Church Insurance

As an insurance agent who sells all kinds of insurance to include health insurance, this renewal year my family was personally faced with yet again a large health insurance increase (38% Increase) in insurance premiums for my family.  This is just one of many large increases that we have faced each year.  For my family of 5 premiums ranged from $1010 for the H.S.A. Bronze plan to $2,158 per month for the platinum plan.  Over the years I have decreased my coverage from the platinum all the way down to the Bronze H.S.A. plan in an attempt to combat the large year over year increases.  Now that we are at the lowest plan level option out available on market when I was faced with a 38% increase I was faced with two options.  Option 1 was was cancel our insurance and pray we don’t have any insurance needs that come up.  Option 2, I looked up any possible alternative options online.

Here is what I uncovered in the alternative market place.  I found several good options that were available which are: Christian Care Ministry – Medi-Share, Samaritan Ministries, Liberty Health Share, and Christian Health Share Ministries.  It is important to mention that none of these programs are insurance companies, but rather they are nonprofit organizations.  They are not regulated by the department of insurance so there is no guarantee they will pay for your medical cost.  They do require that you abide by their standards and they also have pre-existing condition clauses.  I say this as this is not meant for everyone.  All of these organization will require you to agree with their statement of Faith in God and abide by a specific standard of living.

As I reviewed each plan here is what I found from a monthly Cost basis.

(Cost for all 3 Share Ministries is based on an age of 40 years old and 3 or more covered individuals)

Christian Care Ministry – Medi-Share:

ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD PORTION	STANDARD MONTHLY SHARE	HEALTHY MONTHLY SHARE
$10,000	$253.00	$210.00
$7,500	$342.00	$289.00
$5,000	$429.00	$357.00
$3,750	$511.00	$434.00
$2,500	$637.00	$540.00
$1,250	$804.00	$669.00

This organization will feel the most like insurance.  It has built in co-pays and all bills are taken care of like a normal insurance plan.  They are part of the PHCS network (Broad access to nearly 4,400 hospitals, 79,000 ancillaries and more than 700,000 healthcare professionals) so your Doctors should be familiar with how to bill for their services.  This also ensures the bill will have pre-negotiated rates (verses you have to negotiate on your own).  If your Doctor is not under the network you can still go to that Doctor.  This would mean that the rates would not be pre-negotiated, so you would be responsible for the higher cost until you have met your Annual Household Portion (unless you can negotiate a lower cost on your own).

Office Visit Co-Pay: $35.00

Tele-medicine Co-Pay: $0.00

Emergency Room Co-Pay: $135.00

Hospital Co-Pay: $35.00

Medi-Share has no lifetime maximum shareable caps/limits.

Once your Annual Household Portion (Family deductible/Max Out of Pocket) is met your sharing amount is 100%

If you have a healthy family you can qualify for “Healthy Monthly Share” and your monthly share amount (premiums) can be reduced by 20%

Samaritan Ministries:

This organization, you will be responsible for paying the doctors or hospital directly.  You will be responsible for negotiating directly with each Doctor or Hospital in an attempt to lower the overall bill.  You would then submit the bill to Samaritan Ministries and they would notify all members of the shareable amount and each member would write a check directly to you.  At which time you would write a check directly to the Doctor or Hospital for their services.  The good news is for each dollar you lower your bill Samaritan Ministries will decrease your share amount, so you could owe no money for that bill depending on the amount of the savings.

Samaritan Basic: 

Samaritan Basic shares range from $100 per month for an individual 29 years old or less to $400 for a family of 3 or more with the oldest active Head Of Household 60 years old or older. There are 10 different amounts between those depending on household size and age of oldest active Head Of Household.

Initial Unshareable Amount (Sharing starts once a Need exceeds this threshold): $1,500

Sharing Percentage (The amount shareable once past the initial unshareable): 90%

Maternity Limit (The maximum that can be shared for a maternity Need): $5,000

Max Shareable (The maximum that’s shareable per Need): $236,500

Samaritan Classic: 

Samaritan Classic shares range from $160 per month for an individual under 30 years old to $495 per month for a family of 3 or more. There are 3 different amounts between those depending on household size and age of oldest active Head Of Household.

