New Office Location
Please note our new address effective May 1, 2023:
A1-844 McLeod Ave.
Winnipeg, MB R2G 2T7
Phone and email have not changed.
Top 5 Reasons to Serve on the GSI Board
GSI is looking for new board members! Here’s what outgoing member Pamela Giles has to say about her experience.
Serving on the GSI Board for the past decade has been a great experience for me. Now that my second term is completed, I’d like to share my story and encourage you to apply to become a Board Member. Here are a few aspects of this role that I appreciated:
- Professional development. I was originally elected as a non-rostered Pension Plan Member who knew very little about pensions, investments, or benefits plans. We often have presentations about these topics at Board meetings, and Board members are encouraged to attend conferences such as those put on by Canadian Pension and Benefits Institute, at GSI’s expense.
—Though I still have much to learn about investments, my deeper understanding of pensions and benefits plans has proved useful for myself, my family, and my friends — including those who don’t work in the ELCIC. - Getting to know great people. My learning did not come only from conferences and presentations. The other board members and the GSI staff all share their particular expertise. Through them, I’ve learned not only about topics relevant to GSI and the ELCIC, but also useful tips about travel, money-saving, fashion, fine dining, photography, fitness, music, and much more.
—There has been so much laughter! I always felt supported, encouraged, and appreciated. I will remain friends with some of my former Board member colleagues even now that my time among them is done. - Building your resume. Board service looks great on a resume and demonstrates skills that aren’t part of your regular job. This is especially valuable for an early-career, non-rostered plan member, like I was when I started.
—The GSI board is a great experience among not-for-profit boards: everything is very well organized, and you know exactly what is expected of you; there’s no expectation that you will donate to the organization (in fact, you can’t!); and the time commitment is not onerous. In my day job as a fundraising consultant, I’ve personally found that potential clients are impressed that I’ve served on the executive of a national board specializing in pension and benefits. - Trips to Winnipeg. Before my time on the Board, Winnipeg was not high on my list of “places I’m eager to visit.” But my semi-annual visits for our meetings have given me a great appreciation for the city. During my tenure, the Board visited the Human Rights Museum twice; the first time, it wasn’t even quite finished being built. I’ve enjoyed exploring the Forks, downtown, and Saint Boniface on foot in the evenings.
—I joined the Board for supper at many excellent restaurants, and I enjoyed touring the GSI Office and the National ELCIC and CLWR office space. I will really miss those trips! - Making a difference. The Board works collaboratively with the Executive Director, Lisa Thiessen, and decisions are made as a group. However, there have been many times when my own ideas helped shape those decisions. I have many friends who are members of the ELCIC Pension and Benefits Plans, and it feels really good to know that I have been involved in improving those Plans.
We still have a vacancy for the term starting in September 2023. If you or someone you know might be interested, we would love to hear from you. Please call the office (1-877-352-4247) or complete a biographical data form and forward it info@elcicgsi.ca. More information is available on the GSI website.
ELCIC Pension Plan Annual Report 2022
The 2022 ELCIC Pension Plan Annual Report tells the pension story of the past year. This year, we’ve used a “trees” theme. Please take a few moments to read about the pension activities in 2022.
Please review your invoice each month to ensure it is accurate. Balancing the invoice to your accounting records on a regular basis will help to catch discrepancies early and make adjustments easier.
Please let us know if there is a change to the salary. Permanent changes (i.e., annual increase) can be submitted on the salary calculation form. For hourly employees where the earnings fluctuate each month, a quick email to invoices@elcicgsi.ca allows us to issue a correct invoice.
GSI sent a taxable benefit statement in July for the first half of the year. This included certain benefits that are part of the ELCIC Group Benefits Plan that are deemed to be taxable benefits by Canada Revenue Agency. This means that they are considered to be the equivalent of salary and must be reported on your payroll records. Further instructions are provided with the statement as applicable, but please call the GSI office if you have any questions about the statement.
ELCIC Group Benefits Plan: Facts & Stats
GSI would like to share information on your enrolled employees’ use of the Health Benefits.
We understand that for many congregations, the Health Premiums are a financial challenge. These statistics provide some insights on how well the plan is used and demonstrate that it is appreciated.
During 2022 there were 475 members eligible to make claims:
- 381 enrolled for the whole year,
- 40 new members who enrolled part way during the year, and
- 54 members who terminated part way during the year.
Regular Plan Usage (Blue, Green, Teal Combined)
Spending Accounts excluded. These are shown separately below.
