Mutual Aid & Our Values
The Corinthian Plan is more than a health coverage program — it is a practice of mutual aid rooted in Scripture and Mennonite values.
II Corinthians 8–9 calls the early church to recognize the needs of their community, so that those with means would share with those in need. The Corinthian Plan is a tangible expression of that vision for Mennonite congregations today.
How Mutual Aid Works in Practice
The plan demonstrates mutual aid in two concrete ways:
Community Rating means all participating congregations share both the benefit of low claims and the impact of high ones. No congregation bears catastrophic costs alone. This was especially significant before the Affordable Care Act, when those with pre-existing conditions could be priced out of coverage entirely.
The Fair Balance Fund is funded by each congregation at $10 per average weekly attendee annually. These contributions provide direct subsidies to congregations that cannot afford the full cost of coverage — ensuring that financial limitations don’t prevent participation.
Did you know? The Corinthian Plan has distributed over $3 million in subsidies to congregations of all sizes, both urban and rural, since its founding.
No One is Excluded
From its inception, The Corinthian Plan was designed to cover everyone who wished to enroll — with no exclusions for health conditions and no medical underwriting for congregations joining during open enrollment. This was a bold commitment, made before the ACA existed, when insurers routinely turned people away.
As a denomination, we asked ourselves: how could we build a health coverage program that excluded some people? The answer was that we couldn’t. The Corinthian Plan was built on the conviction that everyone deserves access to care, and that we are stronger when we share the cost together.
Subsidies for Congregations Who Need Them
Every participating congregation contributes to the Fair Balance Fund — $10 annually per average weekly attendee. Those funds go directly to congregations that need help affording their premiums. Congregations whose pastor already has coverage through another source (a spouse’s plan, Medicare, etc.) also contribute a set amount, keeping the pool strong and ensuring their own future access if circumstances change.
Why It Matters
Mutual aid matters because of who we are called to be as followers of Jesus Christ. It matters because our faith calls us not just to words, but to actions with real impact on real people. It matters because Mennonite Church USA is a community — and communities take care of one another.
If your congregation needs help with the cost of coverage, assistance is available through the Fair Balance Fund. Contact Director Susan Burkholder at SusanB@MennoniteUSA.org to learn more.