If we are honest, health insurance costs are soaring. The results of rising insurance costs are that Christian health sharing plans are now becoming more and more attractive.
Your family could be saving thousands of dollars by choosing a health insurance alternative such as Medi-Share or another health sharing ministry. In a sharing ministry you want a company that holds to your statement of faith.
You want a company that does not compromise. You want a company that is easy to work with. You want a company that is going to give you a lot of coverage options. Lastly, you want a company that is going to help you save as much as possible.
Why does health matter?
- 33% of all adults in America are obese. Not only does this lead to heart disease but it also leads to cancer, strokes, arthritis, and more.
- Over half of Americans who are insured take drugs for chronic conditions.
- High blood pressure in America is extremely common.
- It was reported that every year more than six million children die.
Health sharing ministries don’t allow:
- Drinking alcohol excessively
- Smoking and the use of tobacco products.
- The abuse of legal drugs or the use of illegal drugs.
Bible verses that sharing ministries live by
1 Corinthians 12:12 “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.”
Acts 2:42-47 “All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper ), and to prayer. 43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity — 47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.”
Acts 4:32-35 “The group of believers was one in mind and heart. None of them said that any of their belongings were their own, but they all shared with one another everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God poured rich blessings on them all. 34 There was no one in the group who was in need. Those who owned fields or houses would sell them, bring the money received from the sale, 35 and turn it over to the apostles; and the money was distributed according to the needs of the people.”
Galatians 6:2 “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
Medi-Share
Most likely you have heard of Medi-Share, which is one of the most popular health sharing ministries. This sharing ministry is the product of Christian Care Ministry. In 1993 Christian Care Ministry was founded by Dr. E John Reinhold. CCM is a not-for-profit organization that is based in Melbourne, Florida. The main goal of Medi-Share is to provide biblical healthcare solutions for believers.
How much does Medi-Share cost?
Medi-Share is able to accommodate homes on any and every budget. Your Annual Household Portion which is similar to your deductible has options that range from $1000 to $10,500. Similar to your deductible, the greater your Annual Household Portion the cheaper your monthly bill. Some Medi-Share members are able to receive rates for as low as $30 a month. This means that Medi-Share offers the most affordable pricing of all the health sharing options. On average, Medi-Share members report that they are able to save almost $400 a month by switching over from their traditional provider.
Medi-Share allows you to save even more money with their Health Incentive program. The savings for this program can be up to 20%. All that you have to do to qualify for this is live a healthy lifestyle. Along with this program you are also given lab test discounts and support to help you to live a healthier life. You will love their health partnership program because it includes personal coaching, motivation and accountability, wellness and vision, menu planning, biblical advice and prayer, stress management/sleep, and more.
Features:
- Telehealth – Medi-Share members are given Telehealth for free. With Telehealth you will be able to access Telehealth doctors 24/7 from your electronic devices. You will easily be able to check your symptoms, update your health information, schedule a visit/see a doctor. Conditions that can be treated with a Telehealth doctor include acne, bronchitis, allergies, constipation, ear infections, cold & flus, fevers, headaches, insect bites, nausea, and more.
- Disability Sharing
- Senior Assist
- Pre-existing medical conditions
- Medi-Share Groups
- Lab test discounts
- Praying for each other and the ability to stay in touch.
- Tax deductible
Samaritan Ministries
Samaritan Ministries is another name that everyone knows. This company was first launched on October 1, 1994. Today Samaritan Ministries provides a way for over 75,000 families to share medical needs in a biblical, non-insurance way.
How much does Samaritan Ministries cost?
With Samaritan Ministries you can either choose the Samaritan Basic plan or the Samaritan Classic plan. Your monthly plans will range anywhere from $100 – $495 per month which is great. Your plan will depend on the plan that you choose. The Samaritan Basic plan will cost you anywhere from $100 to $400 a month, which is a reasonable price to pay. This plan is geared towards those who desire a reduced monthly share amount. Although this is their cheaper option, this plan comes with limitations, which I will explain below. This plan has a higher initial unshareable amount. This is basically the deductible that you will have to pay before sharing can begin. The Basic Initial unshareable is $1500. Only 90% is able to be shared with the Samaritan Basic plan. The max amount that is sharable with the Basic plan is $236,500. For maternity the max amount that is $5000.
The Samaritan Classic plan is their flagship membership level. This is a great plan for new and growing families. If you choose the Classic plan you will end up paying anywhere from $160–$495 per month. The Samaritan Classic has an initial unsharable amount of $300. This plan has a 100% sharing percentage unlike the Basic plan. The maternity sharing limit is $250,000 instead of $5000. The maximum amount that is sharable per need is $250,000.
What makes Samaritan Ministries different from Medi-Share and other sharing ministries is that their members have more of a self-pay approach. What this means for members is that you will end up paying for lesser situations yourself. Samaritan Ministries steps in for the bigger issues. This is a small drawback of using Samaritan Ministries. However, this can be beneficial because you will not have to worry about paying any penalty fees for using doctors that are not in your network. With Samaritan Ministries you can go to any healthcare provider that you want.
Features
- Save to Share – Samaritan Ministries has a maximum sharing limit of $250,000. If your needs exceed this amount, then you will run into a lot of problems. With the Save to Share program you will be covered if you ever have medical needs that exceed $250,000. Families will either set aside $133, $266, or $399 a year depending on their membership size. This plan will require a $15 administration fee.
- Cost calculator
- Freedom from ACA requirements
- Members are free to choose the health care provider that works best for them.
- No open enrollment period.
