Share HealthCare: Health Cost-Sharing Programs
Another good option to cover what HELPcare Clinic membership doesn't!
Today we continue our series on health cost-sharing programs that can work hand-in-hand with HELPcare Clinic membership.
Share HealthCare is similar to Samaritan Ministries in many ways, but it may be a better fit for your family depending on your circumstances and personal preferences.
A bit of history:
Share HealthCare is a Christian "non-profit, ACA-exempt medical cost sharing ministry using the latest online technology to provide an enhanced user experience along with convenient and affordable access to the healthcare you need."
On their website they state, "Our secure online sharing network allows us to offer direct member-to-member medical cost sharing. With this technology, we’re proud to offer a twenty-first century solution to the problem of rising healthcare costs. Share HealthCare is a fully compliant online medical cost sharing ministry, by providing each member an individualized, FDIC-insured bank account where their monthly contributions are held until being shared to pay fellow members’ medical expenses."
The details:
Similar to Samaritan Ministries, Share HealthCare is a Christian organization. They ask each member to affirm to their list of shared beliefs and commit to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
According to their website, "Our secure member-to-member direct cost sharing network facilitates medical cost sharing between members’ FDIC-insured accounts. Each member receives his or her own unique federally regulated bank account to give and receive funds. Funds are never pooled in a centralized account. Your contributions are transferred directly in a one-to-one transaction that uplifts those in need—in real time."
Share HealthCare has four different plans to choose from. They offer a PEPE (per event personal expense) or an AUA (annual unshared amount). The AUA works more like a traditional insurance deductible. The family rate is for a family of four, adding $50 a month per additional family member.
There is an initial $120 membership cost paid at the time of joining. This is also paid annually as your membership continues.
Share HealthCare could be a good fit for you if you are looking for a Christian health sharing ministry and are a smaller family (3-4 members). It may also be a good fit if you prefer the idea of having a deductible-like annual unshareable amount rather than paying an initial cost ($300, $500 or $1000) per medical need.
Many of the program details can be found here.
Some things to note:
There are no annual or lifetime limits on sharing.
According to the Share HealthCare guidebook, "Everyone can be a member of Share HealthCare, but a condition for which signs, symptoms, or treatment were present within the past twenty-four (24) months or sixty (60) months for any malignant form of cancer (tissue or blood) prior to applying for membership, or can be reasonably expected to require medical intervention in the future, must be disclosed on the Member Information Sheet to Share HealthCare and are not qualified for sharing."
It's important to note that, as a member of Share HealthCare, you are a self-paying patient. Share HealthCare facilitates health cost-sharing, but there are limitations to what Share HealthCare ministry can and can't do. From their website, "Giving a monetary gift to assist another member in the program does not create a legally enforceable right to receive funds for healthcare expenses.
Health cost-sharing programs work well for many people, but it's important to fully understand how they work. You can find more information about Share HealthCare to see if it's a good fit for you on their website.
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