The Health Benefits are well used: 448 members made at least one claim, and only 6% of members have not made a claim. There was an average of 36 claims per member and, of those making a claim, an average annual claim amount of $2,124 per member.
Claimant Data by $ Band*
| Dollar Band of Claim | Percentage of Members (475) | Number of Claims | Amount Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0 to $999 | 45% | 2,879 | $87,859 |
| $1,000 to $2,499 | 25% | 4,349 | $191,544 |
| $2,500 to $4,999 | 15% | 4,233 | $253,501 |
| $5,000 to $7,499 | 4% | 1,896 | $126,067 |
| $7,500 to $9,999 | 3% | 1,769 | $110,898 |
| $10,000+ | 2% | 975 | $181,537 |
| no claims | 6% | 0 | 0 |
| 100% | 16,101 | $951,406 |
There were 1,021 claimants in 2022; this number includes 448 of the 475 members, along with plan members’ spouses and dependent children (aged 0 to 24).
Claimant Data by Age Band*
| Age Band | Population | Percentage of Claimants (1,021) | Number of Claims | Amount Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-24 | 31% | 22% | 1,841 | $154,998 |
| 25-39 | 6% | 9% | 1,100 | $69,228 |
| 40-54 | 24% | 25% | 3,630 | $227,420 |
| 55+ | 39% | 44% | 9,530 | $499,760 |
| 100% | 100% | 16,101 | $951,406 |
While 44% of the claimants are age 55+, this group made up 59% of the number of claims made. The children of plan members represent 22% of the claimants but only 16% of the cost.
Prescription drugs account for the largest number of claim dollars. A review of the common indications ranked by the amount paid is provided to give insight to health challenges of our plan members.
Usage Data by Indication*
| Most Common Indications | # of Claimants1,2 | # of Claims | Amount Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inflammatory conditions | 6 | 61 | $76,750 |
| Diabetes | 105 | 1,161 | $72,797 |
| Depression | 215 | 1,368 | $34,767 |
| High blood pressure | 231 | 1,679 | $22,380 |
| Attention deficit disorder | 36 | 280 | $22,742 |
| Asthma | 122 | 385 | $16,581 |
| Ulcer | 140 | 551 | $15,573 |
| Cardiovascular disease | 47 | 198 | $12,425 |
| Infections | 263 | 488 | $12,122 |
| Allergy | 131 | 359 | $12,098 |
Notes:
- number of claimants may include more than one person in a household
- where the number of claimants for a particular indicator was 5 or less, the data was excluded to protect privacy
During 2022, claims for professional services (paramedicals) totaled just under $350,000. Counselling visits accounted for 43% of the claims, followed by 16% for massage therapy, 10% for chiropractor and 9% for physiotherapist.
Dental claims were made by 402 of 475 members (85%), for themselves or their family, for a total of 878 claimants accessing dental care in 2022. 28% of the claimants were dependent children.
Spending Account Usage
The Spending Accounts were a new feature of the Group Benefits Redesign starting in 2021.
The HealthCare Spending Account (HCSA) can be used to pay for health and dental costs when the claims exceed the maximums in the Module the member has selected. It allows for flexibility so members can tailor how they use their plan. It can also be used for eligible health expenses that are not covered in the modules.
The LifeStyle Spending Account (LSA) was provided for 2021 and 2022 to be used for fitness, counselling, daycare, pet care, and education. Anything claimed under the LSA is a taxable benefit, including CPP +EI.
Usage Data by Module*
| Module | % of members claiming | % of available funds claimed |
|---|---|---|
| Blue | 40% | 29% |
| Green | 48% | 39% |
| Teal | 63% | 49% |
The utilization of the Spending Accounts has been lower than the traditional benefits. One possible explanation is that it’s still a fairly new feature, and members are exploring how they might best use it. The 2022 utilization presented here is higher than the usage had been in 2021.
The spend allocation can be carried forward one year, and several members used up the balance from 2021 in 2022.
The LSA utilization was significantly lower in both 2021 and 2022 than was that of the HCSA. In its evaluation of the redesign, GSI decided to roll the funds previously allocated to the LSA into the HCSA. Several factors led to this change:
- prioritization of member health
- simplify the plan design to promote higher usage and reduce the administrative burden on Treasurers
- remove the taxable benefit, which had resulted in less money available to the Plan Member (because some goes to the government as tax)
The flexibility of the HCSA should allow members to claim for the costs of co-pays and healthcare above Plan maximums, thus freeing up their personal budget for wellness activities.
GSI is pleased to Sponsor the ELCIC Group Benefits Plan and provide this health coverage.
Have a question for GSI?
Information and resources can also be found on the GSI website.