DALLAS, Texas (BP) - The majority of participants in GuideStone Personal Plans health insurance "will see no rate increase for 2005," and many participants "will actually see a rate decrease due to changes in the rating structure," GuideStone Financial Services of the Southern Baptist Convention (Annuity Board) announced in a Sept. 10 news release.

The health insurance industry, meanwhile, is projecting approximately a 13 percent increase in healthcare costs, said GuideStone, which launched several new medical plan options in 2004.

For many employers in GuideStone's Group Plans, which consist of churches and organizations with more than 10 fulltime employees, rates also will remain the same or, in some cases, decrease for 2005.