Solidarity HealthShare
Solidarity HealthShare is a new healthcare sharing ministry on the market. This company was founded on September 25, 2018. Unlike Medi-Share and Samaritan Ministries, Solidarity is a Catholic healthcare sharing ministry. While you can receive an alternative to traditional insurance option, they do not hold to a biblical statement of faith. To qualify for Solidarity HealthShare you must comply with their lifestyle requirements. Shareable medical expenses with Solidarity HealthShare include wellness visits, emergency room, ambulance, hospital/surgical visits, fertility / NFP, mental health care, maternity care, and hospice / home health care.
How much does Solidarity HealthShare cost?
Solidarity has a self-pay system. The annual shared amount that you are responsible for with Solidarity HealthShare differs. Individuals have a $500 annual shared amount. Couples have a $1000 annual shared amount. Lastly, families have a $1500 annual shared amount. You will be able to get a quote with Solidarity HealthShare.
Features
- Solidarity Care Card – This card helps Solidarity HealthShare members to save on dental, vision, and prescription.
- Telehealth service
- No network
- Standard system based on Medicare reimbursement rates.
Liberty HealthShare
Liberty HealthShare is a well-known health share provider that was founded in 2012. With Liberty you can see any doctor, but it is advised that members shop around for the best deal before choosing a doctor. Liberty Mutual does its job as a health sharing alternative. However, they do struggle in some areas. For example, dental and vision expenses are not included and Liberty HealthShare offers a watered-down statement of beliefs page. “We believe every individual has a fundamental religious right to worship the God of the Bible in his or her own way.”
How much does Liberty HealthShare cost?
Liberty HealthShare offers 3 plans for their members to choose from.
Liberty Complete
Liberty Complete allows for medical bill sharing of up to $1,000,000 per incident. Depending on age, marital status, etc. Liberty HealthShare members will pay anywhere from $249 to $529 a monthly. Your annual unshared amount ranges anywhere from $1000 to $2250 a month.
Liberty Plus
Liberty Plus allows for medical bill sharing of up to $125,000 per incident. Depending on age, marital status, etc. Liberty HealthShare members will pay anywhere from $224 to $504. Your annual unshared amount ranges anywhere from $1000 to $2250 a month.
Liberty Share
With Liberty Share you will be able to share 70% of eligible medical bills up to $125,000 per incident. With this plan you will pay anywhere from $199 to $479 a month. Similar to the other two Liberty HealthShare plans your annual unshared amount will range from $1000 to $2250.
Features
- Members will be able to enjoy SavNet discounts on pharmacy, dental, vision, hearing, and chiropractic costs.
- Affordable rates and deductible.
- Submitting a claim with Liberty HealthShare is easy.
Aliera Healthcare
Trinity Healthshare/AlieraCare allows you to remain healthy at an affordable price. The drawback of Aliera is that it is open to all religious groups. It’s the closest company to secular health sharing. This is why I can’t recommend it to those who desire a Christian health sharing company with a biblical statement of faith.
How much does Aliera Healthcare cost?
While Aliera does have high member shared responsibility amounts, they do have affordable monthly costs. Aliera allows you to choose an MSRA of either $5000, $7500, or $10,000.
Aliera has three plan options to choose from.
The AlieraCare value plan starts at $173. This plan is for those looking for preventive services.
AlieraCare Plus starts at $212 and is for families that need a primary care doctor.
AlieraCare Premium starts at $251 a month. This plan offers a plethora of features such as urgent care, labs and diagnostics, x-rays, specialty care, ambulance and hospitalization services, etc.
Features
- MEC Group Coverage
- Self-Funded Minimum Value Plans
- Catastrophic Only Plans
- Telemedicine
- Preventative Care
- Labs and Diagnostics
- Chronic Care
- Prescription Drug Program
Christian Healthcare Ministries
CHM is one of the oldest health sharing providers (Check out Christian healthcare ministries insurance). Today the company has over $2 billion in shared medical bills. Christian Healthcare Ministries will not assist with doctor visits. CHM does not step in when it comes to minor issues. While CHM is affordable, all of their programs have a $125,000 sharing limit. If you want a higher sharing limit you will have to sign up for their Brother’s Keeper program, which gives you a $225,000 sharing limit.
How much does Christian Healthcare Ministries cost?
CHM has three options for you to choose from. Their Bronze, Silver, and Gold plan range from $90-$450/mo. Their deductibles range from $500 to $5000 depending on your plan. CHM
Features
- Physical therapy/home healthcare with the gold plan.
- Hospitalization (inpatient/outpatient)
- Catastrophic bills program
- Group health programs
- BBB Accredited Charity
Altrua HealthShare
Altrua HealthShare is a unique health care sharing ministry that does not require a pastor or representative from a local church to sign an acknowledgement verifying your church membership. Altrua allows for 6 Office/Urgent Care visits annually.
How much does Altrua HealthShare cost?
Altrua offers 4 membership plans for you to choose from. Their Copper plan starts at $100 a month. Their Bronze plan starts at $135 a month. Their Silver plan starts at $242 a month. Their God plan starts at $269 a month.
Features
- Unlimited telemedicine
- Maternity sharing
- Lifetime maximum limit $1,000,000 – $2,000,000
- PHCS Multiplan network
- Counseling Services, Telemedicine, Discounts on Dental, Vision and Hearing.
Which health share plan is the best?
The top sharing ministry is Medi-Share. In this comparison, we’ve learned that every sharing ministry has unique features. However, Medi-Share offers a biblical statement of faith, is extremely affordable, has a large network of doctors available, no sharing cap, and many discounts that you can take advantage of.
