Do you need healthcare for 2022? If so, then this Medi-Share review is just what you need. Healthcare costs are rising at a rapid rate due to price transparency, more emergency room care, rise of chronic illness & obesity, rising pharmacy costs, etc.
Medi-Share is an alternative healthcare option for Christians. We’ve all heard the radio commercials, watched the YouTube videos, and read the testimonials on reddit. However, is it the right program for you and your family? That is what we will find out today. In this article, we will seek to explain more about this growing healthcare option. We will help you to know about the history of the company and we will help you to know about the pros and cons of Medi-Share.
What is Medi-Share?
Christian Care Ministry is a not-for-profit (NFP) organization that was founded in 1993 by Dr. E John Reinhold. The company is based in Melbourne, Florida and has over 300,000 members and 500 employees. The main focus of Christian Care Ministry is Medi-Share. When you sign up for Medi-Share you will become part of a community of Christians who live out biblical scriptures such as:
Galatians 6:2 “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
Acts 2:44-47 “And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”
Acts 4:32 “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.”
Medi-Share is a medical bill sharing system. You will pay for the medical bill of other believers and other believers will pay for your medical bills. Medi-Share takes the focus off of profit and puts it on people. What I love about this company is that you will grow in community. Not only will you be paying each other’s bill, but you are also given the opportunity to encourage and pray for other believers just like we are told in 1 Timothy 2:1 “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people.” Medi-Share is extremely organized. Members are able to vote on the guidelines, save around 50%, resemble the early church, and grow in community.
Is Medi-Share worth it?
Dave Ramsey is a huge fan of Christian healthcare ministries. Dave Ramsey is a trusted voice on money, business, and making the right investments. On this subject, Dave Ramsey said that many sharing healthcare sharing ministries are very reliable and a great option for people. However, there are some not so stellar ones out there that you should be wary of. As for Medi-Share, Dave Ramsey said that the company was very reliable and can be trusted to do what they promised. Many families have been blessed through Medi-Share. If you want something that is effective, then you would be a great candidate. What I love about Medi-Share is that they will not drop you if you were to ever develop a medical condition.
How does Medi-Share work?
With Medi-Share you will not have a monthly premium. Every member has a monthly share amount that is deposited into their share account each month. This amount will be used to share with other members. Also, every month your bill will be matched by another member. There are many factors that will determine your monthly share amount such as your age, Medi-Share members in your household, and your annual household portion, which you will be able to choose.
Medi-Share AHP
Medi-Share does not have deductibles. Instead, you will have an AHP. This is the amount you will pay for your medical bills before other members will be able to share with you. You will be able to choose the best AHP option in terms of the amount that fits the budget for your family. The Annual Household Portion only applies to eligible medical bills. The AHP ranges from $500 to $10,000.
Medi-Share and Telehealth – Free virtual doctor visits when you are sick.
Telehealth visits can cost an average of $80. Medi-Share offers free doctor online visits through telehealth. You will be given 24/7 access to MDLive which will help you to save time and money. As a member you will be able to get a diagnosis by board certified physicians in minutes. Virtual care saves time because you don’t have to sit and wait at a doctor’s office. Also, you will be able to receive a diagnosis for allergy issues, cold & flu, fevers, sore throats, ear aches, headaches, infections, insect bites, and more. This is one of Medi-Share’s top features because you can talk to a physician in the comfort of your own home and best of all it is free. You will even be able to get a prescription for yourself or your children in less than 30 minutes.
Serious issues
For more serious issues you can choose one of their providers to go to. Make sure to bring your membership card with you when you go to the doctor’s office. At the doctor’s office you will pay a small fee of around $35. When you are done getting the care that you need, then your bill will be sent to Medi-Share and they will handle everything else. When you meet your AHP your bills will then be shared fully by other members.
When someone shares your bills, then you will get a notification to your phone. This is what Medi-Share is all about. It’s exciting because you will be able to interact with other members, thanking them, building friendship, praying for each other, and anything else that God leads you to do. Your medical information will not be disclosed by anyone. You choose how much you would like to share with others.
How to find Medi-Share providers in your area?
Finding doctors in your network is easy. Members will be given an extremely large database of providers to choose from. The preferred provider organization (PPO) is PHCS. This is good news for you because that means you will be given discounted medical rates. You will easily be able to find a doctor or facility in your area by using their provider search tool to search by name, specialty, facility type, NPI# or license#. For example, you can type in family medicine, pediatrics, counseling, or another specialty and type in your zip code and you will receive an extensive list of providers. Just by typing in family doctor in the search box I was able to receive over 200 doctors within a 10-mile radius. You can make the search easier by sorting through the location, new patient status, gender, language, hospital affiliations, handicap accessible, routine visit office wait, education, degree, and more.
How much does Medi-Share cost?
Similar to an insurance provider, monthly rates will vary per person depending on factors such as age, gender, your family size, marital status, AHP, etc. However, MediShare prices are more affordable than your average insurance company.
Members save over 50% a year, which is over $3000 in yearly healthcare savings. Standard per month share can be anywhere from $65 and up. I’ve heard of families with 5 kids paying $200 a month. The only way to find out how much that you will be able to pay is to get pricing. Get a quote today! (Pricing given in a few seconds.)
Is Medi-Share tax deductible?
Medi-Share is not an insurance company so it’s not deductible as an insurance expense. Although the amount that you pay is not tax deductible you will still be able to benefit and save more than those who have average health insurance premiums due to their low rates.
