2027 Employer Benefits Election
2027 Employer Benefits Election: Sept. 7-18
Thank you for choosing to partner with Concordia Plan Services. We recognize you have options, and we deeply value the trust you place in us to help care for those who serve your ministry.
This page provides additional resources to accompany your Renewal Packet, delivered via email beginning July 1. If you haven't received your Renewal Packet, please contact your Account Manager.
To explore alternate health plan options, reach out to your Account Manager as soon as possible — timely elections ensure your workers can participate in Member Open Enrollment this November.
All employer elections must be completed by Sept. 18. Extensions cannot be granted beyond this deadline.
Employer Benefits Election webinars
Join a webinar for a 2027 overview and updates, including:
- Concordia Health Plan changes
- Wellness solutions
- Personal spending accounts
- Voluntary benefits
- Key dates
- Q&A session
Each webinar is based on the plan carrier(s) of the Concordia Health Plan options you’ll be offering your workers. Register by clicking on the registration time(s).
| Month & Day | Topic | Registration (CLICK ON ONE OF THE TIMES BELOW) |
|---|---|---|
| June 25th | Your Summer Financial Checklist | 10:00 a.m. CT |
| MONTH & DAY | TOPIC | REGISTRATION (CLICK ON ONE OF THE TIMES BELOW) |
|---|---|---|
| Jul. 8th | Healthcare Basics for Employers | 1:00 p.m. CT |
| August 11th | Employer Benefit Elections: Anthem/Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, United Healthcare | 1:00 p.m. CT |
| August 12th | Employer Benefit Elections: Anthem/Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, United Healthcare | 11:00 a.m. CT |
| August 13th | Employer Benefit Elections: Kaiser, Cigna, Anthem/Blue Cross Blue Shield | 10:00 a.m. CT |
| Month & Day | Topic | Registration (CLICK ON ONE OF THE TIMES BELOW) |
|---|
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 | Column 5 | Column 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area 1 | Area 2 | Area 3 | Area 4 | Area 5 | Area 6 |
| Q | HSA | HRA | FSA |
|---|---|---|---|
| What is it? | An HSA is a tax-advantaged account used to pay qualified medical expenses for the account holder and dependents. | An HRA is a tax-advantaged account established and funded entirely by the employer for its workers’ and their dependents’ qualified health plan expenses. | An FSA is a tax-advantaged account usually offered as part of a Cafeteria Plan. Funds can be used toward qualified medical or dependent care expenses depending on the type of FSA. |
| What is eligible? | Medical expenses according to Internal Revenue Code Section 213(d). Visit irs.gov for a list of eligible and ineligible expenses. |
Health plan eligible expenses (copays, deductibles, coinsurance), dental or vision expenses as directed by the employer.
|
Medical FSA: Medical expenses according to Internal Revenue Code Section 213(d). Dependent care FSA: Dependent care expenses according to Internal Revenue Code Section 129. |
| Who owns the account? | Worker. | Employer. | Employer. |
| CHP Option compatibility? | Can be used with any high deductible CHP option (Option HDHP, Healthy Me HSA A, Healthy Me HSA B, Healthy Me HSA C, Healthy Me HSA D, Healthy Me HSA E and Whole Health 2000). | Can be used with any health plan option. |
Can be used with any health plan option but must be limited purpose if a high deductible CHP option (Option HDHP, Healthy Me HSA A, Healthy Me HSA B, Healthy Me HSA C, Healthy Me HSA D, Healthy Me HSA E and Whole Health 2000). |
| Who contributes? |
Employer and/or worker. The account can be funded by the employer and the worker.
|
Employer only. The account is funded entirely by the employer.
|
Generally, worker. This account is typically funded by the worker, although the employer can contribute as well. |
| Balance rolls over? | Yes. The balance does roll over from year to year. | Employer decision. Money in the account at the end of the year can be rolled over if the employer designates. |
No. If money is not used by the end of the year, the remaining dollars are forfeited to the employer, unless the employer elects to allow a rollover of up to an amount determined by the IRS.
|
| Portable? | Yes. The account is fully portable. | Employer decision. The employer can allow terminated workers to spend remaining funds in the account. | No. The account is not portable if the worker leaves the organization. |
| Investment opportunities? |
Yes. The account will earn interest and workers can also invest balances over a certain threshold.
|
No. | No. |
| Who holds the funds until a claim is received? |
In the member’s account with the administrator (e.g., HealthEquity and Lutheran Church Extension Fund).
|
Employer. | Employer. |
| Health Plan Option | HSA Eligible | HRA Eligible | Medical FSA Eligible |
|---|---|---|---|
| Option A | No | Yes | Yes |
| Option B | No | Yes | Yes |
| Option C | No | Yes | Yes |
| Option D | No | No | Yes |
| Option E | No | Yes | Yes |
| Option HDHP (EDIT) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Option CSS | No | Yes | Yes |
| HMO-C | No | Yes | Yes |
| HMO-C2 | No | Yes | Yes |
| HMO-Select Areas | No | Yes | Yes |
| Select 500 | No | Yes | Yes |
| Select 1000 | No | Yes | Yes |
| Choice 1500 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Choice 2000 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Choice 3000 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole Health | No | Yes | Yes |
| Whole Health 1000 | No | Yes | Yes |
| Whole Health 2000 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Healthy Me A (BCBS, Cigna, UMR) | No | Yes | Yes |
| Healthy Me B (BCBS, Cigna, UMR) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Healthy Me C (BCBS, Cigna, UMR) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Reported | Employer | Worker | Portal | Benefits | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value 1 | Value 2 | Value 3 | Value 4 | Value 5 | Value 6 |
| Test 1 | Test 2 | Test 3 | Test 4 | Test 5 | Test 6 |
If you’re unable to join a live webinar, you can catch a recorded version starting Aug. 15 on this webpage.
2027 plan changes at a glance
A few updates are going into effect across several plan options:
- Healthy Me Copay & Healthy Me HSA options — Deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums have been updated to keep pace with inflation and meet IRS requirements
- Kaiser and Cigna HMO options — Renamed and updated with higher deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums
We encourage you to review these changes with your Account Manager to determine what they mean for your workers and your ministry's budget.
How to determine funding for dental and vision benefits
- Non-Contributory — Your workers DO NOT share in the cost. Your ministry pays the entire cost for all your workers. If you choose this funding route, ALL eligible workers (including those who don’t elect health coverage) must be enrolled in the dental and/or vision benefits. However, workers can choose not to enroll eligible dependents.
- Contributory — Your workers DO share in the cost. Your ministry and your workers share the cost, ONLY if workers want to enroll in dental and/or vision benefits.
- Voluntary — Your ministry DOES NOT share in the cost. If a worker wants dental and/or vision benefits, the worker must pay the entire cost.
