Despite the volatility in insurance markets that is making national news in the United States, The Corinthian Plan (TCP), Mennonite Church USA’s mutual aid-based health plan for pastors and church leaders, is still going strong and expanding its services.

The plan currently has 230 congregations participating and receiving health coverage for a pastor or church worker and another 335 congregations participating in the plan despite having employees who are not eligible or who have waived health coverage through the plan. In addition to payments for coverage, each participating congregation pays $10 annually, multiplied by their average attendance. These contributions go into the Fair Balance Fund, which provides subsidies to congregations that are unable to pay their full health premium amount. In 2018, the plan expects to provide $355,000 in subsidies to 35 congregations.

According to Duncan Smith, TCP director, national changes to health care through initiatives such as the

Affordable Care Act have not had a significant impact on the program’s enrollment. The current volatility in health-care markets due to congressional debates about the ACA have made the process of navigating health-care options increasingly confusing for some congregations.

“Some of the increases that the insurance companies in the marketplace leveled didn’t come until pretty late in the game because it wasn’t clear what federal rules and regulations were being changed,” said Smith in a Dec. 19, 2017, phone interview. “Some people saw changes in premiums very late, which made their current plans less affordable.”

Because of the volatility and in order to give congregations additional time to assess their options, TCP’s open enrollment period will continue through Jan. 31.

In addition to health-care coverage, TCP also provides cash-based wellness incentives and education for covered individuals and spouses. Smith says TCP staff also work to help congregations and individuals find referrals for quality, lower-cost medical care.

Overall, although the plan has seen a small decline in numbers, sometimes due to congregations leaving MC USA and declining to participate, Smith says the program is stable and there continues to be deep appreciation for the services TCP provides.

“TCP provides an alternative within the traditional health-coverage market for congregations and for pastors. One of the factors that came through in our survey a year and a half ago was that people appreciated participating in a pool with others they might know and know they are benefitting and sharing in some mutual aid with others,” he said. “There was a high appreciation and affirmation of the Christian ethics and values of the people that administer the program.”

To learn more about TCP or to enroll, visit http://mennoniteusa.org/what-we-do/the-corinthian-plan/. Open enrollment continues until Jan. 31.