Concordia Plans

What Concordia Plans does

Concordia Plan Services is a non-profit benefits administrator and child agency of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS), founded in 2005 and headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. It administers health, retirement, disability, life, and wellness benefits exclusively for LCMS-affiliated ministries, their workers, and their families. The organization serves approximately 6,000 LCMS organizations, covering roughly 30,000 active church workers, 41,000 retirees and beneficiaries, and 53,000 dependents across the United States.

The product portfolio includes group medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage delivered through partnerships with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna (including UMR as administrator and Dental.com for the Dental SmartScan computer-vision tool), Kaiser Permanente, and Express Scripts; the Concordia Retirement Plan (a church pension) and a 403(b)(9) retirement savings plan administered with Fidelity; group disability and life insurance through Securian, Sedgwick, and Cigna; and a digital wellness ecosystem spanning Vitality, Sword Health (musculoskeletal), Virta Health (diabetes reversal), Omada (cardiometabolic), Wondr Health (weight management), Teladoc (telehealth), the Evernorth Confide EAP, GeoBlue (international), VSP, and TruHearing. Business solutions extend to HR, payroll, and benefits administration through Mineral, Paycor, and Paychex, with HealthEquity administering HSA, FSA, and HRA accounts. A recently added Quantum Health partnership provides healthcare navigation across the medical, pharmacy, and behavioral health journey. Distribution relies on a dedicated Account Management Team, district-level Ministry Engagement Teams covering all LCMS districts, licensed benefit counselors, and a Financial Education team, supported by Member and Employer web portals.

The revenue model is premium- and fee-based: Concordia collects employer ministry contributions and member premiums for medical, dental, life, and disability coverage, charges administrative fees on retirement plan and 403(b) assets, and earns fees on HealthEquity-administered spending accounts and HR/payroll services. Pricing structures include Premium Plus, Premium, and Premium Credit tiering, with retiree coverage and seminary-student (CSS) options layered on the core employer-paid plans. The company is led by CEO Kevin Herweck (succeeding CEO Emeritus Jim Sanft) and an executive team including Rob Bouché (VP/CFO/CAO), Brian Gardner (VP/CIO), and Ann Stillman (VP/General Counsel).

Name

Concordia Plans

Legal name

Concordia Plan Services of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS)

Website

https://concordiaplans.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Concordia Plan Services is a non-profit benefits administrator serving 6,000 LCMS ministries with health, pension, 403(b) retirement, disability, life, wellness, and HR/payroll benefits for roughly 30,000 active church workers and 41,000 retirees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Employee Benefits Administration (Non-Profit)

NAICS

Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Religious Organizations (8131), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Hospital & Medical Service Plans (6324), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Benefits Administration & Enrollment Support (BPAAAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Employer Wellness & Population Health Programs (HLAEAAAH), Worksite Financial Wellness & Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) (FSAIAMAN), Healthcare-Linked Social Benefits Administration (e.g., Medicaid/Means-Tested Health Coverage) (BPAIAKAH)

Keywords

• Employee benefits administration
• Church health insurance
• Retirement plan services
• Disability and life insurance
• Nonprofit benefits plans

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Louis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Health Insurance Premiums: Concordia Plan Services administers comprehensive health plans including medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage. Premiums are paid by LCMS employer ministries for their workers. The organization brings together thousands of ministries enabling collective negotiating for greater benefits at lower costs.
2. Retirement Plan Administration: Administering pension plans (Concordia Retirement Plan) and 403(b) retirement savings plans (Concordia Retirement Savings Plan) for LCMS church workers and rostered ministers.
3. Disability and Life Insurance: Providing disability and survivor coverage through the Concordia Disability and Survivor Plan, including employer-paid basic life benefits.
4. Business Solutions Services: Offering HR services and payroll services (through partners like Paycor and Paychex) as additional revenue-generating services to LCMS ministries.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Concordia Plan Services administers comprehensive employee benefit programs—including health (medical, dental, vision, prescription drug), pension, 403(b) retirement savings, disability and life/survivor coverage—for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) ministries and church workers. It also offers supplemental wellness programs, mental health/EAP, telehealth, personal spending accounts, identity protection, and ancillary payroll and HR services to the same LCMS ministry constituency through partner integrations.