Pre-existing conditions
Medi-Share is mainly for unexpected illnesses or injuries. However, members may able to share some pre-existing conditions such as diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, ect. If you do have pre-existing conditions, make sure to disclose that information to Medi-Share representatives.
Medi-Share Coverages
What does Medi-Share cover?
Here are a few things that they cover.
- Family Care Doctor
- Mental Health
- Dermatologist
- Pediatric
- Home Care
- Cardiac Surgeon
- Orthopaedic
- Dental
- Chiropractor
- Eye Care
Medi-Share does not cover
Here are a few things that they do not cover.
- Abortions
- Birth control
- Pregnancy outside of marriage
- Drug addictions
- (STD) Sexually Transmitted Diseases
- Medical issues that stem from sinful lifestyle choices.
- Vaccinations are not covered. However, local clinics offer shots for free for those without health insurance.
Comparing pros/cons
Pros
- Cheap monthly premiums / share amount
- Bless other families
- An opportunity for you to be blessed by another family.
- ACA Compliant
- Extensive doctor network, including various dental providers
- Share in adoption costs
- Discounts on prescription drugs
- Discounts on dental care, vision, and hearing services
- You can enjoy maternity coverage. However, if you are pregnant when you join, your pregnancy can’t be shared. If you add your newborn to your membership their care will be eligible for sharing.
- Partners with CURE International to help kids with disabilities.
Cons
- Not tax deductible
- Not HSA eligible
- Age limit – If you are 65 years old or older you will not be able to use Medi-Share. However, you will be able to join their Senior Assist program. Similar to Medi-Share, older members with Medicare Parts A and B will share co-payments and coinsurance, hospitalization, and more.
- Can’t be used by non-Christians.
Medi-Share customer service support
Christian Care Ministry offers various forms of support. You can easily contact them from Monday – Friday, 8 am – 10 pm EST and Saturday, 9 am – 6 pm EST.
You can email their health support team for information on their health incentive discount and health partnership program. You can also email their member services, finance department, and more. Lastly, Medi-Share offers a plethora of videos, articles, and helpful information on their website to answer any questions that you might have. Their guidelines and qualifications are pretty straightforward.
The differences between Liberty HealthShare Vs Medi-Share.
Liberty HealthShare is similar to CHM, Medi-Share, and Samaritan Ministries, or other alternative options. However, you will be able to get a greater discount with Medi-Share and they have a better reputation.
Obamacare Vs Medi-Share
Obamacare is the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010. If you want to save, then you will be glad to know that Medi-Share is a cheaper alternative than Obamacare and you are joining a Christian faith-based healthcare organization.
Medi-Share BBB rating review
Better Business Bureau allows us to know how a company handles customer complaints and negative feedback. BBB looks at a number of factors such as a Business’s complaint history, type of business, time in business, transparent business practices, complaint volume, unanswered complaints, and more. According to BBB Medi-Share handles problems well.
Christian Care Ministry, Inc. received an “A+ rating in the Better Business Bureau rating system, which means they scored from 97 to 100. The company received a composite score of 4.12 out of 5 stars based on 18 customer reviews and a Better Business “A+” grade.
(Start Medi-Share today and get a quote)
Christian Care Ministry annual report
It’s imperative that the company that you want to use has good financial stability. Medi-Share displays annual reports every year. In 2017, their financial reports were audited by Batts, Morrison, Wales & Lee, P.A. Christian Care Ministry received clean opinions. In 2016, the company received $61.5 million in revenue. However, in 2017 the company received over $90 million in revenue. In 2017, Company expenses increase to $74.1 million. However, net assets still increased to $16.2 million.
By the numbers in 2017
- Total shared and discounted total – $311,453,467
- Shared for cancer – $41,912,359
- Shared for births – $38,946,291
- Shared for heart disease – $15,792,984
- Program activities – $66,936,970
- General and Administrative – $7,152,168
- Cash and Cash Equivalents – $15,496,796
- Certificate of Deposit – $5,037,688
- Total Liabilities – $4,260,322
By the numbers
- Shared and discounted since 1993– $1,971,080,896
- Total Members as of June 30, 2017 – 297,613
- New Members – $144,000
- New Households – 37,122
- Total social media followers – 67,000+
- Medi-Share Facebook likes – 93K+
- Total Bills Processed – 1,022,671
- Extra Blessings Shared – $2,378,715
Medi-Share membership qualifications
- A Christian testimony that indicates a personal relationship with Christ.
- Profess the Statement of Faith
- Members must not engage in premarital sex.
- Must not be involved in unbiblical practices such as drunkenness, tobacco, etc.
- Members must be a Legal Alien with a visa or green card and Social Security number. Missionaries serving in other countries may qualify.
- You must desire to bear the burdens of others.
What I love about Christian Care Ministry
I love Christian Care Ministry because it offers biblical healthcare options for other believers. I love being relational so it’s great to have a company that allows me to pray for others, encourage, motivate, and get to know them more. I love their statement of faith because they agree on the essentials of the Christian faith and they do not support unbiblical practices. Also, I love that believers are able to save money, which is a blessing.
Bottom line: Is Medi-Share legit?
Yes, not only is it legit, but there are many benefits to joining the program. You will be able to save thousands of dollars a year on healthcare. Average members save over $350 a month. You will be able to help and receive help from others. You will be able to receive discounts on Lasik, dental, and more. If you are tired of paying high premiums and you need affordable Christian healthcare plans, then Medi-Share is well worth it. I encourage you to apply below which takes seconds.
How to Join? All that you have to do is apply for Medi-Share today.
