Wels Benefit Plans

What Wels Benefit Plans does

WELS Benefit Plans (WELS BPO) is the denominational benefits administration office of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, a nonprofit religious organization headquartered in Waukesha, Wisconsin. It administers health, retirement, disability, life, and dental benefits exclusively for workers (called pastors, teachers, staff ministers, and lay workers) serving at WELS and ELS (Evangelical Lutheran Synod) ministry locations across the United States. The core product suite consists of the WELS VEBA Group Health Care Plan (with four medical plan options ranging from a low-deductible PPO to an HSA-qualified high-deductible plan), the frozen WELS Pension Plan (defined benefit, frozen December 31, 2021), and the WELS Shepherd Plan (a 403(b) defined contribution retirement income account plan active since January 1, 2022), plus voluntary Long-Term Disability, Group Term Life, Dental, and Medicare supplement benefits through UnitedHealthcare.

Name

Wels Benefit Plans

Legal name

Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod

Website

https://welsbpo.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Short description

WELS Benefit Plans is the denominational benefits administration office of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, administering health, retirement, dental, disability, and life benefits exclusively for workers at WELS and ELS ministry locations across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Denominational Benefits Administration

NAICS

Health and Welfare Funds (525120), Pharmacy Benefit Management and Other Third Party Administration of Insurance and Pension Funds (524292), Insurance and Employee Benefit Funds (5251)

SIC

Hospital & Medical Service Plans (6324), Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411)

akta.pro primary industry

Benefits Administration (BPACAPAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Eligibility, Enrollment & Benefits Administration (HLAEALAH), Ancillary Benefits TPA (Dental/Vision/Life/Accident/Critical Illness) (HLAEALAN), Flexible Benefits Administration (FSA/HSA/HRA) (HLAEALAK)

Keywords

• Denominational health benefits
• Retirement income plans
• Church group health insurance
• VEBA benefit administration
• Ministry worker benefits

Headquarters

HQ city

Waukesha

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Health Insurance Premiums (WELS VEBA): Monthly premiums paid by sponsoring organizations and/or workers for the WELS VEBA Group Health Care Plan, which includes medical, prescription drug, and vision benefits. Premiums vary by plan option (Plan 1-4), coverage tier, and geographic rate region. 2026 rates increased 8.5% due to healthcare cost inflation plus regional rating factor adjustments ranging from 1.3% to 21.0% by organization.
2. Retirement Plan Contributions: Quarterly contributions from sponsoring organizations to fund the WELS Retirement Program, which includes Shepherd Plan allocations and Pension Plan benefits earned before the December 31, 2021 freeze. 2026 rates: Full-Time $1,132/quarter ($4,528/year), 3/4-Time $849/quarter ($3,396/year), Half-Time $566/quarter ($2,264/year).
3. Dental Insurance Premiums: Monthly premiums for voluntary Dental benefits administered by Delta Dental. 2026 rates: Employee-Only $38.03, Employee+Spouse $77.78, Employee+Children $94.16, Family $154.43. 2% increase from 2025.
4. Long-Term Disability Premiums: Voluntary LTD coverage for workers not enrolled in WELS VEBA health plan. Premium rate of 0.00338 of gross annual salary (as of 1/1/2025). Workers enrolled in WELS VEBA receive LTD automatically included in health premiums.
5. Group Term Life Insurance Premiums: Voluntary GTL coverage administered by Sun Life. Rates based on applicant age and coverage amount ($10,000-$400,000 for employees). Coverage available for employee, spouse (up to 1/2 of employee amount), and dependent children ($5,000).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

WELS Benefit Plans Office administers a synod-wide portfolio of health, retirement, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance benefits for workers at WELS and ELS ministry locations across the United States. Core offerings include the WELS VEBA Group Health Care Plan with four medical plan options, the WELS Shepherd Plan (403(b) defined contribution), and the frozen WELS Pension Plan, with voluntary LTD, GTL, Dental, and Medicare Supplement options. Enrollment and billing are facilitated through the bSwift-powered WELS Benefits Service Center, while claims are administered by Anthem BCBS, Express Scripts, Delta Dental, VSP, Sun Life, and UnitedHealthcare.

