Portico Benefit Services pools together 16,500 health plan participants and negotiates health benefits for all of them as one collective group.

At Portico, we’ve seen the positive results of this collective power. It’s just one of the reasons Portico has been able to keep annual baseline health rate increases at or below 5% over the past five-year period.

The Portico Benefit Services 5-year average rate increase is 4% as of January 1, 2022.

Our 403(b)(9) retirement plan is a church plan, which is an employee benefit plan established and maintained for the employees of a church or church-associated organization. As a church plan, it is not subject to ERISA or DOL oversight, saving time, money, and effort. Clergy can benefit from significant tax savings when taking distributions from the plan by claiming the clergy housing allowance exclusion, only available through church plans — not banks, investment firms, or fraternal organizations. This plan also benefits from the large pool of assets we manage giving us access to industry leading investment managers and Fidelity recordkeeping services, often not available to smaller plans.

Learn more about our approach to financial health and investments on our product solutions page.

Portico offers a holistic approach to benefits with a focus on financial, emotional, and physical wellness. We curate cost-effective benefit solutions that support total wellness for those who serve including:

• Retirement Plans
• Health Benefits
• Disability Benefits
• Life Insurance

For congregations we offer a bundled benefit package that includes health, retirement, disability, and life insurance. This bundled package protects members from a variety of financial risks and serves them throughout their lifetime.

Learn more about our product offerings.

Portico offers an experienced team to guide your employees as they use their benefits. We meet members in their preferred channel whether it’s online, by phone, or even in person. Our team is here to simplify the member experience by taking the guesswork out of using their benefits. Our support includes:

• Portico Care Coordinators by Quantum Health to help employees navigate the often-complex health care system
• Condition-specific programs and coaching with personalized support for members’ wellness journey
• Financial planners and online tools that help guide members toward greater financial confidence

The Portico team will work in tandem with your HR administrator to provide extensive experience and support in onboarding, implementation, benefits education, member enrollment, and payroll integration.

We can provide a one-stop benefits administration experience, while you focus on your ministry. Learn more about the other ways we can serve as an extension of your team.

If your organization is associated with a church and is exempt from tax under Internal Revenue Code Section 501, you may be eligible to participate in a church plan, which is an employee benefit plan established and maintained for the employees of a church or church associated organization. This could include congregations, skilled nursing facilities, schools, camps, colleges & universities, or social ministry organizations.

Portico Benefit Services can serve any organization associated with the ELCA or one of its full communion partners. As a nonprofit ministry of the ELCA, we were established to serve church-affiliated ministries like yours.

Church plans are not subject to reporting and disclosure requirements required in Title I of ERISA, including an annual Form 5500 filing requirement, and are not subject to an annual audit requirement — saving you costs.

Determination of eligibility to participate in a church plan is dependent on each organization’s unique facts and circumstances. Set up a call and we can help determine your eligibility. Learn more about church plan status.