2027 HealthFlex

HealthFlex Benefits

The Rio Texas Conference participates in the HealthFlex Plan administered by Wespath Benefits and Investments for eligible full-time clergy and Conference lay employees. The HealthFlex plan is also available to lay employees of churches who have adopted a HealthFlex Salary-Paying Unit Sub-Adoption Agreement meeting the eligibility requirements of the Plan. HealthFlex is an integrated, wellness-driven health program that supports healthier lifestyles. The HealthFlex plan is designed to provide eligible participants with a comprehensive plan including medical, prescription, and wellness benefits. HealthFlex uses incentives as part of its strategy to promote engagement in healthy behaviors and wellness programs. In addition, to the HealthFlex wellness programs, the Conference also provides additional holistic wellness benefits for clergy and Conference lay employees, including spiritual, mental, emotional and physical care components funded by grants from Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas. In 2026 and 2027 the HealthFlex provider network will be Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS).

2027 HealthFlex Plan

The HealthFlex multi-plan option gives participants a greater choice across several HealthFlex plans with varying plan designs and the flexibility to choose the coverage that best fits the participant's health, financial and family needs. In 2027 participants will be able to choose from four medical plans, three dental and vision plans. The C2000 and H2000 will have a decrease in Plan funding for the HSA and HRA accounts. The final HealthFlex plan design summary is subject to Wespath's discretion and will be available prior to the Annual Election period in November for 2027. The HealthFlex rates in 2027 will have an average increase of 8.6% (B1000 +10.5%, C2000 +7.1%, H2000 +6.3%, H5000 +10.5%). The 2027 individual premium credit or PC will have an increase of 8% for 2027.

In 2026 HealthFlex will offer four distinct plan choices for participants:

HRA - Health Reimbursement Account, HSA - Health Savings Account

2027 HealthFlex Individual Premium Credit (PC)

The 2027 HealthFlex design will include a non-taxable premium credit (PC) of $1,182 per month. The PC is a fixed dollar amount provided to each HealthFlex full-time clergy and Conference lay employee participant. Participants will use the allocated PC amount to select a health plan in HealthFlex and pay for some or all premiums for the plan of their choice.

• The 2027 PC amount will be $1,182 per month and invoiced directly. This is a 8% increase from the 2026 PC of $1,094
• The PC will appear as a "credit toward purchase" when choosing a HealthFlex plan from all available HealthFlex plan options.
• Participants who choose plans costing less than their PC credit amount will "bank" the excess. The unspent PC balance will then be credited by HealthFlex to the participant's Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) or Health Savings Account (HSA), depending on the health plan selected or be used to offset dependent premiums. The excess annual amount (unspent PC balance) is not credited in a lump sum; rather it is available on a prorated, monthly basis over the plan year. Internal Revenue Code (IRC) limits for annual HSA contributions will apply. Participants can then use HRA or HSA funds for out-of-pocket eligible IRS health care expenses.
• Participants who choose a plan costing more than the PC credit amount, including the cost to cover dependents will contribute the additional amount by a personal pre-tax payroll deduction from their church to cover the cost difference between the PC amount they receive and their higher cost for monthly premiums (the participant's share of the premium cost).

HealthFlex Direct Invoicing for All Full-Time Clergy

To ensure the Plan is efficient and sustainable for the benefit of all participants and churches with clergy appointed full-time, any church where a clergy has chosen to not participate in HealthFlex will continue to be invoiced the PC through direct billing at the current amount as approved by the Conference. For 2027 the premium credit (PC) will $1,182 per month.

HealthFlex Transitional Grant

The Board of Pensions believes that Health Benefits should not be a hindering factor in equipping a congregation with the excellent clergy it needs for ministry. The Board established a grant program in 2019 with funds received from churches with non HealthFlex participating clergy to help clergy transition between churches.

• Upon District Superintendent's approval, the program may provide a six-month grant of up to $6,564 in 2026 and $7,092 in 2027.
• This one-time grant is to provide assistance with six months of health care coverage as part of a clergy's transition to a new church when the sending and receiving church have adopted differing contributions for dependent coverage or there is a loss of spouse's employer health coverage.
• Upon eligibility, the grant may also be considered for clergy transitioning to Personal Leave, Sabbatical, Family Leave status to bridge health coverage to another plan.

Family Health Care Assistance Grant Fund

The Board of Pensions has established a grant fund using the 2016 HealthFlex dividend to assist clergy whose base salaries are near the minimum salary level adopted by the Conference and paying for a significant portion of their salaries as a payroll deduction to provide healthcare for their families (P+ Family Rate).