Initial Unshareable Amount (Sharing starts once a Need exceeds this threshold): $300

Sharing Percentage (The amount shareable once past the initial unshareable): 100%

Maternity Limit (The maximum that can be shared for a maternity Need): $250,000

Max Shareable (The maximum that’s shareable per Need): $250,000

For their Save to Share addition, the annual set-aside amount ranges from $133 for an individual to $399 for a family of 3 or more, with a $15 annual fee for all.  This is for needs over $250,000 in which you can sign up – So for us (a family of 5) we would add the annual fee of $399 plus $15 annual administrative fee which makes our monthly share $529.50

Liberty Health Share

This organization is similar to traditional insurance.  You would be responsible for your Annual Unshared Amount (AUA) first and than if the bill exceeds your Annual Unshared Amount that amount would then be shared assuming the bill meets the guidelines.

Liberty Complete ($449 per month) – Share Eligible Medical Bills up to $1,000,000 Per Incident.

Liberty Plus ($424 per month) – Share Eligible Medical Bills up to $125,000 Per Incident

Liberty Share ($395 per month) – 70% of Eligible Medical Bills up to $125,000 Per Incident

*Annual Unshared Amount (AUA):  $500 for an individual | $1,000 for a couple | $1,500 for a family

Christian Health Share Ministries

This organization you will be responsible for paying the doctors directly.  You will be responsible for negotiating directly with each Doctor or Hospital in an attempt to lower the overall bill.  They do not have a provider network with pre-negotiated fees.

Gold Program: $150 per unit, per month – $450 (for my family of 5) – $478 if purchase Brother’s Keeper (see below)

Silver Program: $85 per unit, per month – $255

Bronze Program: $45 per unit, per month – $135

Program Comparison

	Gold	Silver	Bronze
Personal Responsibility	No Personal Responsibility for medical incidentsexceeding $500; please see description and example above	$1,000 per medical incident	$5,000 per medical incident
Sharing limit	$125,000 per illness	$125,000 per illness	$125,000 per illness
Sharing limit w/Brother’s Keeper (more information)	Unlimited per illness	An additional $100,000 per illness, per year; up to $1 million	An additional $100,000 per illness, per year; up to $1 million
Hospitalization (inpatient/outpatient)	Included	Included	Included
Surgery (Performed at a facility that meets accepted standards of care)	Included	Included	Included
Doctor’s office visits	Incident-related	Not included	Not included
Prescriptions (more information)	Incident-related	Not included	Not included
Physical therapy/home healthcare	Up to 45 visits per incident	Not included	Not included
Maternity	Up to $125,000 per pregnancy or unlimited w/Brother’s Keeper	Only hospital treatment (up to $125,000 per pregnancy) or up to $2,500 for midwife services per pregnancy	Only hospital treatment (up to $125,000 per pregnancy) is eligible for sharing
Alternative care	Not included	Not included	Not included

You can also join GOLD PLUS BROTHER’S KEEPER which will provide additional share amounts depending on which program you sign up for.

Brother’s Keeper provides an added shareable amount against catastrophic illness or injury as long as it meets the CHM Guidelines.

Gold level members: Signing up for Brother’s Keeper provides unlimited cost support per illness (diagnosis).

Silver and Bronze members: Signing up for Brother’s Keeper provides an additional $100,000 of cost support. With each annual Brother’s Keeper renewal, participants receive an additional $100,000 of assistance, up to $1 million per illness.

Brother’s Keepers cost on average $100 annually per unit/member.  They cap family units/members at three so annual cost would be $300 plus a $40 annual fee.

 

My family decided to go with Christian Care Ministries – Medi-Share.  I liked the fact that it felt the most like insurance (requiring me to do the least amount of work).  In addition, I like the overall cost of their program.  By joining Charistian Care Ministries I lowered my max out of pocket down to $7,500 per year for my entire family and decreased my monthly cost down to $289 per month as we qualified for the Healthy Monthly Share.  That is a total savings of $721 per month or $8,652 per year.  Based on these savings if my family ends up in the hospital with a large bill I will still save $1,152 just in my old premiums not including my co-pays /  co-insurance / Deductible of $9,600 / Max out of pocket of $13,100.  At this point I am happy with my decision and I will keep you posted as we use this program.  Again, please keep in mind that this is NOT insurance, but it does qualify under the religious exemption under the ACA.  I understand that the program I picked may not be the best program for you and your family.

If you would like to save money on your Health cost please give me a call and I will help you and your family pick the best option for you.

