Health insurance for churches and ministries
Group benefits and QSEHRA strategies designed around the unique tax and staffing realities of religious organizations.
Schedule a Consultation
1
Employee is enough to start a QSEHRA
Tax-free
Reimbursements to staff, deductible to the church
< 50
Employees — the QSEHRA sweet spot
Why churches & ministries is different
Churches carry a burden most employers do not: a genuine obligation to care for the people on staff, and almost never the budget of a comparable business. Pastors go without coverage. Worship leaders and youth directors work part-time and fall outside eligibility. Administrators quietly buy their own plans and hope for the best.
There is a better structure. Between QSEHRA, small group plans, and voluntary benefits, most congregations can offer meaningful, tax-advantaged health support for a fraction of what a traditional group plan would cost — and without adding a benefits administrator to the payroll.
We understand your challenges
- Limited budget vs staff care obligations
- Pastor housing-allowance and self-employment tax interactions
- Mix of full-time, part-time, and volunteer roles
- No HR staff to administer a benefits program
- Losing staff to jobs that provide health coverage
How we help
- QSEHRA — tax-free reimbursement for staff health costs
- Group plans sized for small ministries
- Voluntary benefits employees can layer on at no cost to the church
- Plain-language help for the board and finance team
- Coverage that follows a staff member to their next calling
What we put in place
QSEHRA for small staffs
Set a monthly allowance and reimburse pastors and staff tax-free for individual premiums and medical costs — no group underwriting, no participation minimums.
Small group medical
Traditional group coverage when the staff is large enough to support it, with contribution levels the budget committee can actually approve.
Pastor-specific planning
Coordination with housing allowance, self-employment tax treatment, and 403(b)(9) plans so nothing works against your compensation package.
Voluntary & missionary coverage
Dental, vision, life, and accident plans staff can elect at no cost to the church, plus guidance for members serving overseas.
Who we help in churches & ministries
- Local churches and multi-site congregations
- Solo and bi-vocational pastors
- Church plants and revitalization works
- Missionaries and sending organizations
- Christian schools, camps, and parachurch ministries
The coverage starts with you, but it stays with them.
Employees can keep their benefits for as long as they want — even if they move to a new job.
Frequently asked questions
What is QSEHRA and why does it fit churches?+
It lets you reimburse pastors and staff for individual health insurance and medical costs, tax-free, without running a traditional group plan. Ideal when the team is small.
Can we cover a single pastor?+
Yes — QSEHRA and individual marketplace strategies work for very small staffs, even a staff of one.
How does the housing allowance affect health coverage?+
Housing allowance changes how a pastor's income is calculated, which affects marketplace subsidy eligibility. We walk through the numbers with you rather than guessing.
Can we help part-time staff without a full group plan?+
Yes. A QSEHRA allowance can be extended on a class basis, and voluntary plans let part-time staff buy quality coverage at group-negotiated rates.
What about missionaries serving overseas?+
We coordinate international and travel medical coverage for sent workers, and make sure they have a domestic plan waiting when they return stateside.
Is this complicated for our office administrator?+
No. We handle enrollment, documentation, and the annual review directly. Your administrator approves an allowance and we take it from there.
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