Recently, Portico shared information about their Benefits reexamined Initiative. Portico, as a ministry of the ELCA, is committed to providing affordable, sustainable benefits for our whole community.
THE PROBLEM
As health care costs continue to rise nationwide and congregation size and resources decline, it is becoming more difficult for many sponsoring employers to sustain coverage. To keep the ELCA Health Plan affordable and flexible, we have a responsibility to act and make changes, but in a way that preserves the guiding principles that make our church plan unique. While some aspects of the plan will change, our commitment to the well-being of plan members remains steadfast. Through Benefits reExamined, we have listened to church input and carefully analyzed claims and industry data to make thoughtful decisions that will help us sustain community value and care for the future.
CORE MESSAGES
Your Health Care + Our Commitment: Keeping Our Community Health Plan Strong Portico, as a ministry of the ELCA, is committed to providing affordable, sustainable benefits for our whole community.
- We have a responsibility to act now. The health care landscape continues to change dramatically. We must proactively address the health plan affordability challenges facing our church to preserve stability and care for our community.
- The church asked for more affordability and flexibility while preserving our guiding principles. Finding solutions to address current realities is critical but so is making sure they are grounded in what we stand for as a church.
- Some things are changing, but much is staying the same. The changes build on what we are already doing to improve outcomes and opportunities for plan members while containing costs for sponsoring employers.
- Rising health care costs are a complex challenge with no easy answers. Organizations of all sizes are grappling with the cost of health care. Health benefit plans today are more comprehensive and expensive, requiring changes in how plan members access and utilize health care.
- The decisions surrounding these changes were data-driven, inclusive, and intentional. Changes are the result of deep listening to the church, rigorous financial analysis, prayer, and careful consideration of the impact on people’s lives.
- As a community-based plan, everyone has a role as we navigate the future together. Nearly everyone will be affected in some way by the changes. Change can be uncomfortable, but it is necessary to help us continue offering the benefits and services plan members have come to expect. 41-7869 (4/2025)
Portico has provided the following videos and PDFs to respond to questions and concerns that you may have, and with the hope of helping us better understand what to expect. Please take a look at these resources to learn more about the changes and what they mean.
- Why Benefits reExamined video: https://vimeo.com/1077389028
- Introduction to changes video: https://vimeo.com/1077267485
- 2026 health benefit options video: https://vimeo.com/1077276029 and PDF (requires sign-in): https://myportico.porticobenefits.org/media/pdf/41/41-7819 BenReEx-PlanOptions.pdf
- GLP-1 medication coverage video: https://vimeo.com/1077272640 and PDF (requires sign-in): https://myportico.porticobenefits.org/media/pdf/41/41-7820 BenReEx-CoverageChange.pdf
- Centers of Excellence video: https://vimeo.com/1077268467 and PDF (requires sign in): https://myportico.porticobenefits.org/media/pdf/41/41-7822-BenReEx-COEs.pdf
