The Church Pension Group (CPG) have released The Episcopal Church Medical Trust (Medical Trust) 2019 Denominational Health Plan (DHP) Annual Report and related infographic, available in both English and Spanish, at cpg.org/DHP.

“We understand the challenges many Episcopal Churches are having in managing the high cost of healthcare today; in the face of these headwinds the DHP has been successful in achieving its goal of containing this cost as compared to the overall healthcare market,” said Mary Kate Wold, Chief Executive Officer and President of CPG. “Our ability to leverage the purchasing power of the Church to negotiate competitive rates with top healthcare providers has allowed us to contain costs. At the same time, we are pleased with our success in working with dioceses to offer benefits to clergy and lay employees under the same cost-sharing arrangements.”

In 2019 the Medical Trust reached these milestones:

Healthcare Costs Contained

• For 2020, most participating groups received below-average rate increases, compared to nationwide health cost trends as tracked by leading consulting firms.•
• The Medical Trust delivered an average rate increase of 5.5%for 2020 as compared to an average forecasted rate increase of 6.5% among U.S. employers.¹

Employers Chose from Multiple Providers

• Participating groups enjoyed meaningful choice, consisting of both traditional Preferred Provider Organization and Consumer-Directed Health Plan offerings, through vendors including Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Cigna, and Kaiser Permanente

Groups Received Benefits Planning Assistance

• Groups benefited from educational and other support in choosing their plan offerings.
• Diocesan strategies aimed at providing competitive healthcare benefits for clergy, and lay employees were informed by strategic assistance from the Medical Trust.

John Servais, Senior Vice President of Benefits Policy and Design, commented on the future of the DHP, adding, “As the future of national healthcare reform continues to remain unsettled, we are pleased with the stability that the DHP offers the Church. Bolstered by the full implementation of our plan array strategy, the outlook for the DHP remains positive. We will continue to focus on cost-effective, comprehensive health benefits, and on vendor strategy, member experience, and healthcare delivery to ensure that we are able to offer plans that are relevant and affordable to our participating groups.”

View this video to learn more about the success of the DHP since its implementation in 2009.

¹Aon plc2020 Global Medical Trend Rates Report.

About The Denominational Health Plan

The DHP, established in July 2009 by the General Convention of the Episcopal Church through Resolution 2009-A177 and its associated canon, continues to help domestic dioceses, parishes, and other institutions subject to the authority of the Episcopal Church control the rising costs of healthcare. cpg.org/DHP

The Church Pension Group (CPG) is a financial services organization that serves the Episcopal Church. It maintains three lines of business—employee benefits, property and casualty insurance, and publishing. CPG provides retirement, health, life insurance, and related benefits for clergy and lay employees of the Episcopal Church, as well as property and casualty insurance, and book and music publishing, including the official worship materials of the Church.