• This fund will provide grants to align healthcare costs for clergy with the current P+1 tier cost based on the default plan (C5000).
• In 2026, the family grant amount is $729 per month or $8,748 annually (the difference of the family rate and the P+1 rate).
• In 2027, the family grant amount will be based on the default plan (C5000) of $727 per month or $8,724 annually (the difference of the family rate and the P+1 rate).
• These grants require a District Superintendent's approval and application grant request demonstrating need-based eligibility.

2027 Church Health Benefits Direct Billing

In 2027 churches will continue to be invoiced for eligible active clergy participants under full-time appointment and eligible enrolled lay employees:

• HealthFlex - (Full-time clergy 100% service appointment):
• The HealthFlex Premium Credit (PC) adopted by the Board of Pensions annually
• The 2027 Premium Credit is $14,184 ($1,182/month).
• The Rio Grande Legacy Fund will continue to fund The HealthFlex Premium Credit (PC) as adopted by the Board of Pensions annually for eligible Rio Grande legacy churches for full-time clergy enrolled in the HealthFlex Plan.

Additional contributions will be direct billed for benefits including any election above the PC, the cost of dependent coverage, Optional Term Life Insurance, HSA personal contributions and the FSA-Flexible Benefits Plan funded by payroll deduction.

2027 HealthFlex Individual Premium Credit

• Each eligible active full-time clergy will receive a monthly individual Premium Credit in the HealthFlex plan of $1,182 (funded through their Rio Texas Conference church) and will choose from six HealthFlex plan options.
• Participants who choose a plan costing more than the PC credit amount or who choose to cover dependents will contribute the additional amount by a pre-tax payroll deduction from their church to cover the cost difference between the PC amount they receive and their higher cost for monthly premiums. Covered dependents will be enrolled in the same plan selections chosen by the primary clergy or lay participant.
• Pre-65 Retirees and or dependents will be invoiced monthly for the total cost of the HealthFlex premium.

Lay Employees

Conference Lay employees who participate in HealthFlex contribute a 5% cost share of the PC from payroll deduction and any additional amount above the PC.

Lay employees of HealthFlex Church Plan Sponsors do not receive premium credit, allowing churches to set the employee/employer cost-sharing. The church elects' cost-sharing and will be billed on plan selections. A church must be a HealthFlex Plan Sponsor to offer HealthFlex to its eligible full-time lay employees. 70% of eligible church full-time lay employees must participate in the plan to remain a plan sponsor. Please contact the Conference benefit office at 210-408-4500 for information and requirements on plan sponsorship. New church plan sponsor agreements must be completed by September for a January 1st enrollment.

2027 HealthFlex Rates — Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) National PPO Network

2027 Default Plan

The HealthFlex exchange is a passive enrollment. Participants who are currently enrolled in HealthFlex for 2026 will automatically be enrolled in the same medical, dental and vision plans for 2027 if no elections are made during the Annual Election Period. New participants to the HealthFlex plan will be enrolled in the default plans for all of 2026 if no elections are made.

HealthFlex Personal Reimbursement Accounts

Eligible full-time HealthFlex participants may participate in the optional participant funded Health Saving Account (HSA), Medical Reimbursement Account (MRA), or Dependent Care Reimbursement Account (DCA) offered as a benefit funded by participant payroll deductions and administered by HealthFlex and HealthEquity.

Ancillary Benefits

Optional Term Life Insurance

The Conference provides an Optional Term Life Insurance for full-time clergy and Conference lay employees subject to the Prudential Life Insurance Company's underwriting guidelines. Eligible participants may elect group term life coverage as a personal funded payroll deduction.

Retiree Health Reimbursement Account (HRA)

A Retiree Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) is provided by Via Benefits for eligible retirees and funded by apportionments. The HRA is based on the stipend amount received by eligible retirees before December 31, 2013. As of January 1, 2025, there are 36 retirees eligible for an HRA. Eligible retirees must be enrolled in a Medicare Supplement or Advantage plan through Via Benefits (formerly One Exchange) to receive the HRA. To provide sustainability of the HRA benefit and not increase conference benefit plan liabilities and apportionments, the HRA is a fixed amount per eligible retiree and does not increase from year to year. Per the 2014 Unification Plan policy, the HRA stipend will not be offered to any other retiree not receiving an HRA as of January 1, 2014 and is a closed participant group. The HRA provides reimbursement for IRS-eligible health care expenses such as Medicare Part B premiums, Medicare supplement plan premiums, and out-of-pocket expenses such as co-pay and deductibles. To receive HRA funds, eligible retirees must submit a claim form to Via Benefits annually for premium reimbursement or as needed for other IRS-eligible expenses.

(Full report in the Pre-Conference Report.)