Healthcare costs are skyrocketing up. Even Obamacare can be expensive. In this MediShare vs Liberty HealthShare review we will help you with making the best choice for your family.
Getting health insurance at a good price is hard and it’s even harder if you are self-employed. The goal of this article is to help you to find the best Christian healthcare plans at an affordable rate.
Information about both companies.
Medi-Share
Medi-Share was founded in 1993. Today the company serves over 400,000 members, and over $2.6 billion dollars in medical bills have been shared and discounted.
Liberty HealthShare
Liberty HealthShare was founded in 2012 by Dale Bellis to give Americans an alternative to government mandated healthcare.
How do health sharing plans work?
With sharing ministries, you will have a monthly share amount. You will share bills with other members and your bill will be matched by other members. In case of a medical event, you will select a network provider and show them your ID card. After that, your provider will send bills to the healthcare ministry that you are working with, and your bill will be processed for discounts. Members will then share the bills of others.
Medi-Share slightly differs from Liberty because you are able to grow in friendship with other members. You will be able to share each other’s burdens and encourage those who shared your bills.
Price comparison
With sharing ministries, you will always pay significantly less than your average health insurance provider. Expect to pay $2000 less on healthcare with either Medi-Share or Liberty HealthShare. However, Medi-Share members report savings of over $350 a month. The lowest month to month rates of Medi-Share can cost you around $40, but the lowest monthly rates of Liberty is going to cost you around $100. Liberty offers 3 healthcare options to choose from.
Liberty Complete is their most popular healthcare plan. This plan allows members to share eligible medical costs up to $1,000,000 per incident. The suggested monthly share amount for members who are under 30 is $249 for singles, $349 for couples, and $479 for families. Members who are 30-64 have a suggested monthly share amount of $299 for singles, $399 for couples, and $529 for family.
Member who are 65 and older have a suggested monthly share amount of $312 for singles, $431 for couples, and $579 for families.
Liberty also offers Liberty Plus which offers up to 70% of eligible medical bills up to $125,000 per incident.
Medi-Share pricing depends on age, annual household portion, and the number of people applying. For example, if one person is applying and he has an AHP of $1000, and he is in his late 20s, then he is looking at a standard monthly share of $278. If you qualify for the health incentive discount, which is for those who live a healthy lifestyle, then you will be able to save 20%.
Click here to see how much your rates will be with Medi-Share.
Doctor visits
Medi-Share members are able to get free virtual doctor visits through telehealth. In minutes you will be able to have board certified physicians at your disposal. This convenient feature allows you to enjoy virtual consultations from the comfort of your own home. You will also be able to get prescriptions in under 30 minutes.
If you ever have a more severe problem which requires you to walk into your local doctor’s office, then you will only have to pay a small fee of around $35.
With Liberty you will pay $45 for primary care and $100 for specialty care when you use their VideoMedicine app.
Limits
Liberty HealthShare limits
With every Liberty HealthShare plan you will notice that there is a cap. Liberty Complete caps at $1,000,000 per incident. Liberty Plus and Liberty Share both cap at $125,000. If you had the Liberty Complete plan and you were to receive a medical bill that was two million dollars, then that would mean that you would be responsible for one million dollars in medical bills.
MediShare limits
With Medi-Share there is only a cap for maternity, which is up to $125,000. Besides maternity there is no other cap that members will have to worry about which means added security for members.
In network providers
Medi-Share has over one million medical providers that you can choose from. Although Liberty HealthShare has thousands of providers, it does not have nearly the same number of medical providers that Medi-Share has.
Sign up and learn more about Medi-Share.
Coverage options
With a larger provider network Medi-Share offers coverage for specialties. For example, if you check the Liberty HealthShare sharing guidelines, you will notice that they do not offer sharing for massage and mental health services. There are even limitations with things such as dental care and eye car. You will have no problem with finding massage and mental health services near you. With Medi-Share you will receive discounts on dental care, vision services, LASIK and hearing services. Make sure to talk to a representative about any pre-existing conditions.
Both companies do not cover sharing for:
- Abortions
- Sex changes
- Contraceptives
- Medical bills as a result of drug or alcohol abuse.
- Breast Implants
Deductibles comparison
Medi-Share has higher deductibles than Liberty. The higher your deductible the more that you will be able to save. Medi-Share deductibles which are called the Annual Household Portion or AHP have options of $500, $1000, $1,250, $2,500, $3,750, $5,000, $7,500 or $10,000. When you meet your AHP all eligible bills will be published for sharing for your household.
The Liberty HealthShare deductible is called the Annual Unshared Amount or AUA. This is the amount of an eligible expense that doesn’t qualify for sharing. This amount is calculated upon each members enrollment date until their next annual enrollment date.
