Jane Dotson
Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM) is a health cost-sharing ministry, not an insurance company. Members voluntarily pay a monthly contribution to cover their medical costs and help other members. It is a viable alternative to traditional health insurance, especially for those who cannot afford it or do not agree with the procedures that traditional insurance covers. However, CHM is not a legitimate insurance alternative, and members are not guaranteed to have their bills covered.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of organization | Health cost-sharing ministry |
| Type of plan | Health sharing plan |
| Nature of the plan | Non-profit |
| Religious affiliation | Christian |
| Membership | Over 2 million members |
| Membership requirements | Members must be Christians who attend worship regularly, follow the teachings of the New Testament, and live a lifestyle consistent with the CHM Statements of Beliefs |
| Membership restrictions | No restrictions based on age, geographic location, or health history |
| Membership fees | No application or annual membership fees |
| Monthly contributions | $98 to $255, depending on the program |
| Eligible medical expenses | Medical tests, maternity care, hospitalization, surgery, telemedicine services, inpatient and outpatient hospital incidents, physical therapy, home healthcare, doctor's office visits, and prescriptions |
| Illness cap | $125,000 per illness |
| CHM Plus | Optional add-on for $32 per month for protection against catastrophic medical bills |
| Pre-existing conditions | CHM has guidelines on how it handles pre-existing conditions, often involving a waiting period |
| Network restrictions | No network needed; members are free to choose their own providers |
| Bill eligibility | Determined by CHM Guidelines and the member's program |
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What You'll Learn
- Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM) is not an insurance company
- CHM is a health cost-sharing ministry
- CHM members voluntarily pay each other's medical bills
- CHM members must adhere to a Christian lifestyle
- CHM is a federally certified exemption to the individual mandate under the US Affordable Care Act
Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM) is not an insurance company
Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM) is a health cost-sharing ministry and not an insurance company. It is an alternative to traditional insurance. Members voluntarily pay a monthly contribution to cover their medical costs and help other members. This model is based on the biblical principle of sharing each other's burdens.
CHM is one of the oldest health-sharing programs in the US, with over 2 million members. It was founded in 1981 to help Christians put their beliefs into practice by pooling resources from families, churches, and ministries. Members must be Christians who attend worship services regularly, follow the teachings of the New Testament, and live according to biblical principles.
CHM offers four different programs: Gold, Silver, Bronze, and SeniorShare™. Each program includes telemedicine services, inpatient and outpatient hospital incidents, surgery, maternity care, physical therapy, home healthcare (up to 45 visits per injury or sickness), and incident-related doctor's office visits and prescriptions. The monthly costs range from $98 to $255, depending on the chosen program.
CHM is not subject to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and does not cover all medical expenses. For example, it does not share bills for ineligible medical conditions, care from non-medical providers (chiropractors, psychologists, etc.), or medical doctors practicing alternative treatments. It also has guidelines regarding pre-existing conditions, which often involve a waiting period.
CHM is a good option for those who want to avoid paying for insurance that covers medical services conflicting with their religious beliefs. It is important to note that CHM is not insurance and does not provide the same level of financial protection as traditional insurance.
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CHM is a health cost-sharing ministry
Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM) is a health cost-sharing ministry. It is not an insurance company but a health sharing ministry that has been in operation since 1981. It is one of the oldest health sharing programs in the US with over 2 million members.
CHM is a non-profit ministry that helps its members satisfy their medical needs. Members contribute monthly financial amounts, called "shares", which are used to cover the eligible medical expenses of other members. This model is based on the biblical principle of sharing each other's burdens. Members voluntarily send monthly contributions to take care of their medical costs while helping fellow believers. There are no membership restrictions based on age, health, or geographic location.
CHM offers four programs: CHM Gold ($255 per unit, per month), CHM Silver ($148 per unit, per month), CHM Bronze ($98 per unit, per month), and SeniorShare™ ($115 per unit, per month). The monthly costs range from $98 to $255, depending on the chosen program. Each program includes telemedicine services, inpatient and outpatient hospital incidents and surgery, maternity care, physical therapy, home healthcare (up to 45 visits per injury or sickness), and incident-related doctor's office visits and prescriptions.
CHM is a great option for Christians who want to avoid paying for insurance that covers medical services that violate their religious beliefs. It is important to note that CHM is not a replacement for major medical insurance and cannot share bills for ineligible medical conditions or care from non-medical providers.
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CHM members voluntarily pay each other's medical bills
Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM) is a health cost-sharing ministry founded in 1981. It is a biblically-based community of Christians who voluntarily share each other's eligible medical bills. This means that members send monthly contributions to cover their medical costs and help other members. There are no membership restrictions based on age, location, or health history, and members are not removed or charged more due to expensive health conditions.
