Changes to the ELCA Health Plan
On April 23, Portico Benefit Services released a notice of pending changes to the ELCA Health Plan, under the title, “Benefits reExamined.” The notice announced that “the five current health benefit options will be replaced with four new simplified health benefit options.” The notice also announced that coverage for GLP-1 medications, such as Wegovy, will no longer be covered for weight loss.
I know that changes in health plan coverage have personal implications for many, and without more detail it can be alarming. At this moment, the synod staff and I do not have any more information than what has been shared. But we know its importance to our ministers and congregation staff, so as details become available it is my high priority that synod keeps you informed.
These changes also impact the proposed 2026 compensation guidelines we will adopt at Synod Assembly. The current Platinum+, Gold+, Value Copay, Silver+ and Bronze+ plans will no longer be available, beginning in 2026. In their place there will be four health plans organized into two sets, each with a copay option and a high-deductible option.
The Synod Council Executive Committee has already acted to help our synod respond well to these changes by recommending a change in language to the proposed compensation guidelines for 2026, that sponsoring employees offer the plan most comparable in coverage to the current Gold+ option to their sponsored employees.
We expect the details of the new plan choices will become known in August. In the meantime, Pastor Tara Lynn, our regional Portico representative, has shared some additional resources she believes will be helpful to you. Pastor Lynn has also shared that she will be passing on communications about this change to executive leadership at Portico; her email is TLynn@porticobenefits.org.
As we learn more, the synod staff and I will work to keep you informed.
With you in Christ,
Bishop Kurt F. Kusserow