UUA Church Staff Finances
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and their staff for financial competence and well-being. |
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Editor's Note
Dear Readers,
The '25-'26 program year has begun in earnest, and we're feeling the new year vibe, too. This issue contains important updates and reminders, along with a new resource. Read on to learn about:
- Changes to Weight Loss Prescription Coverage
- Annual Health Plan Audit
- Property and Casualty Insurance Update
- Insurance Team Webinar Series
- Roth Contribution Implementation
- Covenants for Staff Transitions
- Tune Up Your Insurance Benefits
As always, if you have staff or lay leader changes, be sure to use the links in the General Info section to let us know. |
Jan Gartner, Associate Director, Church Staff Finances |
Change to Weight Loss Prescription Coverage
We've made a change that may feel difficult to some of you; it was not a decision made lightly. Beginning January 1, 2026, the UUA Health Plan will no longer cover weight loss medications. Highmark will notify members currently using weight loss prescriptions, as well as their doctors, so care plans can be reviewed. If you are affected, we encourage you to speak with your healthcare provider about alternative options.
The Employee Benefits Trust Board spent considerable time weighing the importance of supporting members who rely on these medications against the long-term sustainability of the plan. The cost of weight loss drugs has risen sharply, and continuing to cover them would have required significant premium increases for all participants. In making this hard choice, we remain committed to balancing compassion for individual needs with our responsibility to preserve a strong, values-driven plan for the whole community.
At the button below, you can read the letter that has gone out about this change. We also encourage you to attend one of our Town Halls to learn more and ask questions. (No pre-registration necessary.)
UUA Insurance Plans 2026 GLP-1 Benefit Update Town Hall #1
Wednesday, Sep 24, 2025, 03:30 PM ET
Meeting ID: 949 8526 7900
UUA Insurance Plans 2026 GLP-1 Benefit Update Town Hall #2
Monday, Sep 29, 2025, 07:30 PM ET
Meeting ID: 986 0480 3875 |
Annual Health Plan Audit
Each year, the UUA Health Plan undergoes an annual audit to maintain the plan’s integrity and meet federal compliance requirements. As part of this process, RSM requests information from a subset of participating congregations. Your cooperation helps make the audit process smooth and successful, and we’re grateful for your support.
Some of our known RSM partners are Pratik Patel, Andrew Keklak, and Emily Dorin. Team members can change from year to year. If you’d like extra reassurance about the person contacting you, feel free to reach out to us at InsurancePlans@uua.org. |
Congregational Property & Casualty Insurance
Update from Hugh Dennis
Deputy Director, Church Staff Finances
Director, Insurance Plan Services
Please join me for the chance to discuss congregational P&C Insurance on either October 22nd from 1pm - 1:45pm ET or on October 29th from 5pm - 5:45pm ET. During these meetings, a joint discussion with our broker partner will focus on updates regarding our carrier alternative transition plan and timeline. We will include time for Q&A.
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Insurance Team Webinars
The fourth webinar in our series covers Life, Long-Term Disability, and Dental/Vision benefits. Whether you are a plan participant yourself or involved in administering benefits for staff (or both), you'll take away valuable information about these important benefits. If you can't make it, register anyway and you'll receive the recording soon afterwards.
Webinar 4: Your Life, LTD, and Dental/Vision Benefits
Coverage details, how to submit life insurance claims, enrolling in member portals
Tuesday, September 23 | 12:00 - 1:00 PM ET
2026 Open Enrollment Webinar: What's New & What's Available?
Join us for a quick tour of the benefits you can enroll in for 2026! We’ll go over what’s available during Open Enrollment and share any updates or changes coming to the plans for 2026. Whether you're enrolling for the first time or just want a refresher, this is a great way to get the info you need and feel confident about your choices.
Tuesday, October 14 | 1:00 - 2:00 PM ET
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Roth Contribution Implementation Continues
We're working behind the scenes to ensure that the introduction of Roth Contributions goes smoothly in January. Remitting administrators, please remember to complete these two required actions no later than October 1:
- Work with your payroll provider to ensure that your payroll system is set up for Roth contributions. (See the email sent earlier this week for details.)
- Fill out the Roth Implementation Readiness and Payroll Provider Survey.
Plan participants, you'll receive webinar invitations and additional information soon. Our team is excited to offer you a new way to save! |
Covenants for Staff Transitions
No staff member will be in place forever. When a professional leaves their position, regardless of the reason, it’s important to set their successor up well. A covenant between outgoing and incoming professionals is one piece of a healthy transition, creating shared understandings and paving the way for the new staff member to fully take on the role and identity of the position. It might not be possible or appropriate to have a covenant for every transition, but we hope congregational leaders will encourage the process in most situations.
Every covenant is unique, based on the circumstances and needs of the staff members and congregation. Our new Covenants for Staff Transitions LeaderLab article (at the button below) names a variety of considerations and links to samples based on work done by the Association for UU Music Ministries. |
Tune Up Your Insurance Benefits
Many of you have shared that you find our Benefits Tune-up Workbook a very helpful resource for understanding UUA benefit plan rules – eligibility criteria, enrollment windows, necessary documents, and more. While we typically update it in February and encourage leaders to complete it then, of course it is available to you year-round.
We've heard from some leaders that the Workbook is a lot to do all at once. What about completing the Insurance sections now? Especially if your congregation participates in our Health or Dental plans, with Open Enrollment coming up in November, this is a perfect time to get clear on eligibility* and to make sure your Subscription Agreement is consistent with the commitments you've made to your staff.
*As a reminder, eligibility criteria are set by the rules of the Plans, not by congregational policy. |
GENERAL CHURCH STAFF FINANCES INFO |
Communicating Leader/Employee Changes
New staff members or adjusted salaries? Change in lay leader roles? Please let us know!
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UUA Church Staff Finances provides general information to
help equip and empower congregational leaders in their decision-making.
We are not legal or tax professionals and we do not track state law. Congregations are solely responsible for their legal obligations. We encourage you to consult your own legal and tax advisors for specific guidance. |
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