CHM offers four programs: CHM Gold ($255/month), CHM Silver ($148/month), CHM Bronze ($98/month), and SeniorShare™ ($115/month). These programs cover various medical services, including inpatient and outpatient hospital care, surgery, maternity care, physical therapy, and home healthcare. Members can also add CHM Plus for $32/month to protect against catastrophic medical bills exceeding $125,000 per illness.
As a cost-sharing ministry, CHM's eligibility and reimbursement processes differ from insurance. CHM evaluates and shares eligible medical bills in the order they are received, and most bills are shared within 60-75 days. Members are encouraged to ask medical providers for payment plans until CHM completes the sharing process. The eligibility of bills is determined by CHM Guidelines, which members can review to understand the types of medical bills their contributions cover.
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CHM members must adhere to a Christian lifestyle
Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM) is a health cost-sharing ministry, not a health insurance company. It is one of the oldest health sharing programs in the US, founded in 1981, with more than 2 million members.
CHM members contribute monthly financial amounts, called "shares," which are used to cover the eligible medical expenses of other members. This model is based on the biblical principle of sharing each other's burdens. Members are required to adhere to a Christian lifestyle, agreeing to live according to biblical principles and the teachings of the New Testament.
To be eligible for CHM, individuals must be Christians who attend worship services regularly, as health permits. They must also live a lifestyle consistent with the CHM Statements of Beliefs, which include abstaining from tobacco, nicotine, illegal drug use, and "sexual immorality" as defined in the Scriptures and CHM's Statements of Beliefs.
CHM offers four programs: CHM Gold, CHM Silver, CHM Bronze, and SeniorShare™. Each program includes telemedicine services, inpatient and outpatient hospital incidents, surgery, maternity care, physical therapy, home healthcare (up to 45 visits per injury/sickness), and incident-related doctor's office visits and prescriptions. The monthly costs for these programs range from $98 to $255. There is also an optional CHM Plus program for an additional $32 per month, which provides protection against catastrophic medical bills exceeding the $125,000 limit per illness specified in the CHM Guidelines.
While CHM is not health insurance, it is a federally certified exemption to the individual mandate under the Affordable Care Act. This means it is an alternative for those who do not want to pay for insurance that covers medical services conflicting with their religious beliefs.
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CHM is a federally certified exemption to the individual mandate under the US Affordable Care Act
Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM) is a faith-based, voluntary cost-sharing ministry founded in 1981. It is a federally certified exemption to the US Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), also known as Obamacare. As a result, CHM is recognised as a legitimate option under national healthcare law.
CHM received official notification from the federal government's Department of Health and Human Services confirming its status as a healthcare sharing ministry. This notification states that CHM has:
> "...submitted sufficient information to substantiate its compliance with the standards specified in section 5000A(d)(2)(B)(ii) of the Code [i.e. the PPACA] and will be considered a healthcare sharing ministry for the purposes of subpart G of 45 CFR part 155."
CHM operates as a biblical community of members who voluntarily share (or pay) the burden of each other's medical expenses. Members contribute a monthly amount to cover their medical costs while also assisting fellow believers. There are no membership restrictions based on age, location, or health history, and members are not removed or charged more due to expensive health conditions.
CHM offers four flexible programs: CHM Gold, CHM Silver, CHM Bronze, and CHM SeniorShare™. These programs cover various medical services, including telemedicine, inpatient and outpatient hospital care, surgery, maternity care, physical therapy, home healthcare, doctor's visits, and prescriptions.
It is important to note that CHM is not traditional insurance or a government-subsidised healthcare plan. While it provides an alternative option for Christians seeking to manage their healthcare costs, it is not a direct replacement for comprehensive health insurance. Some sources suggest that CHM can deny coverage, allow pre-existing conditions, and drop members when they need to use their benefits, similar to other health-sharing ministries.
The tax bill regarding the ACA's individual mandate, passed in 2017, does not affect CHM members as the fee for not having health insurance ended in 2018. This means that individuals without health coverage do not need an exemption to avoid paying a tax penalty.
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Frequently asked questions
Christian Health Ministries (CHM) is a health cost-sharing ministry. Members voluntarily send monthly contributions to take care of their medical costs while helping fellow believers.
Members contribute monthly financial amounts, called "shares", which are used to cover the eligible medical expenses of other members. This model is based on the biblical principle of sharing each other's burdens.
Christian Health Ministries is a great option for Christians who want to live out the biblical practice of bearing each other's burdens. It is also a federally certified exemption to the individual mandate under the U.S. Affordable Care Act, which means it appeals to those who do not want to pay for insurance that covers medical services that violate their religious beliefs.
The monthly costs range from $98 to $255, depending on the program chosen. There are four programs: CHM Gold, CHM Silver, CHM Bronze, and SeniorShare™.
Christian Health Ministries is not an insurance company but a health-sharing ministry. It is a viable option for those who are in relatively good health, who don’t qualify for a significant subsidy under the Affordable Care Act, and who are already committed to living a healthy lifestyle.
