Policy on

HEALTHCARE BENEFITS

Effective January 1, 2016

Healthcare benefits in the Diocese of Iowa shall be administered according to the following guidelines for employees hired on or after January 1, 2016:
Congregations and the Office of the Bishop in the Diocese of Iowa shall provide approved healthcare benefits to qualified lay and ordained employees on an equal basis.

  • Approved Healthcare Benefits: Approved healthcare benefits are medical and dental plans approved annually by the Diocese of Iowa and administered by the Episcopal Church Medical Trust.

  • Qualified Employees:

    • Qualified employees are ordained and lay persons employed in Episcopal congregations and the Office of the Bishop in the Diocese of Iowa that receive pay for working 1,500 or more hours per year. A qualified employee may include their spouse and eligible children as dependents on their plan.

    • Employees of schools and other organizations in the Diocese of Iowa are exempt from mandatory participation, but are eligible to voluntarily participate.

    • Employees that receive pay for working 1,000 or more hours per year are eligible to voluntarily participate.

    • Employees that receive pay for working less than 1,000 hours per year are not eligible to participate.

  • Employee Opt‐out: Qualified employees with coverage from an approved source may opt out of coverage. Approved sources may include coverage through a family member’s employment, benefits through a government‐sponsored program, or coverage from a previous employer.

  • Minimum Employer‐Provided Healthcare Benefits: Congregations and the Office of the Bishop shall pay a minimum of 100% of the costs for single healthcare coverage and 80% of the costs for family coverage for qualified employees for approved plans. Congregations are encouraged, if financially possible, to exceed the minimum standard of health insurance coverage. Congregations unable to meet the minimum standard of coverage must seek the approval of the Bishop.

  • Parity: Approved healthcare benefits and costs must be available to qualified ordained and lay employees on an equal basis within each Congregation and the Office of the Bishop.

  • Existing Coverage:

    • Congregations and the Office of the Bishop with qualified employees hired prior to January 1, 2016 shall not reduce the existing level (single/family) of healthcare benefits or increase the existing percentage of cost‐share for coverage for those qualified employees without the approval of the Bishop.

    • Congregations and the Office of the Bishop with qualified employees hired prior to January 1, 2016 whose healthcare benefits are less than the minimum standard of coverage shall meet the minimum by January 1, 2016. Congregations unable to meet the minimum standard of coverage must seek the approval of the Bishop.