Clergy Wellness
West Virginia - Western Maryland Synod, ELCA
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Portico Benefit Services

Portico and other entities continue to publish and offer various health and wellness resources. In an effort to declutter the clergy index page, we're moving them here.

Some items on the Education for Clergy & Laity also relate to health and wellness. You might want to explore those offerings as well.

We are also including on this page basic information about Portico's insurance and pension offerings.

Be sure to take a look at all your benefits under Portico's insurance program. Virtual doctors visits, online mental health, wellness programs, prescription drug service, and more can contribute to your well-being and save you time and money.

Portico Insurance and Pension Info

Annual Enrollment Dates

Time for annual enrollment in Portico's insurance and pension programs is soon upon us. Please note this important dates:

  • October 1-14 — Organization selection open.
  • Oct. 20 — Plan members (e.g., clergy) will begin selecting in waves.

All members and sponsoring organizations will be sent emails about their enrollment windows at the address that Portico has on file for them. Double check to ensure that the address is up-to-date.

Resources To Inform Your Health Plan Selection

Webinars

One last round of webinars for Regions 7 & 8 is coming up.

  • Webinar for Plan Members: Monday, September 22nd at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time — If you are sponsored in the Portico Benefits plan, this webinar will review the selections you have for benefits in 2026, explain Portico’s four new ELCA-Primary Health Plan options, and provide helpful information for enrollment. Register here if you plan to attend. After you register you will receive the ZOOM link.
  • Webinar for Sponsoring Organizations: Monday, September 22nd at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time — If you sponsor members in the Portico Benefits plan, this webinar is for you. We will discuss employer benefit selections, the health plan options for ELCA-Primary Health Plan members in 2026 and review the annual enrollment process. Register here if you plan to attend. After you register you will receive the ZOOM link.

While the webinars are not recorded, the material covered can also be found online at Porticobenefits.org (see below).

Porticobenefits.org

Information about health plans, pension, wellness resources are available online.

  • Plan members: the myPortico portal is your gateway to Portico information and resources.
  • Sponsoring organizations: use EmployerLink to access both general information and material specifically for employers.

Portico Customer Care

Phone numbers and hours for customer care are posted on both the myPortico and EmployerLink pages.

Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota

Portico partners with Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota to provide financial counseling and other services to Portico plan members. If you are challenged with managing medical (and other bills) and want to develop a strategy for the future (including selecting a health plan that is right for you), consider taking advantage of Portico Benefit Services’ Financial Choice service through LSS Financial Counseling. Click here to learn more.

Know Your Other Benefits

Portico is not just insurance. Numerous services ranging from online health care to mental health services to wellness programs are included in several of the plans or may be included as options. By entering through your MyPortico account and clicking on the Health Benefits tab, you can access information on the following and more. Take the time to explore the different services:

  • Virtual Text-Based Care: 98point6®
  • Mental Health Programs
    • Employee Assistance Program: Carelon Behavioral Health®
    • Online Mental Health Program: Learn to Live
    • BlueLing TPA
    • Well-Being Education: Being
  • Chronic Condition Management: Omada
  • Digital Physical Therapy & Mobility: Sword Health
  • Online Health & Fitness: Burnalong
  • Prescription Drugs: Express Scripts®
  • Dental: Delta Dental®
  • Vision Care Services: VSP™
  • Hearing Discount: Amplifon Hearing Healthcare

From Portico on the Wellness Front

Harness the Power of Rest

Just as every Sunday is a “little Easter,” every night offers a chance to take a “little sabbath” and restore your body through healing rest. If you have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or feeling like you’re getting a good night’s sleep, Portico members with ELCA-Primary health coverage have a wealth of resources to help. Since March is National Sleep Awareness month, why not check out Learn to Live’s course on insomnia (use the access PORTICO to register), or the Being Academy’s course on sleep.

Creative Ways to Care for your Body

Looking for fresh inspiration of ways to care for your body – through movement, nutrition, or meditation? Burnalong’s daily calendar links to a different short online course each day. March features fun recipes and kitchen tips, just in time for National Nutrition Month.

ULS Offers a Break

Remember, both the Philadelphia and Gettysburg campuses of United Lutheran Seminary offer free lodging for up to three nights for rostered leaders who just need a break. Email mzimmann@uls.edu to arrange your place apart.

 



West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod
℅ St. Paul Lutheran Church
309 Baldwin Street, Morgantown, WV 26505
304-363-4030  +  Porter@WV-WMD.org