It's 2:00 a.m. when Pastor Mike's phone buzzes. His youth pastor is texting from the hospital ER, holding his three-week-old daughter who's burning with fever. The good news? She's going to be fine.
The crushing news? The $3,000 medical bill hits before their high-deductible insurance pays a dime. On a $45,000 salary, that's two weeks of take-home pay — gone.
Poor benefits can impact your church, staff, and families. Some may put off going to the doctor because it costs too much.
Medical expenses make budget goals harder to meet. And your deacons may begin to ask questions about benefit costs.
In the right situation, premium-level health plans are your answer. In this blog, you'll learn what they are and when they might be the right solution for your church.
What Are Premium Level Health Plans?
Premium-level health plans can be named many different things. For example, Marketplace plans are called “Gold” or “Platinum.” Other benefit providers may use another name, like “Premium.” However, these levels don’t refer to the quality of health care. Rather, they look at the benefits contained in them.
Overall, premium level health plans are types of plans where you receive the lowest deductibles or out-of-pocket costs. Unlike high deductible plans that focus on low monthly costs, low deductible plans focus on easy access to care when your church staff needs help.
Here's how it works: Your premiums tend to be higher, but your staff pays much less when they go to the doctor, need medicine, or have medical procedures. For example, Reformed Benefits Association’s 2025 Premium Plan has deductibles of $2,000 for one person and $4,000 for families. This is much lower than high deductible plans.
The best part? All plans cover preventive care like checkups at 100%. This helps your staff and their families stay healthy.
4 Advantages for Churches with Premium Level Health Plans that Have Low Deductibles
When it comes to offering a low deductible health plan to your church staff members, there are 4 key benefits you’ll see.
- A budget you can count on. Low-deductible plans offer predictable monthly costs, making budget planning straightforward. Rather than guessing at potential medical expenses, you can allocate a fixed amount for staff benefits, simplifying board presentations and budget approvals. Keep in mind that this predictability comes with higher monthly premiums, so weigh the trade-off between cost certainty and premium expense when planning your annual budget.
- Your staff can focus on ministry. When medical care doesn't pose a financial burden, your staff can focus on their work instead of worrying about doctor bills. When a pastor's child gets sick or a church secretary needs ongoing treatment, they can get help right away without the stress of money limiting their ministry work.
- Premium plans show good stewardship. Choosing good coverage shows your church members that you invest in staff wellbeing. This builds trust and shows that benefit spending reflects the value of caring for those who serve.
- Premium plans can be good for families. Church staff often have families with different health needs. Low deductible plans provide steady, easy-to-access care. This works whether you're helping a young pastor with a new baby or a long-time staff member with ongoing health issues.
What This Looks Like
Think about a young pastor starting at their first church with a spouse and a new baby. A premium-level health plan with a low deductible means predictable costs during those expensive early parenting years. They can focus on building relationships instead of avoiding doctor visits.
Or consider your church administrator who has diabetes. With a premium plan, regular doctor visits, and medicine, costs become manageable. Manageable costs keep your valuable team members healthy and productive.
Not sure if your church is ready for a low deductible plan? Here’s a quick assessment to find out:
Click to DownloadAnswers to Common Questions About Premium Level Health Plan Coverage
"Do higher monthly costs equate to poor money management for my church?" Think about total costs, not just monthly payments. Predictable costs help with budget planning. Good coverage stops staff from requesting emergency financial help and could even reduce sick time needed when keeping up with their health. When you invest in staff health, you demonstrate responsible care for those who serve your mission.
"I have a small church. Can we still afford good coverage?" Purchasing groups make low deductible plans possible by giving group buying power that single churches can't get alone. You get access to the same quality benefits that big companies offer their staff, but with people who understand both insurance and ministry.
"Are premium-level plans too expensive for our church budget?" Look at the total cost, including avoided emergency expenses, keeping good staff longer, and better productivity. Predictable costs often save money compared to unpredictable emergency expenses.
Making Your Decision
It’s easy to see that premium-level health plans match church values — they let you care for your staff while managing your church’s finances responsibly. They also give you the predictability needed for good financial planning and complete coverage.
At Reformed Benefits Association, you have access to several different plans that fit your church's exact needs. This approach allows churches to provide comprehensive coverage while maintaining the predictable costs that make budget planning possible.
Your next benefits decision impacts your staff for an entire year. Make it count. Download our Church Benefits Guide for all plan details, cost projections for your church, and information you need to make your next health insurance decision.
The information contained in this blog is for educational purposes only.