.07 –         CHANGES IN THE COPAY RIDER AND MENTAL HEALTH RIDER PROGRAM – NEW FOR 2007 - The Commission on Clergy Salaries and Pensions has made some changes to the Mental Health and CoPay Rider programs effective with claims incurred as of January 1, 2007 for Keystone and Personal Choice subscribers.  These can be seen in the Benefit section.

 

·        Keystone CoPay Rider Program  here

·        Keystone CoPay Rider Claim Submission here

·        Keystone Mental Health Rider Program  here

 

·        Personal Choice CoPay Rider Program  here

·        Personal Choice CoPay Rider Claim Submission here

·        Personal Choice Mental Health Rider Program  here

 

04.01.07 –         GENERIC DRUG PROMOTION FROM INDEPENDENCE BLUE CROSS  – EXTENDED TO DECEMBER 31, 2007 – For the entire 2007 Calendar year, Independence Blue Cross is offering an opportunity for subscribers to save money on generic drugs by waiving the co-pay. Subscribers will not be charged the usual generic co-pay of $10 at the pharmacy or $20 through the mail order service. This special promotion is being offered to encourage subscribers to try these less expensive medications and applies to both the Personal Choice and Keystone HMO drug plans.  More information can be found here.

 

01.01.07 –         NEW DENTAL PLANS EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2007  – NEW FOR 2007 - Effective January 1, 2007, there are new dental programs for both active and retired clergy and lay persons. These plans are with Delta Dental.  You can call Delta Dental toll-free at (800) 932-0783 or go online to www.MidAtlanticDeltaDental.com. .The only information you need to see a Dentist is the primary subscriber’s social security number and the group number which is 9450.

·        Instructions for online access can be found here

·        A summary of benefits for active participants can be found here

·        A summary of benefits for retired participants can be found here

 

01.01.07 –         MAILING TO ALL ACTIVE CLERGY AND PARISH ADMINISTRATORS  – NEW FOR 2007 - The Mailing by the Commission on Clergy Salaries and Pensions to all Active Clergy, Wardens and Parish Administrators can be found here.

 

01.01.07 –         2007 RATES – The final rates for 2007 have been released by the Commission on Clergy Salaries and Pensions.  They can be accessed by clicking on 2007 Rates on the Menu listing to the left, or by clicking here . . .  2007 Rates

 

Updated October 1, 2008