Political Activities by Churches

The Senate rejected a provision in the House version of the Omnibus Appropriations Act that would have denied funds for the IRS to determine that a church is not exempt from taxation for participating in, or intervening in, a political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office unless the IRS Commissioner consented to such a determination, the Commissioner notifies the tax committees of Congress, and the determination is effective 90 days after such notification.

The “Church Plan Clarification Act” was introduced in Congress in 2013 but was not enacted. It was reintroduced in 2015 as part of the PATH Act, and corrects five regulatory issues confronting church retirement plans:

• Controlled Group Rules. The Church Plan Clarification Act establishes rules for aggregation of church-related entities for benefits rules and testing purposes that reflect the unique structural characteristics of religious organizations. Currently, the controlled group rules for tax-exempt employers may require certain church-affiliated employers to be included in one controlled group (i.e., treated as a single employer), even though they have little relation to one another. A modification is necessary to the controlled group rules to ensure that multiple church-affiliated entities – which may be related theologically, but have little or no relation to one another in terms of day-to-day operation – are not inappropriately treated as a single employer under the tax code.
• Grandfathered Defined Benefit (“DB”) Plans. Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”) section 403(b) church DB plans established before 1982 are called grandfathered DB plans and were intended to be treated and continue to operate as DB plans. The Church Plan Clarification Act would clarify that that such plans must comply with the benefit accrual limitations applicable to defined benefit plans under IRC section 415(b) and not the accrual limitations applicable to defined contribution plans under IRC section 415(c). This clarification would prevent unintended consequences that can arise from application of both limitations as provided by current law, principally harm to clergy who are lower-paid and closest to retirement.
• Automatic Enrollment. The Church Plan Clarification Act equalizes the availability of automatic enrollment for church and conventional private-sector retirement plans by preempting state laws that may be inconsistent with including auto-enrollment features in church retirement plans.
• Transfers Between 403(b) and 401(a) Plans. It is not uncommon for churches or church-related employers to establish an IRC section 401(a) qualified plan on their own, only to subsequently decide that they would prefer to participate in their denomination’s IRC section 403(b) plan. Current regulations, however, do not allow transfers and mergers between a 403(b) church retirement plan and a 401(a) qualified church retirement plan. This limitation on transfers and mergers increases complexity and administrative costs for church employers and creates more confusion for covered employees when they are covered by more than one plan maintained by the pension board (e.g., multiple account balances, statements, etc.). The Church Plan Clarification Act would allow for such mergers and transfers, decreasing the complexity and administrative costs resulting from current law.
• 81-100 Trusts. The Church Plan Clarification Act allows special tax-exempt investment vehicles (often referred to as “group trusts,” “collective trusts,” or “81-100 trusts”) to accept pooled church plan assets. Many church pension boards hold, on a pooled basis for investment purposes, plan assets and non-plan church-related assets devoted exclusively to church purposes, allow churches the benefit of the board’s greater resources, investment skills, and economies of scale. These pension boards are currently prohibited from investing pooled assets in 81-100 trusts, which forecloses an attractive investment opportunity that achieves diversification at low cost.

  The changes made to the controlled group rules and the provision relating to limits on defined benefit section 403(b) plans apply to years beginning before, on, or after the date of enactment (December 18, 2015). The provision relating to automatic enrollment is effective on the date of enactment. The provision relating to plan transfers and mergers applies to transfers or mergers occurring after the date of enactment. The provision relating to investments in group trusts applies to investments made after the date of enactment.

The Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015 reinstates and makes permanent the enhanced deduction for contributions of food inventory for contributions made after December 31, 2014. For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2015, the Act modifies the enhanced deduction for food inventory contributions in the following ways:

First, the 10% limit on charitable contribution deductions by corporations are made subject to a limitation of 15% of taxable income. The general ten-percent limitation for a corporation does not apply to these contributions, but the ten-percent limitation applicable to other contributions is reduced by the amount of these contributions. Qualifying food inventory contributions in excess of these 15-percent limitations may be carried forward and treated as qualifying food inventory contributions in each of the five succeeding taxable years in order of time.

Second, in the case of any contribution of apparently wholesome food which cannot or will not be sold solely by reason of internal standards of the taxpayer, lack of market, or similar circumstances, or by reason of being produced by the taxpayer exclusively for the purposes of transferring the food to an organization described in section 501(c)(3), the fair market value of such contribution shall be determined (1) without regard to such internal standards, such lack of market or similar circumstances, or such exclusive purpose, and (2) by taking into account the price at which the same or substantially the same food items (as to both type and quality) are sold by the taxpayer at the time of the contributions (or, if not so sold at such time, in the recent past).

