Seminarian healthcare coverage enrollment is open

The Board of Pensions is pleased to support health and wholeness for those preparing for ministry by offering medical coverage to seminary students and their eligible family members at monthly costs that remain well below market rates. The coverage is the same as that offered to active members of the Benefits Plan, including installed pastors and many other PC(USA)-affiliated employees.

Seminary students may access healthcare coverage from a preferred provider organization (PPO), an exclusive provider organization (EPO), or a qualified high deductible health plan (HDHP). Those who enroll in the HDHP option may be eligible to set up and contribute to a tax-advantaged, individual health savings account (HSA) to pay for qualified healthcare expenses.

Comprehensive coverage

All three options use the national Blue Cross Blue Shield network — the largest in the United States (with 96 percent of all hospitals and over 90 percent of all physicians) — and include preventive care benefits, hospital and medical/surgical coverage, behavioral health benefits, prescription drug coverage, a vision exam benefit, access to the Employee Assistance Plan, and care navigation to help you and your covered family members make the most of your healthcare benefits. Explore all the high-value features of the Medical Plan.

The enrollment period for this coverage is August 1-September 15, 2022. Applications and required documentation must be submitted to the Board no later than September 15.

First-time rate increase

While the monthly cost of seminarian healthcare has remained consistent since the Board introduced the program in 2017, rates will increase for the first time — effective October 1, 2022 — as a result of several factors affecting health plans across the country:

• The global pandemic upended the world and impacted healthcare in ways never imagined.
• While Americans used fewer healthcare services overall in 2020, healthcare use increased significantly in 2021 as Americans resumed care.
• Healthcare costs continue to rise nationally.

Learn more

Inquirers and candidates in the PC(USA) are invited to learn more about eligibility, costs, and enrollment for seminarian healthcare coverage. If you have questions about seminarian healthcare coverage, call the Board of Pensions at 800-773-7752 (800-PRESPLAN).