Claims and customer complaints
A Better Business Bureau comparison allows you to know how each company handles customer complaints. BBB ratings are based on complaint history, type of business, time in business, licensing and government actions, failure to honor commitments, and more.
Liberty HealthShare is currently not rated by BBB, which means either insufficient information about the business or ongoing review of the business.
Christian Care Ministry, Inc. received an “A+” grade which was the highest grade possible from BBB.
Availability comparison
You need to make sure that the healthcare provider of your choice is available in your state.
You will be glad to know that both companies are available nationwide.
Qualifications with both healthcare options
Liberty HealthShare
- Those who sign up for Liberty must not use any form of tobacco.
- Members must agree not to abuse alcohol, illegal drugs, or prescription drugs.
- You must be healthy and lead a healthy lifestyle.
- You must agree with all the Liberty HealthShare shared beliefs.
Medi-Share
- Adult Medi-Share members age must have a personal relationship with Christ and hold to their statement of faith.
- Members must maintain a biblical and healthy lifestyle. For example, no use of tobacco, illegal drugs, no premarital sex, etc.
Statement of faith
One of the reasons why I love Medi-Share is that Medi-Share has a biblical statement of faith, which is important for me.
Liberty HealthShare does not offer a statement of faith, but what they do offer is a statement of beliefs. Liberty HeathShare’s statement of beliefs concerns me. In one specific line Liberty HealthShare said, “We believe every individual has a fundamental religious right to worship the God of the Bible in his or her own way.” In my opinion, this is generic and watered down.
Medi-Share has an actual statement of faith that holds to the essentials of the Christian faith such as:
- The belief in one God in three divine persons, the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.
- The Bible is God’s Word. It is inspired, authoritative, and without error.
- Medi-Share holds to the deity of Christ as being God in flesh.
- Medi-Share holds to the virgin birth, Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection for our sins.
Religious requirements
To use Medi-Share you must hold to their statement of faith. Only Christians can use Med-Share. However, with Liberty HealthShare there are less restrictions. Although Liberty is faith based, with Liberty anyone is able to use it such as Catholics, Mormons, non-Christians, Jehovah Witness, etc. Liberty Health might be the most liberal sharing ministry of all the well-known sharing ministries. With their open guidelines it is clear that Liberty accepts those of all religions and sexual orientations.
Although sharing ministries are cheaper than a traditional provider, you will not be able to claim your expense for any healthcare sharing ministry.
Customer support
Medi-Share’s site is filled with more articles and helpful information than Liberty. Medi-Share is open Monday – Friday, 9 am – 10 pm, and Saturday, 9 am – 3 pm EST.
When I called Medi-Share inquiring about their services I loved that they asked for prayer requests and prayed for me. This alone caused me to lean more towards Medi-Share.
Liberty HealthShare is open Monday through Friday, but is closed on weekends.
Which healthcare option is better?
You will be able to save with both healthcare options, but I believe Medi-Share is better for you and your family. Although Medi-Share has a higher deductible, they will offer you cheaper rates. Medi-Share works more as an insurance provider than Liberty HealthShare, which means it’s the easier and quicker option when you visit the doctor. Medi-Share has no limits, more medical providers, and has better reviews overall. Lastly, I appreciate Medi-Share more due to their biblical statement of faith. I love that I am able to get to know, encourage and pray for other members. Take a few seconds to get rates from Medi-Share today.
I have been a member of Liberty Healthshare for years. In fact this year is the first time I EER filed a claim because I felt paying for my regular doctor visits it’s the least I can do to help others….Thank God I am healthy in my early 60’s. HOWEVER, this year I did send in a few claims adding up to MAYBE a few hundred dollars over my deductible and STILL NOTHING SIX MONTHS LATER! was told I didn’t put it in my “share” box, -(I emailed codes/cancelled check copies and bills), I was told they are having new commputer issues, I was told every time I called to ask and my claims were re- sent I went to the back of the line and now I am told it’s AT LEAST SIX MONTHS before I can expect anything- (it’s 5 months now). I also referred a married couple who are friends to Liberty Healthshare. I was told NO ‘finder’s fee referral check” are going out AT ALL because of the aforementioned computer updating problems. My friend’s are expecting their first child now and I am telling them to GET OUT WHILE THEY CAN!
I went back to read reviews on Liberty Healthshare and there are many in the same situation. PLEASE look into that. Since Dale Bellis retired this company has become a nightmare……certainly un- Christian and I am looking to switch most likely to Medishare.
Feel free to contact me with any further questions but I STRONGLY suggest you look into this before mentioning Liberty Healthshare as one CHristian- based health ministry- right now they are ANYTHING BUT THAT!
Donna Fiducia
Donna,
I am with Liberty also and I had the same problem. It took me a year to finally get any money from them. I also heard the same things when I called. I am currently looking to switch.
Colin Lovelace