Church insurance has taken some new turns in the past few months.  We have a carrier that is now offering a 25% Risk Management credit for those Commercial Package Policies that exceed $20,000 a year annually.  This is an amazing deal!!!  For those churches that qualify we at Integrity Now Insurance Brokers are able to apply additional insurance credits on top of this large credit.

You may be asking yourself what is a Risk Management Credit and how do you obtain it.  Assuming your church qualifies the only thing required is that your church takes an online course that takes approximately 45 minutes to complete and that is it.  Through this online course it will help you identify any property and liability risk that your church could be exposed to.  This way you and your congregation can take proactive steps to prevent someone from getting injured or property damage that may arise.  Not only do you save money on the front end but you also help prevent your insurance premiums from going up in the event of a loss.  Plus most importantly you protect your church members and church building.

It is the carriers hope that by offering this amazing program, when you obtain church insurance through this carrier you will be a more informed organization.  The great news is we at Integrity Now Insurance Brokers have seen the majority of large churches that we have quoted save a tremendous amount of money.  Call us today at 562-606-1030 x1 for your free no obligation insurance review and quote.

GuideOne Insurance is a Church Insurance carrier that really understands churches.  They recently came out with a new program for Churches that includes discounts for as much as 55% off of their base rates.  Churches will need to qualify for this program however here at Integrity Now Insurance Brokers we work with each church to ensure we are pushing for the maximum savings that each church can obtain.  Give us a call and we can help you out.

With recent court decisions being handed down in several jurisdictions regarding same-sex marriage, many religious organizations are coming across questions that haven’t been discussed in the past. To offer some insight, the following article has been provided by Lewis Roca Rothgerber LLP law firm, analyzing concerns around clergy or ministers performing same-sex weddings, same-sex weddings at church facilities and same-sex spousal benefits for employees.

With more than 40,000 religious organizations and churches as clients, Integrity Now Insurance Brokers is intimately familiar with the challenges and questions that occupy churches today. Many of the questions we have received recently are centered around the impact same-sex marriage will have on churches.

Ten years ago, Massachusetts became the first state to recognize same-sex marriage. When the Supreme Court decided United States v. Windsor last year, the number was nine; a year and a half later, the number is over 30, and climbing almost daily. What do these changes mean for churches that have a traditional view of marriage? Can a minister be forced to solemnize a same-sex marriage against his or her convictions? Can a church be forced to host a same-sex wedding ceremony? Does a church have to offer spousal benefits to employees in a same-sex marriage?

These are some of the pressing questions at the intersection of two important and colliding areas in constitutional law. On one hand, the Supreme Court held last year in United States v. Windsor, 133 S. Ct. 2675 (2013), that refusing to acknowledge same-sex marriages serves “no legitimate purpose” and has “the purpose and effect to disparage and injure those whom the State, by its marriage laws, sought to protect in personhood and dignity.” Where same-sex marriage is legal, traditional marriage criteria “imposes a disability” on such married couples by “refusing to acknowledge a status the State finds to be dignified and proper.”

On the other hand, one year earlier, the Supreme Court held unanimously that the First Amendment contains a “ministerial exception” that prohibits government from interfering with the selection of ministers, those who have “a role in conveying the Church’s message and carrying out its mission.” In the case of Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 132 S. Ct. 694 (2012), the Court held this ministerial exception as part of a broader, and not well defined, First Amendment right that protects churches from “government interference with an internal church decision that affects the faith and mission of the church itself.”

What does this tension mean for churches and other religious nonprofits, making practical decisions amidst an uncertain and ever-changing array of federal, state, and local laws?

First, there is a broad consensus that ministers (and their equivalent in other religions) cannot be forced to solemnize marriages against their convictions. Many state laws explicitly protect ministers’ conscience rights in this situation.¹ But even without such laws, there is a broad consensus concerning what the First Amendment already protects – ministers from being forced to participate in religious ceremonies against their will.

Second, when, if ever, can a church be forced to host a same-sex wedding or wedding reception? Churches in many states are protected because of conscience protections in same sex marriage legislation,² because churches are exempt under the state’s public accommodations law,³ or because state law does not prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.⁴ In those states that remain, and for organizations subject to municipal civil rights laws, churches need to be careful that they do not subject themselves to public accommodations laws by making their facilities available to the general public. A church does not necessarily have to close its facilities to non-member events or weddings, so long as it has policies and procedures in place to evaluate proposed uses and make sure they correspond with the church’s beliefs.

