Active Health Plan- HealthFlex
About HealthFlex Exchange
Since January 2020 the Kentucky Conference has partnered with Wespath and their HealthFlex Exchange to provide health benefits to our clergy and others who participate in the active Conference Health Plan.
Wespath’s HealthFlex Exchange (HealthFlex) allows participants to choose from one of six medical plans (Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois) as well as three dental plans (Cigna) and three vision plans (Vision Service Plan).
Depending on the plan you elect, you will have the opportunity to contribute to either a Health Savings Account (HSA), Dependent Care Account (DCA), or Flexible Spending Account (FSA). Two of the plans come with Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRAs) which include employer contributions and two plans come with employer contributions into an HSA.
2023 HealthFlex Annual Election & Plan Information
Annual Election for 2023 HealthFlex benefits will be November 2-17, 2022. All elections should be made online through your Benefits Access Portal. As announced at Annual Conference, Medical plans will increase an average of 3%.
Remember, contributions to Health Accounts (HSA, DCA, MRA) must be re-elected each year and do not automatically renew from the prior year. These contributions should be made during Annual Election.
The participant-only tiers for the H3000 and C3000 each have "excess premium credit" which can either be used to offset the costs of dental and vision plans, or be deposited into your health account.
First-time Benefits Access user? No problem! Go to www.wespath.org and click "Benefits Access". From there, click the "New User Registration" link to create a username and password then follow the steps outline in the registration process.
The church's cost for each full-time appointment is $1,090/month ($13,080/year).
Annual Election Resources:
- ALEX Benefits Counselor: A simple online tool to help you find the plan that might be the most cost-effective for your family or individual needs. To utilize ALEX log into your Benefits Access portal and click the link in the banner.
- How Do I Choose My Plan?: A simple guide to the various plans offered
- HealthFlex Plan Comparisons: A more robust description of benefits and coverage for the various plans offered.
- Finding a Dentist in the DHMO: A simple guide to identifying a dentist in the DHMO
- Participants Nearing Medicare Eligibility: A helpful guide for plan participants who may be nearing Medicare eligibility.
- 2023 Payroll Withholding Summary: A summary worksheet to help you communicate your Annual Election decisions and payroll withholdings to your local church treasurer.
HealthFlex Resources
- HealthFlex Enrollment Form: To sign-up for your health plan, make "Change of Status Event" updates, change your HSA contribution. A checklist to help get you ready for Annual Election
- Accessing your Benefits: A guide to the tools and resources you will need to most fully utilize your benefits.
- Wespath Benefits Access Portal: Click below for a brief video tour of your Wespath Benefits Access portal, where you will complete your annual election this year.
Well-Being Program
Included in all six medical plans is a robust well-being program. This program includes Virgin Pulse, health coaching, and employee assistance program (EAP), an incentive program, and more.
When can I make changes?
Generally a participant can only make changes during the Annual Election Period which happens each fall. Changes made during Annual Election will go into effect January 1 of the following year.
However, a covered Participant in HealthFlex who experiences certain changes in his or her family’s status might be permitted to make limited changes in his or her HealthFlex elections for the current Plan Year. HealthFlex is administered as a cafeteria plan under the rules and regulations of §125 of the Code. Because HealthFlex is a cafeteria plan, circumstances in which a Participant can make a change to his or her elections outside of the Open Enrollment Period and Annual Election Period under the Plan are limited to those Change of Status Events described in §125 of the Code that the Plan has incorporated in its election change rules. These Changes of Status Events include:
- Marital status changes (e.g., marriage, divorce, legal separation).
- Changes in the number of dependents (e.g., an increase through birth or adoption, or a decrease through death).
- A dependent ceases to qualify as a dependent under the Plan, i.e., becomes ineligible, or regains eligibility (e.g., reaches a limiting age).
- Change in employment status of a Participant or Dependent that affects eligibility for the underlying benefit plan (e.g., changing from full-time to part-time employment, commencement of or return from an unpaid leave of absence).
- HIPAA Special Enrollment events.
- Change in residence that affects eligibility (e.g., moving out of the coverage area for a managed care option).
Contact the Kentucky Conference Benefits Office for questions about Change of Status and Special Enrollment Events.
If you have experienced a Change of Status Event, please complete a new HealthFlex Enrollment Form and return it to the Benefits Office at lwilliams@kyumc.org. All changes must be submitted within 31 days of the event.
Please note: Appointment changes within a conference, other than appointment to non-salaried statuses, and compensation changes alone are not considered Change of Status Events.
Any changes in elections based upon a Change of Status Event must be on account of and consistent with such Change in Status. For example, when a Participant acquires a new Dependent, the election change for that Change of Status Event would be to add coverage for that Dependent, not to drop coverage for other Dependents.
The conference health plan is mandatory for all full-time clergy appointed to local churches. Eligibility guidelines for employee benefits can be found in the Board of Pensions & Health Benefits Report in the Conference Journal.