We constantly monitor the market to identify vendors that can help us enhance the benefits we offer and upgrade the services we provide.

Take our decision to move our dental benefit offerings to Delta Dental, effective January 2024. Delta Dental has the largest network of dentists nationwide, which means plan members have broader access to in-network providers who can deliver cost-effective care. In the first quarter of 2024, we had 3.4% more members in our dental plans and still realized 7% cost savings over the same period in 2023. Savings like this enabled The Episcopal Church Medical Trust (Medical Trust) to enhance benefits, like increasing the annual benefit maximum and the lifetime maximum for orthodontia services and eliminating the deductibles for two of our Delta Dental plans. These benefit enhancements allow member dollars to go further.

At the end of 2022, we began offering Hinge Health to Anthem and Cigna plan members and their eligible dependents at no additional cost. Hinge Health takes an online approach to addressing musculoskeletal pain and injuries. As of February 2024, more than 500 members had engaged with the program, completed nearly 19,000 exercise therapy sessions, and reported a 48% reduction in pain.

We look to Fidelity Investments, the recordkeeper for our retirement savings plans, to augment our internal resources. While our financial education specialists can help individuals understand more about their finances, Fidelity has even more capacity to offer consultations, tools, and education that can help participating lay employees and clergy set financial goals and achieve them.

This year, we are announcing a new benefit that will help members navigate complexities in the healthcare system, pursue even better healthcare outcomes, and save money. Beginning January 1, 2025, Quantum Health care coordinators will help Medical Trust members make the most of their benefits and support their healthcare needs. Throughout the summer and fall, we will educate members about Quantum, our vendor, and all it has to offer.

Finally, we’ve teamed up with an electronic solution provider to simplify the billing and payment experience, allowing our clients to spend less time processing payments for pension assessments, health plan contributions, and life insurance premiums. We plan to launch electronic bill presentment and payment for various benefits in the latter half of 2025.

As our participants’ needs evolve, we will continue to seek out vendors who can help us deliver quality care while lowering costs.