Lastly, must a church extend spousal benefits to employees in a same sex marriage? Failing to extend spousal benefits to same-sex spouses can violate employment discrimination laws and even the state insurance code.⁵ Employment discrimination laws often have exemptions for religious organizations, but the scope of these exemptions varies. For example, Iowa’s anti-discrimination law only exempts religious institutions insofar as religion, sexual orientation or gender identity as a bona fide qualification for a particular position.⁶ This sort of exemption would not allow a church to hire someone in a same-sex relationship, but then deny benefits to that employee’s legal spouse.

This is a highly dynamic area of the law, with new court decisions and legal challenges being brought daily. It is important for churches to seek guidance from legal counsel to make sure they know where they stand under the law today, and that they are prepared for any changes that may come tomorrow.

Integrity Now Insurance Brokers, Inc.

562-606-1030

www.churchpropertyinsurance.com

---

1 See, e.g., Robin F. Wilson, Charting the Success of Same-Sex Marriage Legislation, 2012, available at http://scholarlycommons.law.wlu.edu/wlufac/132/. See also Pew Research Center, States that allow same-sex marriage also provide protections for religious groups also provide protections for religious groups and clergy who oppose it (Nov. 20, 2013), http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2013/11/20/states-that-allow-same-sex-marriage-also-provide-protections-for-religious-groups-and-clergy-who-oppose-it/.
2 See, e.g., Minn. Stat. Ann. § 363A.26 (providing that a religious organization need not take “any action with respect to the provision of goods, services, facilities, or accommodations directly related to the solemnization or celebration of a civil marriage that is in violation of its religious beliefs.”). For a list of other states with similar protections, see Mirror of Justice, Hawaii Special Session Letter (Oct. 18, 2013), n.9, available at http://mirrorofjustice.blogs.com/files/hawaii-special-session-letter-10-17-13-1.pdf.
3 See, e.g., Colo. Rev. Stat. § 24-34-601(a place of public accommodation “shall not include a church, synagogue, mosque, or other place that is principally used for religious purposes”); Cal. Civ. Code § 51(b) (public accommodation law only applies to “business establishments,” which does not include churches).
4 Twenty-two states ban sexual orientation discrimination in their public accommodations statutes. See American Civil Liberties Union, Non-Discrimination Laws: State-by-State Information—Map, https://www.aclu.org/maps/non-discrimination-laws-state-state-information-map.
5 See, e.g., Letter from State of Washington to benefit plan administrators, insurance companies, and employers (June 5, 2014), http://www.atg.wa.gov/uploadedFiles/Insurance%20Equality%20Letter%20FINAL.pdf; Minnesota Department of Human Rights, Guidance for Employers and Employees on Minnesota’s Same-Sex Marriage Law, http://mn.gov/mdhr/employers/samesex_marriage_guidance.html.
6 Iowa Code § 216.6(6)(d).

Happy Thanksgiving!!!  This week, as you, your church and congregation are coming together in celebration, also remember to show appreciation for all you have been blessed with. Give thanks for good health, harmony, friendship and, of course, safety. Even in times of loss and struggle, it is important to also remember our blessings.  From all of us at Integrity Now Insurance Brokers, we want to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving! Five

5 Things to Consider When Purchasing Church Insurance

When it comes to protecting your ministry, there are many steps that should be taken. One of the most important aspects of ensuring your organization is protected from a severe loss is choosing the correct insurance policy to fit your needs. A common practice is choosing a church insurance company or policy based on price. However, it is important to consider your needs and values when weighing different insurance options as well. Consider the following five questions when shopping for insurance:

1.Is the company financially strong? A.M. Best is the insurance industry’s recognized measurer of financial strength. An insurance company with the rating A++, A+ (Superior), A, A- (Excellent), B++ or B+ (Good) is considered a secure company. These ratings are a good indication of the company’s past performance and their stability.

2.Is the coverage offered adequate? Often times, churches will have additional areas or structures associated with their ministry, such as a gym or coffee shop. Check the insurance policy and ensure that it covers all aspects of your facility. Be sure the coverage would protect you, and is a good value for the money you’re spending.

