Benefits

Medical Benefits

2021 Medical Plan Summaries can be found online on the Church Pension Group website as well as below.

2021 Medical Plan Comparison Chart

Anthem Health Plan Summaries

Active Plans:

• Anthem BCBS CDHP – 15/HSA
• Anthem BCBS BlueCard PPO 70
• Anthem BCBS BlueCard PPO 80
• Anthem BCBS BlueCard PPO 90
• Anthem BCBS BlueCard PPO 100

Active (65+) Plans:

• Anthem BCBS BlueCard MSP PPO 70
• Anthem BCBS BlueCard MSP PPO 80
• Anthem BCBS BlueCard MSP PPO 90
• Anthem BCBS BlueCard MSP PPO 100

Cigna Health Plan Summaries

Active Plans:

• Cigna OAP CDHP-15/HSA
• Cigna OAP PPO 70
• Cigna OAP PPO 80
• Cigna OAP PPO 90
• Cigna OAP PPO 100

Active (65+) Plans:

• Cigna OAP MSP PPO 70
• Cigna OAP MSP PPO 80
• Cigna OAP MSP PPO 90
• Cigna OAP MSP PPO 100

Kaiser Health Plan Summaries

Active Plans:

• Kaiser CDHP – 20/HSA
• Kaiser Permanente EPO 80 Plan (Kaiser Low)
• Kaiser EPO High

Employee Assistance Program:

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a free, confidential, 24-hour service that connects you with counselors to help you with immediate health needs and with assistance for therapy referrals, tips for balancing your personal and professional life, legal consultations, financial services and much more.

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) brochure for Lay Employees
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) brochure for Clergy
• 100 Reasons To Call The EAP
• 100 Suggestions For Improving Your Health

Included with enrollment in any medical plan, or if no medical plan is chosen, EAP can be purchased separately for $4 per month; learn more here.

Dental Benefits

2021 Dental Plan Summaries can be found online on the Church Pension Group website as well as below.

2021 Dental Plan Comparison Chart

Cigna Dental Plan Summaries

• CIGNA Preventive Dental
• CIGNA Basic Dental
• CIGNA Dental + Orthodontia

Prescription (Rx) Benefits:

2021 Prescription Rx Plan Comparison Chart

Included with enrollment in any medical plan, except Kaiser, as Kaiser has their own prescription plan. Learn more here.

Mental Health/Substance Abuse:

You will have access to an integrated behavioral health program that includes mental health, substance abuse, and employee assistance program benefits. This plan also offers coverage for clergy colleague group facilitators. Included with enrollment in any medical plan; learn more here.

Vision: EyeMed:

Here is the 2021 Vision Benefit Chart. Included with enrollment in any medical plan; learn more here.

Amplifon Hearing Health Care provides access to a network of providers, hearing aid services, and supplies at discounted rates.

• Amplifon Hearing Health Care Brochure
• Active Lay & Active Clergy Hearing Benefits – CPG
• Retired Lay & Retired Clergy Hearing Benefits – CPG

A free, confidential service that can reduce some of the stress and confusion of navigating the healthcare system by helping you understand your diagnoses, secure second opinions, manage health benefit claims and more. Included with enrollment in any medical plan; learn more here.

UnitedHealthcare Global Assistance (Formerly known as FrontierMEDEX) provides emergency medical and travel assistance for the Medical Trust plan members traveling at least 100 miles from home, either in the U.S. or abroad. Included with enrollment in any medical plan; learn more here.

Social Security Administration
The Social Security Administration provides information about applying for Medicare (both online and on paper).

CPG: Planning for Retirement Overview for Active Lay Employees – click here

Consumer-Directed Health Plans

In 2015, the diocese introduced a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with subsequent Health Savings Account (HSA) in the array of medical plans available. Going forward, these plans will be referred to as Consumer-Directed Health Plan /Health Savings Account (CDHP/HSA). This type of medical plan is structured very differently than the other types of plans. CDHP/HSA coverage consists of two parts:

1. A traditional health plan that promotes preventive care and protects members against catastrophic healthcare expenses (Consumer-Directed Health Plan)
2. A tax-advantaged savings/reimbursement account (HSA) that allows members to take control of their day-to-day health care costs. Click here to learn more.

Due, in part, to the higher deductible, this type of plan structure results in a lower monthly premium. To allow employees the opportunity to choose the best medical plan for themselves and their dependent(s) due to plan structure and not merely premium cost, the diocesan policy for premium cost-share between employee and employer was altered slightly in 2015:

Employers must pay a minimum of 80% of the monthly premium of the lowest cost plan (not including the cost of the Anthem BCBS CDHP-15/HSA and Kaiser CDHP-20/HSA) at the “Single” coverage level tier for both medical and dental plans for all eligible full-time employees. This amount must also be pro-rated for all eligible part-time employees. Employers may choose to pay more than this minimum amount, as long as they maintain parity in what is paid for clergy employees and lay employees.

If an employee chooses to enroll in the CDHP/HSA, the employer would be required to pay a minimum of 80% of the monthly premium at the “Single” coverage level tier. The difference between this amount and the amount the employer would pay if the employee enrolled in the lowest cost standard plan (Anthem BCBS BlueCard PPO 80) will be contributed by the employer to the employee’s HSA (Health Savings Account). The HSA is a tax-advantaged savings/reimbursement account that members can use to pay their deductible for their medical needs. Therefore, regardless of which plan the employee chooses to enroll in, the employer is required to pay the same amount annually.

If you have any questions regarding this policy, please contact benefits@norcalepiscopal.org.