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Missing your quarterly retirement account statement? What to do!
Each quarter Wespath participants receive an email when quarterly statements are available in benefitsaccess.org. The next quarterly statement email should arrive in your inbox by October 12. If you’re not seeing that email, it may be in your spam/junk folder. If you have the option to approve delivery of quarterly statement emails (i.e., identify it as ‘not junk’), doing so will ensure your quarterly statement emails land in your inbox in a timely fashion!
Annual Election is coming soon!
Annual Election—the time to choose your 2024 HealthFlex benefits—is November 1–16! With important changes coming to several HealthFlex plans in 2024, it’s especially important to review your benefits to ensure they’re still right for you and your family. Follow these easy steps to feel confident when selecting your benefits:
- Visit the HealthFlex Annual Election webpage to:
- Understand your health plan options
- Receive personalized recommendations by using ALEX® Benefits Counselor
- Elect your benefits November 1–16
- Attend a webinar to learn about your benefit options and ask questions
- Annual Election Overview – Thurs., Oct. 26, 1–2:30 p.m., Central, Register today
- Prescription Coverage Overview and Q&A – Wed., Nov. 1, 1–2 p.m., Central, Register today
- Annual Election Q&A – Tues., Nov. 7, 1–2 p.m., Central, Register today
For the best experience during HealthFlex Annual Election, be sure you are registered for Benefits Access. To register go to Benefits Access and select “New User Registration.” If you are unable to register, contact Wespath Customer Service at 1-800-851-2201. Representatives are available business days from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Central.
Two important HealthFlex plan changes for 2024
BlueCross BlueShield (BCBS) PPO is your 2024 HealthFlex provider. In 2024 all HealthFlex plans will use the BlueCross BlueShield (BCBS) PPO network instead of the UnitedHealthcare (UHC) network. More than 90% of current providers used by HealthFlex members are in-network with BCBS, meaning your provider is likely in-network for HealthFlex. You can see if your current provider is part of BCBS with this short video.
New HealthFlex Savings Account Plans. Due to changes with IRS guidelines, the HealthFlex HSA plans have been updated for 2024. Find more information about these plans in our Annual Election resources, including the 2024 Plan Comparison.
Looking for detailed information on Wespath’s funds?
Wespath communicates in many ways with participants about their retirement benefits and savings, including via our website, Benefits Access and quarterly statements.
For detailed information about Wespath funds, including regarding fees, benchmarks and performance, look here.
For additional investment resources and information, see the Investment Publications and Reports page.
What does climate change have to do with homeowners insurance?
If you own a home in the U.S. and noticed your insurance premium has increased over the last several years, you are not alone. The national average for homeowners insurance has been rising for the last five years, with a cumulative increase of 19.1% between 2018 and 2023. Our latest blog explains why climate change is contributing to higher insurance premiums and intensifying the housing affordability crisis in our latest Investment Insights blog post.
Are you ready to embark on your retirement journey?
Planning for retirement can be daunting, but don’t worry—Wespath is here to guide you! Our upcoming 60-minute webinars share information to help you make informed decisions about your retirement. If you’re planning to retire within the next several years, this informative session will highlight crucial steps in the retirement planning process. You'll gain insights into distribution options, navigating benefitsaccess.org to make your elections, and much more! Click on a date below to secure your spot:
If you're unable to attend, a recording will be available for you to view at your convenience. Questions? Please contact Sheryl Hatcher at shatcher@wespath.org.
Housing affordability is an issue, and Wespath is working to address it
The statistics on home ownership in the U.S. are staggering: Only about 20% of home listings were affordable for the typical U.S. household in 2022, according to Redfin. Wespath’s Sylvia Poniecki explores the issue of housing affordability in our latest Markets at a Glance video. She explains why Wespath cares about homeownership and housing affordability in general—and how Wespath is working to address the issue.
Read our latest Monthly Investment Report to learn more about housing affordability, as well as a full recap on August’s market and fund performance.
| For Your Education |
Video: Wespath looks to General Conference in 2024 (GC2024) While fall has just begun, we’re already thinking about spring and GC2024 (April 23–May 3, 2024). This will be the rescheduled 2020 General Conference, which was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In this 3-minute video message Wespath’s General Secretary shares Wespath's priorities as we look to GC2024 and the future of the Church. Want to know more about GC2024? This UM News article provides a good overview of what it is, how it works, and what major issues will be on the agenda.
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