3.Does the company have a history of good settlement practices? Looking at a company’s history regarding past settlements can be a good indicator of the company’s ability to follow through on promises they make. You also want to make sure they are timely and fair. Look into a consumer buying guide or J.D. Power and Associates to find out more information.

4.Does the company provide value-added services? While the insurance coverage may be great for protecting your organization, also look into preventative resources available, such as risk management tools, assessments, training videos and education pieces. Additionally, discounts to vendors are another great added benefit.

5.Is the company easily accessible? Your insurance company and coverage policy are an important aspect of your ministry. It is important that communicating with a company be quick and easy, as often times, a matter that requires insurance perspective is of high priority. Additionally, find out if you can easily contact them with policy changes, if they have an online policyholder website or if you can make payments online.

Working with the right insurance company with the right policy can make all the difference in fully protecting your church facility, congregation and ministry. If the unthinkable were ever to happen at your church, make sure you have the right company to support your values and needs.

Integrity Now Insurance Brokers will ensure your church is placed with a carrier that specialized in Church Insurance and we will make sure you have all the needed coverages to protect your church and congregation.

Integrity Now Insurance Brokers, Inc.

www.churchpropertyinsurance.com

562-606-1030

Insurance is Confusing!

There are millions of blogs out there, with lots of information. I just read one about electronic proof of insurance. We don’t have it in California, but I didn’t even know it existed! In some states, you can flash a copy of your coverage on your IPhone, and voila, you are covered![1]

There’s an election coming up soon, and one of the issues is whether or not to have the Insurance Commissioner approve insurance rate hikes (California Proposition 45). The arguments can be confusing.

Some say, “We don’t want any more government intrusion!, others might say, “We need protection from the insurance companies!”

How many times have you thought that both sides have good points? But you may also say, “Why do I feel that the consumer can’t really win?”

The description of the jurisdiction of the California Commissioner of Insurance is stated below:

The California Commissioner of Insurance is an elected state executive position in the California state government. The commissioner oversees the California Department of Insurance, which regulates the state’s insurance industry. The Department of Insurance is charged with licensing insurance companies and reviewing their financial statements, establishing rate regulations, investigating consumer complaints and punishing insurers with fines or penalties for regulatory noncompliance.[2]

Proposition 45 would give the Insurance Commissioner the power to deny rate increases. Anything that might raise rates would have to be approved first. Some would say that is what we need! Others might say that it interferes with the natural competition between companies that helps to keep rates down. And of course, any increase in the oversight of government is something we, as taxpayers, pay for.

Whatever your opinion is on this and many other issues related to insurance, it is probably true that you would love to deal with a company that can work for you and save you the time of having to navigate the treacherous waters that are Insurance Companies!

At Integrity Now Insurance Brokers, we are your intermediary! We deal with the big insurance companies so that you don’t have to. We can compare the best insurance companies’ rates and coverages and find you the best deal.

Call now!

Integrity Now Insurance Brokers, Inc.

562-606-1030

www.churchpropertyinsurance.com

 

[1] Enhanced Insurance, Jenna Christianson, 2014

[2] Ballotpedia, 2014

You have insurance for your church now what?  Most churches assume they have all the insurance coverages they need or are supposed to have.  This assumption can be a bit misguided as many agents don’t understand insurance for churches or are only focused on price so they remove coverage to win the account.

Also most churches assume the language within each church insurance policy are the same no matter which carrier they have or are considering using in the future.  That is until they file a claim.

Determining what type of church insurance coverage you need for your church doesn’t have to be difficult. Integrity Now Insurance Brokers, specializes in church insurance. In working with a specialist we make obtain insurance for your church as painless as possible.  And because we have access to a number of national insurance carriers that also specialize in insurance for churches we can help your church from a budget point of view without sacrificing coverage.

A great starting point is to ask some of the same questions that you would ask about your own personal liabilities that you have at home or when your driving your personal car.

Insurance policies come in many forms and have many different purposes.

What (and who) do you want the insurance to cover?

What amount of insurance coverage does your church need?

Is the building coverage enough to rebuild your church in the event of a fire?

Should we purchase an umbrella policy to deal with a catastrophic liability claim?

Am I over insured?

How long will you need the coverage for?

What’s your budget for insurance?

