Survey: Clergy among the uninsured

Many of the nation’s clergy are living without health insurance, a new survey of the 100-member board of the National Association of Evangelicals reveals. Most of those responding to the question “How do pastors and other church employees in your church, denomination or organization secure health insurance?” answered that they have no or little help […]

Many of the nation’s clergy are living without health insurance, a new survey of the 100-member board of the National Association of Evangelicals reveals.

Most of those responding to the question “How do pastors and other church employees in your church, denomination or organization secure health insurance?” answered that they have no or little help from their denominations. Many pastors instead are opting to seek health benefits through a spouse’s employer, get a second job to acquire insurance, or go without health coverage.

NAE President Leith Anderson said the prospects for some clergy could be dire.


“This is a large and growing problem for American pastors and churches,” he said. “So many churches are small and too many pastors are uninsured. There is no room in limited budgets for premiums or no way to get adequate insurance at any price. As clergy age with the rest of America’s population we may see a growing list of pastors entering retirement with bankrupting medical bills.”

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