GuideStone’s health plans already meet several provisions of new healthcare law

April 8, 2010

DALLAS — While many questions remain surrounding the impact of the new Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) signed into law by President Barack Obama March 23, GuideStone’s plans already meet several elements of the new law.

Participants in GuideStone’s health plans can already enjoy these benefits:

• All but one GuideStone health plan provide unlimited annual and lifetime benefits. A provision of the law will prohibit lifetime and annual limits on benefits. This feature has been a benefit from GuideStone for more than a decade.
• While the new law prohibits health plans from cancelling a participant’s coverage for excessive claims, GuideStone has never cancelled coverage for a participant due to the participant’s claims.
• GuideStone health plans will be expanded to include eligible dependents up to age 26. This change is effective immediately, and families affected by this change should contact GuideStone.
• PPACA requires that group health plans provide coverage for dependent children up to age 26 regardless of student status. In 2005, GuideStone removed student status as a requirement for eligibility in our health plans.

“GuideStone has been providing health plans for Southern Baptist churches and ministries for more than a half century,” GuideStone President O.S. Hawkins said. “During that time, we have seen many changes in how healthcare plans are designed and how they are administered. We anticipate that the nature and scope of this legislation will be a key area of focus for years to come.”

GuideStone, in cooperation with other denominations, is monitoring legislative issues to determine the impact the legislation has on church plans. For example, due to the nature of our Southern Baptist Convention polity, GuideStone cannot mandate that all Southern Baptist churches insure their ministers and employees in GuideStone’s health plans. Because of this polity and in order to maintain a viable health plan for its participants, GuideStone uses underwriting to determine eligibility. One provision of the new law (that does not begin until 2014) prohibits health plans from denying coverage on the basis of pre-existing conditions. GuideStone, like all private insurers, will be studying the future impacts of such provisions on our plans.

“We are working diligently to make known to Congress the unique nature and needs of church health plans and the past provisions that have enabled church plans to serve their participants. We pledge to remain informed as events unfold and to keep our participants abreast of issues as we continue to be an advocate for our participants and their ministries,” Hawkins said.