When we think of the policies that a church might need, they could include: (Many churches only consider the first 5 coverages on the below list)

1. General liability Insurance
2. Workers’ Compensation Insurance
3. Property Insurance
4. Commercial Auto Insurance
5. Umbrella Insurance
6. Owned, Non-owned and hired auto liability
7. Directors, officers and trustees officers liability
8. Pastoral counseling
9. Employment practices liability
10. Sexual misconduct liability
11. Employee benefits liability
12. Lost wages coverage
13. Counselors liability (licensed and fee-based)
14. Equipment breakdown, including computers, boilers, and electrical equipment.
15. Newly acquired or constructed property (our limits exceed industry standards).
16. Pastor’s personal property.
17. Ordinance or law – building updates to meet with current building codes following a covered loss.
18. Stained glass windows.
19. Crime (Internal and External)
20. Inland Marine – equipment that is being transported
21. Personal Effects and property of others on a worldwide basis; for example, property lost on a mission trip.
22. Fire and security alarm upgrade – reasonable additional costs to upgrade your system when replaced due to a covered cause of loss.
23. Utility services interruption (direct damage and time element) for example, a storm knocks out usage of your utilities and causes damage.
24. Automated external defibrillators (AED).
25. Indirect loss, such as the loss of church income and tuition fees resulting from a covered peril, including a violent incident; e.g., a church intruder.
26. Earthquake sprinkler leakage.
27. Earthquake coverage for your building and business personal property
28. Green upgrade coverage – pays for the reasonable additional costs to upgrade to more energy efficient and environmentally friendly building elements and appliances in the event of a covered loss.
29. Key person replacement coverage – provides for the reimbursement of recruitment expenses to replace a senior or executive pastor who dies in a work-related accident.
30. Limited flood coverage – provides building and personal property coverage on a limited basis when loss or damage is a direct result of flood.
31. Group Benefits
    1. Group Health Insurance
    2. Group Term Life Insurance
    3. Vision
    4. Short Term Disability
    5. Long Term Disability
    6. Group Pet Insurance

As you can see there are many different types of insurance that can be included in your policy or excluded from a policy.  it is important to have a trusted advisor like Integrity Now Insurance Brokers to ensure your church insurance program is structured to protect your churches and your church members. There are many ways that insurance can benefit your church.

Please contact us to find out how we can help you with your insurance needs.

Integrity Now Insurance Brokers, Inc.

www.ChurchPropertyInsurance.com

562-606-1030

There are many articles in the news today about churches being sued for being “politically incorrect”. It is such a sensitive issue that many churches are split on how to deal with it.

This article is not going to be about love and grace. We will assume that your church already has love and grace in abundance. This is about what to do if you are not sure how to avoid possible lawsuits in this area.

There is a push today by the media to support alternate lifestyles. The government seems to be split regarding personal lifestyle issues and the states themselves have differing laws. Some churches are refusing to accommodate those whose lifestyles go against their core beliefs and then other churches have no problem with different lifestyles. In the middle are those who either are split on what they believe or not sure whether to take a stand. You might be asked to either officiate at an event or simply allow a group or individuals to use your facilities.

If you are concerned about this, I can tell you the conclusion that we have come to here at Integrity Now Insurance Brokers. Although some would say it is unnecessary and that the risk of a lawsuit is very low, it would probably be a good time to be sure that your church’s bylaws accurately reflect your core beliefs. The reality is that having things written down always bodes well when you are facing litigation.

Do it before it becomes an issue for your church. The longer your bylaws have reflected the beliefs that your church stands for, the better.

Integrity Now Insurance Brokers, Inc.

www.ChurchPropertyInsurance.com

562-606-1030

Unfortunately, there are many kinds of lawsuits that that can be filed against churches.

There could be an accident on church property, or an allegation made of sexual or other misconduct. Suddenly, the church is involved in litigation.

When there are close ties to church leaders, this can really cause complications. If you peruse the newspaper or Internet today, you will see many cases like this. Churches are like families, and in many cases there are many members of the same family involved in a church.

Any person involved in church business should be vetted. And in the case of childcare or youth ministry, it is especially important that the person be well-known. It is preferable that they have been in the church for six months to a year prior to being placed in a position of authority, and background checks and reference checks must be done. When working with children, two people should always work together. This is for their protection as much as it is for the protection of the child. If there are any questions about the character of one worker, the other can vouch for them.

It might be tempting to overlook these things when the new childcare worker is the pastor’s nephew, but there have been many sad cases of misconduct…whether the person is related to the pastor or not.

