Below are the answers to the some of the most common questions asked by members and employing organizations. Where appropriate, there are links to related information on Pensions.org.
If you have additional questions or need further details, please contact Member Services.
Highmark Medical Claims | Salary Changes | Dues Invoices |
Service Changes | Dependent Changes | Dependent Coverage Waiver |
Extended Medical Plan Coverage | Benefits Connect | BoardLink
Highmark Medical Claims
What types of services do I need to have pre-certified?
Pre-certification is required for non-emergency hospital admissions, scheduled outpatient imaging, and nuclear stress tests (excluding X-rays or ultrasounds). Please allow 7 to 10 days for the pre-certification process for these procedures.
All bariatric surgeries also must be pre-certified. There are special requirements for these services, so please allow additional time.
If you are admitted for an emergency, please contact ActiveHealth Management at
866-794-3127 within 48 hours of admission.
What is covered under the Medical Plan?
Medically necessary services and supplies are covered under the Medical Plan, including office visits, lab tests, hospitalizations, and durable medical equipment. If you want to ensure a service is covered under the Plan, please contact Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield at 888-835-2959 with the appropriate procedure code, which you can obtain from your doctor.
Has my claim been received?
If you are in the Highmark BlueCard program, you can register to view your claims online, or you can call Highmark at 888-835-2959 to get information regarding your claims.
Why weren't my medical charges paid?
Review your Explanation of Benefits carefully. Charges may have been applied to a deductible or the service may have required pre-certification.
I don't understand my Explanation of Benefits. Who should I call?
Members should contact Highmark directly at 888-835-2959. The Board can also assist you; call 800-773-7752 (800-PRESPLAN).
How can I appeal my claim?
If your claim has been denied, you have 180 days after the date you receive the Explanation of Benefits (EOB) to file a written appeal. Please review your EOB in order to determine where your appeal should go.
For a description of the appeals process, please see the appeals section in the Guide to Your Healthcare Benefits or contact the Board at 800-773-7752 (800-PRESPLAN).
Salary Changes
How do I report a salary change to the Board?
Please submit a Change of Salary form with signatures of both the member and an authorized representative of the church. Church treasurers and business administrators can also submit salary changes online through Benefits Connect.
How do I determine what should be reported to the Board as total effective salary?
Please refer to the Understanding Effective Salary booklet for the Board's requirements for salary reporting.
You may use the Total Effective Salary Calculator and the Dues Calculator to determine the impact on dues.
Can I report a retroactive salary change?
Yes. However, we can only accept changes back to January 1 of the previous calendar year.
How can I verify the current salary the Board has on file for me?
You can:
- Log on to Benefits Connect (if eligible) to view your current salary, service, and benefits information.
- Call the Board to request a Member Confirmation Form.
- Check the invoice that is sent to your church or employing organization.
- Review Your Personal Annual Statement of Benefits.
If I report my salary to the presbytery, is it forwarded to the Board?
Presbyteries do not forward this information to the Board. You must submit your updated salary information directly to the Board through the Change of Salary form to ensure accurate billing and benefits. Church treasurers and business administrators can also submit salary changes online through Benefits Connect.
Dues Invoices
Why did my church's or employing organization's dues increase?
Salary increases, new employees, rate increases, and retroactive charges are just a few of the possible reasons. Please review your invoice carefully to determine for which member/members the increase occurred. You can also utilize the online Total Effective Salary Calculator and the Dues Calculator to make your determination. If you have questions, please call us at 800-773-7752 (800-PRESPLAN).
Why doesn't my invoice reflect the changes we reported?
The changes were probably not received prior to when the invoice was generated. Revised dues amounts will appear on the next invoice, after the records are updated.
Service Changes
Who should report a member's termination or new service to the Board?
We prefer a Service Termination form, Service Change form, and/or Change of Salary form (as applicable) signed by both the member and the church or employing organization. However, we can accept the form signed by either the member or the church or employing organization, in which case we will contact the other party for their signature. Church treasurers and business administrators can also submit salary changes online through Benefits Connect.
Should we report severance packages with terminations?
Yes. Severance amounts are considered part of a member's total effective salary and are dues bearing. In addition, the severance amounts are included in the calculation of benefit levels and pension credits. See the Q&A Severance Arrangements Under the Traditional Program for more information.
Dependent Changes
Can my child be covered past the age of 21?
Yes. If he/she is a full-time student in an accredited degree program and is not married, he/she can continue to be covered until graduation or age 25, whichever comes first.* See "Children Turning 21" for more information.
Also, if your dependent is totally disabled, he/she may qualify to continue as a dependent.
*Please note: If your child was covered by the Medical Plan on June 1, 2010 and loses eligibility, refer to the Extended Medical Plan Coverage section of the Frequently Asked Questions page.
Do I need to report my divorce to the Board?
Yes. A divorce impacts your benefits enrollments, so please notify us as soon as possible. In order to finalize changes to our records, we require a copy of the divorce decree. See "Divorce" for more information.
Please note: Your spouse cannot be removed from your coverage until the effective date of the divorce.
Dependent Coverage Waiver
Can I waive coverage for my spouse and children?
