Employee eligibility
In order to apply for GuideStone’s life and health products, employees must be considered “eligible.” An “eligible employee” is the following:
- A paid employee of a church, agency or institution affiliated with or sharing common religious bonds with the Southern Baptist Convention; and
- Working 20 or more hours per week.
Employees of multiple employers will still be eligible if the hours worked per week with the multiple employers total 20 or more.
To maintain eligibility, employees must continue to meet the above requirements. Failure to do so could render an employee ineligible for GuideStone’s life and health products.
Student eligibility
Students at participating GuideStone-approved seminaries, colleges or Bible schools are also eligible for certain life and health products.
First-time employment
If you are currently attending, have attended or have graduated from an approved seminary or Bible college and become employed with an approved ministry affiliated with or sharing common religious bonds with the Southern Baptist Convention, you are eligible to enroll in a medical plan only, without underwriting, if you meet all of the following criteria:
- You apply within 60 days of your full-time (20 hours or more per week) employment date with an approved ministry
- Your employment begins no later than 12 months after the date you last attended or graduated from a seminary or Bible college
- You must not have previously made application for participation through underwriting with the Personal Plans and been rejected for yourself or a dependent
Coverage will be effective on your hire date or the first day after meeting your employer's eligibility or waiting period.
Dependent eligibility
An employee must have coverage in order for a dependent to also be covered on a GuideStone plan. Eligible dependents include:
- The employee's spouse
- Children under age 26
- A child who is covered under the employee and is incapacitated. (Review Plan Booklets for more information on incapacitated children.)
Children are not required to maintain student status in order to remain eligible for GuideStone coverage.