At Integrity Now Insurance Brokers, our goal is to protect your church from unnecessary lawsuits, but if a lawsuit should happen, you will know you have the coverage you need. Please give us a call for a free quote.  You can also request that we provide you with a sample document call “Child Protection Policy and Procedures”.  This is an extensive document to help you get started on protecting your children.  This is just one of many documents we provide to our clients to help keep their church safe.

Integrity Now Insurance Brokers, Inc.

www.ChurchPropertyInsurance.com

562-606-1030

We are approaching another season for evaluating our healthcare programs. What have we learned about the Affordable Care Act in regards to churches? In many cases coverage is not what consumers expected it to be and premiums are much higher.

Tax implications have changed. There is not a “one size fits all” scenario. Your plan depends on many things; your pastor’s salary, coverage needed and the size of the church. Will the church pay for all or part of the expense of the plan?

Pastors must have coverage. Church leaders have a responsibility to see that their pastor’s compensation package provides coverage, or that the compensation package is adequate for the pastor to purchase coverage for himself. It may be cheaper for the church to purchase the policy itself, since up to 35% will be subsidized by the federal government.

Church healthcare plans must be a “qualified” health plan. At Integrity Now Insurance Brokers, we have the expertise you need you help you find the best plan for your church.

This is a good time to start thinking about your church’s health plan for 2015. Don’t wait until the last minute.

Integrity Now Insurance Brokers, Inc.

www.ChurchPropertyInsurance.com

562-606-1030

If your church is located in Texas we are finding significant savings in this state.  I would almost dare to state that 95% of all churches located in Texas in which we quote with one of our carrier does in fact save money on their insurance.  I know what people are thinking 95%, well the facts are the facts.  I have not quoted a very many churches in Texas that has not seen savings on their church insurance quote.  If you live in Texas I would highly recommend that you give us a call today.

Integrity Now Insurance Brokers, Inc.

www.ChurchPropertyInsurance.com

562-606-1030

A local church recently found out that an estimated $600,000 was stolen from their Church.” The church who reported the theft said the theft included cash, checks and envelopes containing written credit card information. Many churches believe they are protected from these types of incidents as they trust their church family who are counting money each week. While the size of this theft is very large the dollar amount should not be the focus.

Integrity Now Insurance Brokers recommend that churches develop a policy and then make sure they institute the plan for how and where the church offering is safeguarded to prevent internal and external theft. Most churches have a policy in place however many churches over time only follow part of the plan or don’t follow the plan at all. Many times as churches grow and shrink major changes happen and the new church members are not aware a plan exist.

Each church may have a different way that works best for them which is important, however the most important thing is to ensure the plan is being followed at all times.   Not every plan is perfect but having a plan is better then not having one at all.

A few questions worth asking when evaluating your church’s policy on handling money:

1. Do we count and record offerings immediately after they are received?
2. Are offerings always stored in a secure or well-supervised area?
3. If the offering is kept is a locked location is the combination limited to a couple of church members or Sr. Leadership?
4. Do we make sure that offerings are never handled by only one person before they are counted and recorded?
5. Is the person making the deposit different from the person who counted the offering?
6. Does the church provide its’ members with an annual receipts for giving?
7. Do all church accounts fall under the general accounting and auditing structure of the church?
8. Are all persons authorized and able to write checks against church funds held responsible through an accounting-auditing system?
9. Does the church require two signature for all checks?
10. Do we make sure the same person is not involved in more than one of the financial procedures of the church (collecting the funds, counting them, recording the giving, authorizing expenditures, writing the checks, auditing the accounts)?
11. Do we provide the bank with annual updates of persons authorized to sign checks against any account associated with the church?
12. Is check signing authority limited to no more than four members of the church?

These are just a few safeguards your church should have in place.  As a church you may find it important to add additional items to this list to ensure the protection of your church offering.  Some churches will assign off-duty police officers to also accompany the funds until they are deposited.  This off-duty office may be armed or un-armed.

If you would like to know more about what your can do to safeguard your church offering please give us a call and we would be more then happy to help.

Integrity Now Insurance Brokers, Inc.

www.ChurchPropertyInsurance.com

562-606-1030 x1

Integrity Now Insurance Brokers can help you obtain all of the needed insurance for your upcoming mission trip.  Check out our website to obtain the needed form in order to obtain a quote.  We can help you with coverage for your church owned vehicles and/or your private owned cars that will be driven by your church members.