NOTE: This information applies only to HealthFlex participants. United HealthCare Group Medicare Advantage Plan/Guardian Dental participants can use the pages at right to find information on their plans.
HealthFlex Exchange is a group health plan designed for United Methodist clergy and affiliated lay employees and their families. This approach to health coverage gives participants choice, flexibility, and control over how they pay for health care while helping the church facilitate the best health coverage for clergy and lay workers.
Wespath has created this series of short videos to help explain various aspects of your HealthFlex coverage. Watch any or all of them. Find the video series
The New England Conference offers six plans from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) through the HealthFlex Exchange:
Learn more about HSA, HRA and FSA accounts
Some common features of the six plans are:
More info
Three Dental Plan – HealthFlex uses Cigna to provide dental coverage.
The PPO and passive plans use the Cigna Advantage Network. The HMO uses the Cigna Dental Care Access Network.
More info
Three vision plans are offered through the provider VSP
More info
Tax-advantaged accounts can help you save money for health and dependent care and get reimbursed for certain out-of-pocket costs. These are:
More info
*HSA contribution requires enrollment in an HSA plan and an attestation that you are eligible for IRS guidelines.
*FSA Health Care when used with HSA plans become limited in use. Limited to dental and vision expenses only until the participant notifies HealthEquity/WageWorks that the IRS-defined deductible has been met, then for all eligible health care expenses (2023 IRS-defined deductible: $1,500 individual coverage/$3,000 family coverage).
From health coaching and nutrition programs to telemedicine and work-life services, HealthFlex supports your health and quality of life, including Virgin Pulse, health coaching, Employee Assistance Program, MDLIVE tele-medicine, Weight Watchers.
More wellness resources:
New England Conference Wellness Incentive
All Active HealthFlex Health Insurance participants and enrolled spouses who have an annual wellness examination (physical) and submit this verification form signed by their physician receive $100 each.
Participants compare health plans based on pricing and features, then select the option that best meets their needs.
The Alex online benefits counselor 2023 and the How do I Choose a Plan? brochure (linked below) are tools to help participants choose the right plan for them.
Current participants make their selections/changes for the following calendar year during the annual election period (usually the first week to mid-November).
Those who are newly eligible for HealthFlex benefits are encouraged to take these steps:
*Enrollment deadline: HealthFlex selections (using the HealthFlex Enrollment/Change Form) must be made within 31 days of the eligibility date. If no selections are made within the 31-day period, you will be assigned the conference default plan: single employee coverage.
You will be unable to change your coverage until the next annual election period (November), and any changes to your coverage would not begin until the new program year (January).
Once you choose your HealthFlex plan, the New England Conference helps you pay for it. The Conference designates a premium credit, a fixed-dollar amount set annually, that participants receive to apply toward their monthly HealthFlex premium.
The health, dental and vision plan a pastor elects will determine if the pastor must pay a personal contribution toward the Health Insurance premium (Pastor’s Co-Pay) or have an excess premium credit that's contributed into the Health Savings Account or Health Reimbursement Account.
What is the cost to me or excess premium to be contributed to my HSA or HRA?
2023 Health Insurance Co-Pay Rate/Premium Credit Tables
What is the cost to my church?
2023 Church Blended Rate Health Insurance Cost
Participants use Benefits Access
As a participant, you can access your HealthFlex benefits and well-being programs through Benefits Access. Use these links to log in to or register
Benefits Access includes your HealthFlex plan details, shows your health account contributions, and provides direct access to medical, dental and vision providers.
You can access the following provider websites from Benefits Access without logging in again: Blue Cross Blue Shield or UnitedHealthcare, OptumRx®, HealthEquity®, and Quest Diagnostics®. You may need to complete a registration step the first time you use a link.
Spouses use Virgin Pulse