Smart Pastor

photo credit: racreations

Christianity Today has an interesting piece up called, Blessed Insurance (Clever title, huh?), about the struggle more and more churches are having to provide health coverage for their pastors.  There are several factors at work.

1.  An aging pastorate that will have higher group premiums than a younger one.

2.  Denominations not forcing member churches to buy in for pastors thus lowering premiums for everyone.

3.  Younger pastors being forced out of their denominations coverage because the church does not want to pay the higher premiums when they can get away with paying lower ones out of the denominations system.

4.  The skyrocketing cost of health coverage in general.

This problem is most significant with older pastors.

I know a few years ago I was tempted to opt out of my denomination’s plan though not because of the cost but because of the horrific customer service of the provider at the time.

So what are the solutions?  The CT piece did not have many but it seems to me there are a few options.

1.  Try to get smaller denominations to partner together to buy coverage in bulk.

2.  Attempt to start denominational health co-ops.

3.  Wait for some solution from “outside” such as a government take over (my least desirable option) or free market principles to lower costs.  Another outside option I don’t think gets enough attention in this is tort reform as I know the costs that we pay to cover liability insurance for medial providers is staggering.  Every piece of equipment, every technician, every doctor, every nurse, and every medicine is covered by sky high liability coverage.

All have their downsides.  What do you think? What has been your experience?