What health insurance coverage can I get as a minister?

    What are my options for health coverage as a minister? 

                Many churches and Christian organizations have discontinued providing employer-paid group health plans. In lieu of paying out extremely expensive, one-size-fits-all insurance premiums, some have opted to provide taxable stipends and let employees shop for their own coverage. The good news: you can choose your own. The bad news: the stipend may not be enough and securing coverage can be complicated. Health care sharing plan options can be more economical. But they don’t qualify as standard health insurance: health care providers can balk, and the monthly subscriptions are not tax deductible. The Marketplace (www.healthcare.gov) offers alternatives, including advance premium tax credits to help with the monthly costs. Watch out for unpleasant surprises, however, since the tax credits must be reassessed when you file your annual Form 1040 and may result in hefty repayment in-part or in whole. Selecting a high deductible health plan (HDHP) either on the Marketplace or from an insurance broker can be a good alternative, if you and your family are healthy. The HDHP enables you to establish a health savings account (HSA) at a financial institution to use for many out-of-pocket costs, including those not normally covered by standard health insurance (e.g., eye care, dental). Some churches and Christian not-for-profit ministries have adopted health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs). The rules are complicated and beyond the scope of this post but can help in the right situations. Finally, you may qualify for government programs through Medicare (for 65-year-olds) and Medicaid. Many ministers with young and low-income families see their children qualify for state Medicaid coverage.

This excerpt is a portion of our top 10 list for new ministers. If you would like to see all of the frequently asked questions ministers have you can visit this link.