Health Care Is In The Air

As we listen to news about the H1N1 virus and about Congress’ work to revamp the healthcare system in this country, it is clear… healthcare is in the air.  Many of us struggle to find an authentic Christian response to the issue of healthcare that compassionately provides for the poor and “the least of these” and yet encourages personal stewardship for good health.  As I have been reflecting on these issues, I am again reminded how grateful I am for the Presbyterian Board of Pensions.  Though it is far from perfect, I think it is a good and faithful attempt at providing care for church workers and their families.  Here are some of my favorite things about the Board:

*        The Plan encourages us to exercise good stewardship of our health… there are educational resources, lifestyle management assistance (to help manage diabetes, quit smoking, lose weight, reduce stress, etc), and we are granted a complete annual exam that is 100% covered. 

*        Each person’s annual deductible is determined based on their salary… so my deductible is higher than that of a part-time person or a person who works full time but makes less money than I do.  That seems quite fair to me.

*        The Plan recognizes that we are families… spouses and dependent children are automatically covered at no additional cost to the church or the covered member.

*        The Plan is community based.  The Board’s website says it this way:  “Traditional coverage under the Benefits Plan is based on the Christian premise that we are a community of faith. The system for funding the Plan is designed to share the burden equitably among all employing organizations and members by basing dues and benefits on the effective salary for each participating position.”

 Wayne and I have both been blessed by this gift of health coverage from the church, and count it as a great gift.  So, let me take this time to return thanks to God for this gift, and to thank you for your participation in it. 

If you’d like more information about the Board of Pensions or would like access to some of the educational information, you can check out their website at www.pensions.org

 

More from The Board of Pensions website:

Presbyterians have a long tradition of caring for the servants of the Presbyterian Church. Over the years, the changing social and economic conditions have shaped the expression of this responsibility. Today, The Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), as the Benefits Plan administrator, is the corporate embodiment of the Christian sense of community in caring for church workers. In this biblically based understanding of community, members’ needs are a shared responsibility and are met based on the abilities and resources of all members and churches.

The Benefits Plan is funded by the dues paid by all churches and employing organizations, as well as the investment earnings on those dues. Dues are not related to the benefits provided to each individual, but rather, represent each church or employing organization’s share of the total cost of the Benefits Plan. This process of dues payments reflects the community nature of the Benefits Plan.