GuideStone rates staying the same in 2005

DALLAS — Insurance rates and benefits through GuideStone Financial Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention (formerly the Annuity Board) will stay the same in 2005.

While the industry is projecting approximately a 13 percent increase in health care costs, the majority of participants in the GuideStone Personal Plans will see no rate increase for 2005. Many participants will actually see a rate decrease due to changes in the rating structure.

For many employers in the Group Plans, which consists of churches and organizations with more than 10 full-time employees, rates will remain the same or, in some cases, decrease for 2005. Some employers will see an inflation-driven rate increase or an increase based on their prior claims experience, however, the average increase remains below the predicted national medical trend for 2005. While the benefits for GuideStone’s core PPO medical plans will remain the same for 2005, there will be some changes related to network providers and rating structures. Blue Cross Blue Shield has been selected as the nationwide network for all of the PPO plans.