Product overview

Concordia Plan Services offers a comprehensive, integrated benefits ecosystem for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) ministries and workers, combining health insurance, retirement savings, disability/life protection, and business administration solutions. The core portfolio centers on the Concordia Health Plan (medical/dental/vision/prescription with multiple plan options through Cigna, Anthem BCBS, UMR, Kaiser), the Concordia Retirement Plan pension, and the Concordia Retirement Savings Plan 403(b). These are augmented by a suite of wellness modules including Vitality (wellness rewards), Quantum Health (care navigation), Evernorth Confide (mental health/EAP), telehealth (Teladoc, MDLIVE, Kaiser), Sword Thrive (digital physical therapy), and diabetes/weight management solutions (Virta, Wondr, Omada). Personal spending accounts (HSA/FSA/HRA) are administered via HealthEquity. The portfolio also includes personal financial tools (Financial Navigator, Retirement Connection), legal and identity protection (Aura, LifeWorks/Securian), and business solutions for employers (Payroll Services via Paycor/Paychex, HR Services via Mineral Platform). Specialty offerings target seminary students (Option CSS), Medicare-eligible workers (Premium Plus), international workers (BCBS Global Solutions), and pastors (Pastoral Support Network). The overall architecture is a platform-plus-modules model where employers select from flexible benefit building blocks that interlock through shared member portals and third-party integration partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Concordia Health Plan Comprehensive health insurance plan providing medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug benefits for LCMS church workers. Offers multiple plan options including Anthem BCBS, Cigna Healthy Me, UMR, Cigna HMO, and Kaiser Permanente, with healthcare navigation support through Quantum Health.
• Concordia Retirement Plan (Pension) Employer-paid pension plan providing monthly income benefits for life upon retirement, based on years of service, compensation, and plan option (Traditional or Account). Supports both rostered and lay workers across LCMS ministries.
• Concordia Retirement Savings Plan 403(b) Tax-advantaged 403(b) retirement savings plan offering pre-tax and Roth contribution options, low fees, a diverse fund lineup including Vanguard and Fidelity funds, automatic enrollment, and ProManage professional investment management.
• Concordia Disability and Survivor Plan Employer-sponsored disability and survivor benefits providing income replacement during disability (including maternity leave) and basic life insurance for LCMS workers and their families.
• Seminary Student Health Benefits (Option CSS) Health coverage through Concordia Health Plan Option CSS for seminary students at Concordia Seminary (St. Louis) and Concordia Theological Seminary (Fort Wayne), covering medical, prescription, mental health, and substance abuse with monthly rates Self Only $414 to Family $1,493.
• Premium Plus (Active Employee Medicare Plan) Health plan that combines Medicare coverage with active-employee Concordia Health Plan benefits for LCMS workers and spouses age 65 and older in ministries with fewer than 20 employees, bundling medical, vision, dental, hearing, prescription, Vitality, EAP, Medicare Part B premium reimbursement, Teladoc Diabetes Management, and Wondr weight management.
• International Worker Health Benefits (BCBS Global Solutions) Comprehensive health coverage through Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Solutions for LCMS workers serving outside the U.S., covering medical, dental, vision, hearing, prescription, telehealth, mental health (Global EAP), and emergency evacuation for international workers and their dependents.
• Payroll Services (Paycor, Paychex) Payroll processing and administration services for LCMS ministries offered through Paycor and Paychex partnerships to streamline payroll operations and administrative workflows.
• HR Services (Mineral Platform) Human resources services platform for LCMS ministries delivered through the Mineral Platform, providing HR guidance, compliance tools, and workforce management resources.
• Critical Illness and Accidental Injury Insurance Supplemental insurance through Cigna providing lump-sum payments for critical illness diagnoses (cancer, heart attack, stroke, organ failure) and benefits for accidental injuries, creating a financial safety net beyond core health plan coverage.
• International Worker Health Benefits — GeoBlue / Bupa Global International/expat health coverage for LCMS workers serving outside the U.S. delivered through GeoBlue in partnership with Bupa Global, offering an additional international coverage option.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves 6,000 LCMS organizations with 30,000 employees and 41,000 retirees and beneficiaries

