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2009-04-07 issue:

Keith Harder responds to The Corinthian Plan letters

by Keith Harder, project director, Healthcare Access for Pastors and Church Workers

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Much has changed since July 2007. In addition to the changing political landscape, even more pastors are without health coverage and more are at risk of losing what they have. The health-care access problem of pastors is admittedly one small part of a much larger problem. But for these pastors and the congregations they serve, it is a big problem. We agree with what Everett Thomas said in the March 3 editorial: "Doing nothing because we cannot do everything is not an option."

Detailed information on the plan is available at www.TheCorinthianPlan.org. We believe this plan will work to lower the overall cost of health-care costs, partly with a strong emphasis on prevention and wellness, but many variables affect cost. The plan will follow the new federal guidelines for mental health parity that were adopted late last year.

The most innovative part of the plan is the way it will spread the cost across the church. It provides an opportunity to practice mutual aid in providing health coverage for our pastors, including those serving in congregations that currently cannot provide this benefit for their pastors. We believe that if we can make this work it could provide a model to provide broader coverage. This is a modest step on a long and difficult journey for our church and our country.

Editor's note: See page 21 for more specific details about The Corinthian Plan.

Associated Issue: A fair balance - March 3, 2009

Associated Article: Blessed insurance

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