The Wesleyan Church announces a denominational partnership in which Wesleyan churches may access the group health insurance programs of GuideStone Financial Resources (the benefit board that serves Southern Baptist and select evangelical ministries). This arrangement is active now and offers a range of healthcare solutions to meet a variety of needs and budgets. Dental insurance plans are also available.
We are thrilled that GuideStone has made its health insurance products available to our churches. Given the complexities of ACA regulations, their plans provide a way for our churches to provide ACA compliant health insurance benefits on a tax-free basis saving pastors thousands of dollars in taxes annually.
For years the The Wesleyan Church has longed for an broad health insurance solution for our USA churches and pastors. Given GuideStone’s size and experience, their offer is better than anything we could ever achieve. One of our denomination’s gifts to the broader church is WIF, the Southern Baptist’s gift is GuideStone. GuideStone has provided health insurance benefits to Wesleyan Headquarters employees since January 2013 and we have been very pleased with their service.
GuideStone health plans (both personal and group plans) are church health plans that are considered group plans under federal law which thereby reduces the risk of costly ACA violations. GuideStone’ s insured participants, tens of thousands of pastors and religious workers, have access to best-in-class health care network providers in the United States (Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield and Express Scripts), which results in the deep discounted savings to participants. Of course, this does not affect our Canadian pastoral team, who have a different system.
GuideStone has developed insurance solutions that provide group plans to any size church. More specifically they have 8 PPO health plans (click here) and 3 high-deductible health plans (click here). Since all of their plans are considered group plans, they can be provided tax-free AND out-of-pocket medical expense plans (Health Reimbursement Arrangements or Health Savings Plans) can be integrated. Churches may secure their own HRA/HSA service providers or GuideStone can suggest third-party vendors.
Wesleyan churches may contact GuideStone at 1-888-98-GUIDE (48433) or insurancesolutions@guidestone.org to inquire or request a proposal by identifying the church’s Wesleyan connection. This new partnership now adds the important benefit of group health insurance to the services already provided to church by The Wesleyan Church.
Click here for information about group underwriting guidelines.
Click here to see the personal health questionnaire for employees in a small group.
Click here to access GuideStone various health insurance plan resources.
Click here to read more about healthcare reimbursement updates for churches and ministries.
If you have any questions, contact Kevin Batman at batmank@wesleyan.org or call (317)774-3941.