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration33 records

AI capability3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Quantum HealthcoreTechnology or IntegrationHealthcare navigation partner providing the primary point of contact for all healthcare-related questions, claims support, provider search, and care coordination. Available via phone, website, and mobile app.
• CignacoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides dental benefits, HMO plan options, and supplemental health insurance including critical illness and accidental injury coverage.
• Kaiser PermanentecoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides health plan options in multiple regions including Northern California, Southern California, Colorado, Mid-Atlantic States, Northwest, and Georgia.
• Express ScriptscoreTechnology or IntegrationPrescription drug benefits administrator for Ameriben and Allegiance plan options.
• Evernorth ConfidecoreTechnology or IntegrationEnhanced Employee Assistance Program (EAP) providing mental health support, counseling sessions, crisis intervention, and work-life referrals for Concordia Health Plan members.
• Teladoc HealthcoreTechnology or IntegrationTelehealth solution providing virtual access to general medical care, mental health, dermatology, nutrition counseling, and expert medical opinions.
• VitalitycoreTechnology or IntegrationWellness program gateway providing activities, rewards, challenges, and health goals integration for Concordia Health Plan members.
• HealthEquitycoreTechnology or IntegrationPersonal spending accounts administrator providing HSA, FSA, LPFSA, DCFSA, and HRA account management for members.
• FidelitycoreTechnology or Integration403(b) retirement savings plan administrator providing investment options and account management for the Concordia Retirement Savings Plan.
• Securian/LifeWorkscoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides supplemental life insurance, legal services, eldercare resources, grief support, and travel assistance.
• Sword HealthcoreTechnology or IntegrationDigital physical therapy program (Sword Thrive) providing virtual physical therapy with tablet and motion sensors for back, joint and muscle pain treatment.
• Virta HealthcoreTechnology or IntegrationDiabetes treatment program clinically proven to reverse type 2 diabetes with medical supervision and health coaching.
• Omada HealthcoreTechnology or Integration16-week digital health program helping members at risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease adopt behavioral changes.
• Wondr HealthcoreTechnology or IntegrationWeight management program using a common-sense, skill-building approach to lasting weight loss without calorie counting.
• GeoBluecoreTechnology or IntegrationInternational health coverage for LCMS workers serving outside the U.S., partnered with Bupa Global.
• VSPcoreTechnology or IntegrationVision benefits provider offering eye care coverage and discounts.
• PaycorcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPayroll services partner for LCMS ministries needing payroll solutions.
• PaychexcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPayroll services partner for LCMS ministries needing payroll solutions.
• Mineral (HR Services)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHR services platform providing human resources support and services for LCMS ministries.
• The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organization that created Concordia Plan Services. LCMS provides governance oversight through the Board of Directors and represents member interests.
• Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinancial extension of the LCMS offering funding, investment opportunities, and loan services for LCMS ministries and church workers including Church Worker StewardAccounts and RCW mortgages.
• Concordia Publishing HouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLCMS entity and partner providing publishing resources for the LCMS community.
• The LCMS FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlanned giving services for LCMS members, helping with gift planning and stewardship of assets.
• Lutheran Federal Credit UnionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCredit union of The LCMS offering everyday banking and lending needs to LCMS members and organizations, serving members in all 50 states.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Portico Benefits Services: Benefits arm of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), providing health, pension, retirement savings and disability benefits to ELCA congregations, schools and rostered leaders. Highly comparable sister organization in Lutheran tradition with overlapping target audience structure.
• Church Pension Group: The Episcopal Church's benefits organization administering the Clergy Pension Plan, health benefits through the Episcopal Health Plan, retiree health, and lay retirement programs. Direct structural analog operating in a single denomination with the same health + pension + retiree architecture.
• Wespath Benefits and Investments: United Methodist Church's benefits organization, administering pension plans, retiree health, and investment programs for UMC clergy and lay employees. Comparable scale and denominational nonprofit model with deep investment and pension administration capabilities.
• GuideStone Financial Resources: The Southern Baptist Convention's denominational benefits organization, offering health, retirement (Pension Plan), 403(b)/401(k), life and disability plans to Southern Baptist churches and ministries. The closest functional analog to Concordia Plans across product mix, mission-driven non-profit model and church-ecosystem distribution.
• Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.): Provides pension, health benefits, retirement savings and assistance programs to PC(USA) congregations and affiliated employers. Closely comparable in scope: defined benefit pension, group health, death and disability coverage administered for a single Protestant denomination's ministry employers.
• Everence (Mennonite Church USA / related): Faith-based, fraternal benefits society offering insurance, retirement, banking and financial services to Anabaptist (Mennonite, Amish, Church of the Brethren) communities and ministries. Highly comparable as a faith-aligned nonprofit benefits administrator with pension and health offerings.
• AG Financial: Benefits and financial services organization serving the Assemblies of God fellowship (churches, districts, educational institutions), offering retirement plans, insurance and church financing. Direct denominational peer with similar mission-driven positioning in an evangelical Protestant ecosystem.

Others

• Church Alliance: Coalition of approximately 40 denominational benefit programs in which Concordia Plans is a participant. Not a direct competitor; useful ecosystem peer because it coordinates advocacy, group insurance purchasing and risk management across the church benefits space Concordia Plans operates in.

Broad incumbents

• Blue Cross Blue Shield Association: Federation of US health insurance plans (including Anthem BCBS, which underwrites portions of Concordia's Health Plan). Broadly relevant incumbent shaping medical carrier pricing, network design and ASO/service-fee economics that flow through to denominational plans like Concordia.
• Cigna Group: Major US health services and insurance carrier that is concurrently a core delivery partner of Concordia Plans (Cigna HMO, Cigna Dental, Critical Illness/Accident). Important peer because commercial competitors like Cigna serve ministries that choose not to use Concordia and represent the alternative benchmark on price, network and digital tools.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ConcordiaPlans
• Facebookfacebook.com/ConcordiaPlanServices
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/concordiaplans
• Instagraminstagram.com/concordiaplans
• Xx.com/ConcordiaPlans

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Concordia Plans