Plan members can waive coverage for their spouse and/or dependent children provided they have comparable medical coverage through another employer or military services-related group healthcare plan, or employer-based retiree medical coverage. For more information, please see Administrative Rule 206.
Note: Choosing this option will not affect the benefit dues paid by the employing organization.
Extended Medical Plan Coverage
What if my child is no longer a dependent but still needs health coverage?
Effective June 1, 2010: The Board of Pensions has extended the healthcare coverage of the adult children (of covered Medical Plan members) who:
- are under the age of 26
- were covered by the Medical Plan on June 1, 2010, and
- would otherwise no longer be eligible for coverage by virtue of financial dependency, marital status, student status, or residency between June 1, 2010, and December 31, 2010.
Effective January 1, 2011: All adult children (of covered Medical Plan members) who are under the age of 26, regardless of financial dependency, marital status, student status, or residency, will be eligible for full coverage through their parents’ coverage under the Medical Plan. This provision includes covered plan members’ children, stepchildren, and adopted children:
- who are not currently covered by the Medical Plan, and
- who are not eligible for coverage under their own employer-sponsored health plan.
Benefits Connect
What is Benefits Connect?
Benefits Connect is the Board of Pensions’ secure benefits Web site that provides you with online access to your personal and Plan benefits information and some useful online tools.
Who is eligible to access Benefits Connect?
Currently Benefits Connect is available to active and retired members, surviving spouses, and church treasurers and business administrators. For active members, as well as retirees and surviving spouses, your home address must be in the United States and you must be currently enrolled for benefits or receiving monthly payments.
For treasurers and administrators, your organization’s billing address must be in the United States and your church or employing organization must be currently receiving a monthly invoice from the Board.
For more details, click on the “Am I eligible to access Benefits Connect?” link on the log in page.
What can an active Plan member do on Benefits Connect?
You can view your personal, dependent, service, and benefits enrollment information that the Board currently has on file.
The benefits enrollment information lists all the benefits in which you are currently enrolled (e.g., medical, pension, death, disability, optional coverages) and provides detailed information about each benefit.
You can submit changes to your demographic and dependent information online. The online tools include: Change My Address, Change My Email, Add Dependent, Remove Dependent, Edit Dependent, and Change Password.
You also have access to two calculators – the Pension Estimator and the Total Death Benefit Calculator. These calculators can be accessed from links on the pension and death benefit pages respectively. The Pension Estimator projects pension benefits by using your current pension participation basis and the anticipated retirement date you enter. The Total Death Benefit Calculator allows you to view the estimated total of your death benefits from the Board of Pensions and other outside sources.
What can a retired member or surviving spouse do on Benefits Connect?
You can view personal, dependent, and benefits enrollment information the Board currently has on file. In addition, you can view your federal tax withholding election, payment history, and payment options.
The benefits enrollment information lists all the benefits in which you are currently enrolled (e.g., medical and optional coverages) and provides detailed information for each benefit.
You can submit changes to your demographic, dependent, and direct deposit information online. The available online tools include: Change My Address, Change My Email, Add Dependent, Remove Dependent, Edit Dependent, Change My Direct Deposit, and Change Password.
The Total Death Benefit Calculator is available as a link from any death and/or supplemental death benefits page and allows you to view the estimated total of your death benefits from the Board of Pensions and other outside sources.
What can a church treasurer or business administrator do on Benefits Connect?
You can view the current address and contact information that the Board has on file for your employing organization. You can also view all the employees that the Board has on file for your organization, along with their current effective salaries, position description, and the effective date of the salaries.
You can also submit salary changes and/or confirmations online for the members currently serving your church or employing organization.
How do I register for Benefits Connect?
Registering for the site is easy. Just visit the Pensions.org homepage, click on “Register” under “Benefits Connect” and follow the steps to create your user profile, user ID, and password.
BoardLink
What is BoardLink?
BoardLink is a secure online payment system that enables churches, employing organizations, and individuals pay Board of Pensions’ invoices quickly and easily. Instead of receiving a paper invoice, you view and pay your invoice electronically through the Internet.
Is BoardLink secure?
Yes. BoardLink transactions are conducted over secure servers and all sensitive data, including your financial account information, is encrypted. Your complete financial account information will never be displayed on screen.
Can I pay my invoice through BoardLink before I enroll?
You can use BoardLink to make a one-time payment through the “Pay Now” option. At the end of this process, you will have the opportunity to enroll in BoardLink.
Can I change my Login ID?
At this time, you cannot change the Login ID for your account.
How do I view a bill?
After you log in to BoardLink, select “Search and Pay My Bills” under “Bills and Payment” in the main menu. Click on the blue “View” box to review the details of your invoice. Please note: You will not see your invoice details until you receive your first electronic invoice (the month following your enrollment for BoardLink).
How do I set up a recurring payment?
After you log in to BoardLink, select “Add or Maintain a Recurring Payment” under “Recurring Payments” in the main menu. Your recurring payment has been successfully established when the following message displays on the screen: “Recurring Payment updated successfully.” Your payments will be automatically deducted from the financial account you listed on the enrollment page according to the schedule you specify.