wfn.org | [LCMSNews] Sem students to get healthcare coverage

["LCMS e-News" <LCMSENEWS@lcms.org>]

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>4.13.2009		
>	LCMS News	 	
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>THE LUTHERAN CHURCH Missouri Synod  	 	
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	April 13, 2009 .................... LCMSNews -- No. 29

CPS to offer healthcare coverage to sem students

Concordia Plan Services (CPS) has announced it will offer healthcare
coverage to students (and their families) at the Synod's two seminaries
-- Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and Concordia Theological Seminary,
Fort Wayne, Ind.

According to a CPS press release, the plan, which has been under
development for more than a year, will provide "improved, affordable,
and comprehensive coverage that will meet the needs of students and
their families.  It also will ease the transition from the student plan
into the Concordia Health Plan for active workers upon graduation."

In the past, the two seminaries worked separately with independent
brokers to provide limited health insurance for their students.  Under
the new Concordia Health Plan, seminary students and their families will
receive the same comprehensive healthcare components that are available
to active LCMS workers at a cost similar to what they had been paying
for the independent coverage.

The additional coverage will include preventive medical and dental
services, dental care benefits, expanded prescription drug coverage, an
employee assistance program, vision care, hearing care discounts,
behavioral health benefits, and health and wellness programs.

"We are very enthused about the amount of collaboration and concern
which has generated so much fruitful planning and discussion with both
seminaries over the past couple years to bring this wonderful plan to
fruition," said Rev. Timothy R. Puls, assistant vice president for
church relations at the Fort Wayne seminary.

All students, including those in the deaconess program, with seven
credit hours or more are required to have health coverage during their
enrollment at the seminaries.  There are exceptions for students who
qualify as eligible "opt-outs" by having coverage, for example, through
a spouse's or parent's group health plan.

The effective date for the plan, which will cover the 2009-10 school
year, is Aug. 1, 2009, for returning students and Sept. 1 for new
students.  Students can purchase the plan for themselves only, or for
their spouses and/or dependent children as well.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota will administer the medical
benefits, Express Scripts Inc. will manage prescription services, while
CIGNA HealthCare will administer the dental and mental health benefits
and wellness programs.  Vision Service Plan (VSP) and HearUSA will
administer the vision and hearing care programs, respectively.

Coverage can continue during periods of vicarage, internship, or foreign
study.  In addition, students and eligible dependents will be able to
keep their coverage up to 12 months following graduation if the graduate
is working on a dissertation or waiting for a call.

For more information, visit www.concordiaplans.org
<http://www.concordiaplans.org>  or call 888-927-7526.

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If you have questions or comments about this LCMSNews release, contact
Joe Isenhower Jr. at joe.isenhower@lcms.org
<mailto:joe.isenhower@lcms.org>  or (314) 996-1231, or Paula Schlueter
Ross at paula.ross@lcms.org <mailto:paula.ross@lcms.org>  or (314)
996-1230.

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