Product overview

Wels Benefit Plans (WELS BPO) is a benefits administration organization offering a comprehensive suite of health and retirement benefit plans for workers at WELS and ELS ministry locations. The core products include the WELS VEBA Group Health Care Plan (with four medical plan options providing medical, prescription drug, vision, dental, and life insurance benefits), the frozen WELS Pension Plan (defined benefit), and the WELS Shepherd Plan (403(b) defined contribution retirement plan). Additional voluntary benefits include Long-Term Disability Insurance, Group Term Life Insurance, and dental coverage. All benefits are administered through an integrated network of industry-leading service providers including Anthem BCBS, Express Scripts, Delta Dental, Sun Life, UnitedHealthcare, and VSP, with enrollment and billing managed through the bSwift-powered WELS Benefits Service Center.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WELS VEBA: WELS VEBA Group Health Care Plan - church-sponsored group health plan offering medical, prescription drug, vision, dental, and other health benefits to WELS and ELS workers
• WELS Pension Plan
• WELS Shepherd Plan

Products and services

• WELS VEBA Group Health Care Plan Church-sponsored group health plan offering four medical plan options with comprehensive medical, prescription drug, and vision coverage to active workers at WELS and ELS ministry locations nationwide.
• WELS Shepherd Plan Denominational 403(b) retirement income account plan providing defined contribution retirement savings with Synod Allocations, employer contributions, and employee contribution options for WELS called workers.
• WELS Pension Plan A frozen defined benefit plan (as of December 31, 2021) providing monthly lifetime annuity benefits to vested participants with options for surviving spouse coverage.
• Long-Term Disability Insurance Provides 66.67% of pre-disability compensation replacement for eligible workers unable to work due to sickness or injury, with a 90-day elimination period; administered by Sun Life.

