Annual Benefits Enrollment 2024 – New Dental Plans Available

Annual enrollment for individuals eligible to participate in diocesan employee benefits plans begins on October 25 and concludes on November 15. This is your opportunity to change insurance plans, add beneficiaries, or participate in benefits plans for the first time, without having to demonstrate a qualifying event. For most employees, the process will be online. Instructions will be mailed to you by the Episcopal Church Medical Trust approximately one week before enrollment begins, in a pale green envelope.

Current participants in the Cigna dental offerings must participate in annual enrollment to maintain dental coverage. That’s because the Episcopal Church Medical Trust has replaced the Cigna plans with plans from Delta Dental. These plans provide greater levels of coverage at the same cost as the current plans. Participants must choose one of those plans to maintain coverage.

The diocese is not changing any of its medical plans, but there are some important updates to the benefits within the plans themselves. Most significantly, some of the special provisions for the COVID-19 pandemic are being rolled back, but the plans
will continue to cover virtual physician visits and will provide four free COVID tests by mail each month.

Medical insurance premiums will rise approximately 7.5% in 2023, while dental premiums will remain level. The employee premium cost share will rise to 24% in 2023, resuming the gradual increase toward 25%. The preventive care incentive,
which provides a rebate to plan participants of 1% of the total annual premium, remains in place in 2024. This benefit is worth approximately $100-$350, depending on the cost of the participant’s specific plan.

If you are not currently covered by diocesan plans, or if your employment date was on or after August 1, 2023, online annual enrollment will not be available to you. Please contact Kim Christopher for assistance. More information can be found on the Compensation & Benefits page of the diocesan website. There will be a live video presentation on Wednesday, October 18 at 5:30 p.m. Eastern / 4:30 p.m. Central. The presentation will be recorded.