In the 1960s, the Synod recognized the need

Disability: valuable benefits

to assist church workers during times of illness,

injury or death. Three  Concordia Plans  were cre 

Like many of the 31,000 workers who partici 

ated: the Health Plan, the Disability and Survivor

pate in the Concordia Disability and Survivor Plan

Plan, and the Retirement Plan. These, along with

(CDSP), Julie Shay paid little attention to the spe 

the PPPT and an Accident Insurance Program, are

cific benefits until she was diagnosed with a brain

provided today by Worker Benefit Plans.

tumor in 1998. 

Through Worker Benefit Plans, approximately

 I quickly learned how valuable the benefits

6,100 congregations, schools, universities, seminar 

were for me and my family,  the St. Louis resident

ies and agencies are  Serving Those In His Service 

said. She was unable to work during many tests and

by providing comprehensive coverage for 31,000

operations to treat the tumor, yet she received a

church workers and their families. 

monthly income and her family received health cov 

erage.  And, Concordia Publishing House, her

A `Godsend' after major surgery

employer, did not have to pay for her family health

plan during her disability.

Rev. Al Boysen of Cordova, Tenn., is among

CDSP annually pays about $5.4 million in dis 

24,000 church workers enrolled in the Concordia

ability benefits for workers like Shay.   

Health Plan. He says he appreciates the preventive

While the CDSP was covering the disability,

medical benefits, dental coverage and $15 copays for

the Concordia Health Plan (CHP) was covering the

office visits, but he's most thankful for comprehen 

medical expenses, greatly decreasing Shay's portion

sive major medical coverage. 

of the costs for MRIs, medication, therapy and six

 The health plan has been a Godsend for me,

different specialists.

especially when I had open heart surgery,  he says.

 I will never be able to repay in dollars what

The cost could have reached $100,000, but thanks

Worker Benefits has and continues to provide for

to the CHP Boysen's costs were considerably less. 

me and my family,  she says. 

The health plan is structured so mem 

bers pay 10 percent of surgery and hospital

care with an annual out of pocket limit of

TO O L S   F O R   S O U N D   F I N A N C E S

$500 for an individual or $1,000 for a family. 

Nearly three years ago, Worker Benefit Plans initiated a financial

 The Plans stood by me, and I would 

education program to equip church workers and their families for personal

n't trade the benefits for anything,  he

financial management.

states. 

During the past year, 116 financial planning seminars, workshops

His thanks also go to the churches,

and small discussions were held across the country to encourage Biblical

schools, universities and other organizations

stewardship and financial planning.

that participate in the CHP.  In essence,

 In my experience, this is a vital area of ministry that has the

they helped pay for Boysen's surgery. 

potential of greatly increasing the well being of many church professionals,

CHP is a self funded health plan,

homes, families and marriages,  remarked Dr. David Belasic, a former dis 

meaning that dollars provided by employers

trict president.

purchase medical, mental health, substance

abuse, dental, prescription, hearing and

vision coverage. Only 7 cents of every dollar

is spent on administrative costs.  

Churches helping churches

Maintaining a large, Synodwide membership

in the CHP is vital. When more employers partici 

 One day a pastor from Florida, who was visit 

pate in the Plan, more dollars are available for claim

ing in the St. Louis area, stopped to take me to

expenses. Wide participation lowers employers' con 

lunch as a way to thank me for helping him with a

tributions and increases negotiating power with

complicated claim situation,  recalls Debbie Jolly a

managed care providers like Blue Cross Blue Shield

WBP member services representative.  I hadn't

and Aetna.

considered what I was doing as worthy of a reward.

Boysen's thanks doesn't end with the CHP,

I was just doing my job.  

however. A 1968 graduate of Concordia Seminary,

 Churches see their contribution dollars

St. Louis, he also considers the Plans to be a  boun 

directly helping their pastor if he gets significantly

tiful blessing from God  during his retirement

sick,  she observes.  But if he doesn't use his bene 

years.

fits, then the contributions are often viewed as too

(65) FEBRUARY 2003

37