Quantifiable outcome

• Premium rates increase approximately 10% per year conservatively estimated for budget purposes
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• Leap HealthmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 December 2025Beginning in 2026, Leap Health provides WELS VEBA members with specialty medication infusion services at home. Includes dedicated care guides, licensed infusion nurses, medication ordering and delivery, and scheduling coordination (including nights and weekends). Partnership offers convenience, expert care, and cost savings by purchasing medication at lowest price with no provider mark-up.
• Delta Dental of WisconsincoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2016Delta Dental administers WELS VEBA Dental benefits. Customer Service: 1-800-236-3712. Website: deltadentalwi.com. Provides consistent benefit design across all U.S. locations.
• Anthem Blue Cross Blue ShieldcoreTechnology or Integration · 31 December 2015Anthem BCBS provides claims processing, claims customer service, and clinical management services for members of the active WELS VEBA health plan. Also provides LiveHealth Online for virtual visits with network physicians. Customer Service: 1-877-512-7875. Pre-Certification: 1-866-776-4793.
• Blue Cross Blue Shield National BlueCard PPO NetworkcoreTechnology or Integration · 31 December 2015The Blue Cross Blue Shield National BlueCard PPO Network is the PPO network providing access to in-network physicians and hospitals worldwide for WELS VEBA members. Phone: 1-800-810-2583 (U.S.) or 1-804-673-1177 (outside U.S.).
• bSwift, LLCcoreTechnology or Integration · 31 December 2015bSwift, LLC (Chicago, IL) operates the WELS Benefits Service Center, providing enrollment and billing administration for WELS VEBA and Pension Plans along with customer service on those functions.
• Express Scripts, Inc.coreTechnology or Integration · 31 December 2015Express Scripts (St. Louis, MO) administers the WELS VEBA prescription drug program. Customer Service: 1-800-818-6634. New website available at express-scripts.com/welsveba for pharmacy benefit information, medication pricing, and in-network pharmacy locator.
• The Hahn Financial Group, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 December 2015The Hahn Financial Group (Sioux Falls, SD) serves as investment advisors for the WELS Shepherd Plan. Phone: 1-800-516-HAHN (4246). Provides personalized help in creating portfolios, benefit consultations, and retirement readiness calculations. Email: [email protected].
• Retirement Plan Consultants, LLCcoreTechnology or Integration · 31 December 2015Retirement Plan Consultants (Norfolk, NE) serves as third-party administrator for the WELS Shepherd Plan. Phone: 1-877-800-1114. Manages enrollment website at retirementplanconsultants.info/login where workers enroll and manage accounts.
• Sun Life Assurance Company of CanadacoreTechnology or Integration · 31 December 2015Sun Life (Wellesley Hills, MA) administers WELS VEBA Group Term Life and Long-Term Disability benefits. Fully insures both GTL and LTD coverage. Determines disability status for LTD claims.
• UnitedHealthcare Medicare ProgramcoreTechnology or Integration · 31 December 2015UnitedHealthcare provides a program of Medicare plans sponsored by WELS VEBA for Medicare-eligible retired members. Includes Medicare Supplement, Medicare Advantage, and Part D Prescription Drug plans. Customer Service: 1-877-894-7044. Website: myuhcplans.com/wels.
• Vision Service Plan (VSP)coreTechnology or Integration · 31 December 2015VSP provides routine vision benefits to members of the WELS VEBA Group Health Care Plan. Customer Service: 1-800-877-7195. Website: vsp.com.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Church Pension Group: Benefits and pension administrator for the Episcopal Church, providing medical, dental, life, disability, and retirement benefits to clergy and lay employees of the denomination. Operates on the same denominational pooled-risk model as WELS BPO and serves an analogous worker population.
• AG Financial Solutions (AG Financial): Benefits and financial services provider for the Assemblies of God, offering retirement plans, insurance, and investment products to ministers and church workers. Functions as the denominational benefits office for AG and parallels WELS BPO's role within WELS.
• GuideStone Financial Resources: Benefits and financial services provider for Southern Baptist Convention pastors, staff, and missionaries, offering health coverage, retirement plans, insurance, and investment funds. The largest U.S. denominational benefits organization by scale, structurally analogous to WELS BPO in pooling risk across a religious network.
• Concordia Plan Services: Benefits administrator for The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS) workers, providing health, retirement, disability and survivor benefits through a pooled denominational plan. LCMS is theologically and structurally the closest peer to WELS among U.S. Lutheran bodies, making CPS the most directly comparable denominational benefits office.
• Portico Benefit Services: Benefits administrator for Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) rostered leaders and employees. As the mainline Lutheran sister denomination's benefits office, Portico offers the same combination of health, retirement, and disability administration through a denominationally pooled model, differing mainly in theology and scale.
• General Board of Pensions and Health Benefits: Administers retirement, health, and welfare benefits for United Methodist Church clergy and lay employees. Operates the same denomination-wide pooled benefits model as WELS BPO, with analogous Plan HRA/health plan and defined contribution/defined benefit retirement offerings.
• Ministers & Missionaries Benefit Board: Provides retirement, health, life, and disability benefits to American Baptist Churches USA clergy, missionaries, and employees. A smaller denominational pooled benefits organization with comparable product structure to WELS BPO.
• Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.): Provides health, retirement, death, and disability benefits to PC(USA) ministers and employees. Operates a denominational benefits trust with pooled risk across congregations, closely mirroring the WELS VEBA/Pension/Shepherd Plan structure.
• Everence (Mennonite Mutual Aid): Fraternal benefit society serving Anabaptist/Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches and related employers, offering health sharing, retirement, insurance, and financial services. Functions as the denominational benefits and financial services provider for its member communions, structurally analogous to WELS BPO.
• Church of the Brethren Benefit Trust: Administers pension, health, and welfare benefits for Church of the Brethren pastors, church workers, and employees. A small denominational pooled benefits organization with similar structure to WELS BPO but at a smaller scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 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 Wels Benefit Plans