wfn.org | ABCUSA: MMBB Continues to Contain PremierHealth Plan Costs

["SCHRAMM, Richard" <Richard.Schramm@abc-usa.org>]

American Baptist News Service (Valley Forge, Pa. 8/31/04)--The Ministers and
Missionaries Benefit Board (MMBB) has announced measures to contain medical,
dental and prescription costs in 2005 for members of the MMBB-sponsored
PremierHealth Plan through CIGNA. 

Monthly medical premiums will increase by a significantly smaller percentage
than they did for 2004, reflecting the fact that plan changes over the last
two years are paying off.

Cost-containment measures include: discontinuing the HMO option; replacing
the PPO with Open Access Plus (OAP), also through CIGNA; increasing the
co-payment for emergency room and urgent care service; and requiring the use
of a generic equivalent instead of a brand name drug.  If a brand name drug
is obtained when a generic drug is available, the cost difference between the
generic and the brand name drug, plus the generic co-payment, will be
charged.  There will be no dental plan changes for 2005.

Commenting on these measures, Dr. Sumner M. Grant, MMBB executive director,
said, "Health care coverage is an important part of our members' financial
security.  That's why MMBB regularly reviews and updates medical and dental
plan provisions." 

K/2004ABNS/04ABN98

American Baptist News Service: Office of Communication, American Baptist
Churches USA, P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851; (800)ABC-3USA x2077
/ (610)768-2077; fax: (610)768-2320; www.abc-usa.org;
richard.schramm@abc-usa.org