Christian Healthcare Ministries: Life Insurance Coverage?

Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM) is a health cost-sharing ministry that provides an alternative to traditional health insurance. Members voluntarily pay a monthly contribution to cover each other's medical costs. While CHM is not insurance, it is a federally certified exemption to the individual mandate under the U.S. Affordable Care Act. Members must agree to a statement of faith and make a pre-set monthly contribution, with the option to add CHM Plus for additional coverage for catastrophic medical events. CHM does not offer life insurance, but its cost-sharing model can help members save on healthcare costs, including medical tests, maternity, hospitalization, and surgery.

Christian Healthcare Ministries is not insurance

Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM) is not insurance. It is a health care sharing ministry, which is a legal way for like-minded groups to pool their resources to share the burden of healthcare costs. Members voluntarily pay a monthly contribution to take care of their medical costs while helping fellow believers.

CHM is a faith-based alternative to health insurance. It is not federally regulated and is not subject to the same regulations as insurance. CHM is a nonprofit ministry and is not run by insurance companies.

CHM is a biblical community of members who work together to share the burden of medical expenses. Members agree to the CHM statement of faith and make a pre-set monthly contribution, which is used to fund the sharing of eligible medical bills. CHM has no contracts for members and any Christian can join at any time.

CHM offers four programs: CHM Bronze, CHM Silver, CHM Gold, and CHM SeniorShare™. Each program has a different monthly contribution, member responsibility amount, and benefits. For example, the CHM Gold program offers the most benefits, including a higher qualifying amount per incident and lower annual personal responsibility.

CHM also provides cost-sharing for catastrophic medical events through CHM Plus, which allows members to contribute to other members' medical bills that exceed the ordinary defined limit.

While CHM is not health insurance, it is a federally certified exemption to the individual mandate under the U.S. Affordable Care Act. This means that it is a valid option for those who do not want to pay for insurance that covers medical services that violate their religious beliefs. CHM is a great option for Christians who want to live out the biblical practice of bearing one another's burdens and for those looking for a cost-effective way to supplement Medicare.

It is a biblical community

Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM) is a biblical community of members from all 50 states and around the world. It is a faith-based alternative to health insurance, where members voluntarily pay and share each other's medical expenses.

CHM is a ministry for Christians who want to live out the biblical practice of bearing each other's burdens. It is a biblical solution to sharing medical costs, as described in Galatians 6:2, "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ."

The ministry was founded in 1981 and is the nation's original health cost-sharing ministry. It is a non-profit ministry that is not considered insurance. CHM has no contracts for members, and any Christian can join at any time by agreeing to the CHM statement of faith and making a pre-set monthly contribution.

CHM offers four programs: CHM Bronze, CHM Silver, CHM Gold, and CHM SeniorShare™. These programs are designed to cater to different needs and budgets, with varying levels of benefits and monthly contributions.

CHM also provides cost-sharing for catastrophic medical events through CHM Plus, which allows members to contribute to medical bills that exceed the ordinary defined limit.

CHM is a community of like-minded individuals who come together to support each other financially and spiritually. It is a biblical community that encourages members to pray for each other's health and share each other's burdens, in accordance with their Christian values.

CHM has helped thousands of families and individuals get vital medical cost support and has saved many from financial ruin due to medical debt. It is a trusted and recommended option for those seeking an affordable and faith-based alternative to traditional health insurance.

Members voluntarily pay each other's medical expenses

Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM) is a health cost-sharing ministry founded in 1981. It is a faith-based alternative to health insurance, where members voluntarily pay each other's medical expenses.

CHM is a non-profit ministry that is not considered insurance. It is a biblical community of members who voluntarily share the burden of medical expenses, putting Galatians 6:2 into action: "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ."

Here's how it works: members agree to a statement of faith and make a pre-set monthly contribution, which is used to fund the sharing of eligible medical bills. When a member submits a bill, CHM's trained staff reviews it for eligibility according to the ministry's guidelines. Members can choose from four different flexible programs, each designed to meet their specific needs.

CHM offers a way for Christians to live out the biblical practice of bearing one another's burdens. It provides an affordable option for those seeking an alternative to traditional health insurance, allowing members to save on healthcare costs without compromising their values or freedom.

The monthly contributions are often lower than traditional health insurance premiums, making it an attractive option for individuals and families looking for more affordable coverage. There are no membership restrictions based on age, location, or health history, and members are never removed due to expensive health conditions.

CHM has satisfied over $11 billion in members' healthcare costs, sharing 100% of eligible medical bills. It is an excellent option for those seeking a faith-based approach to managing their healthcare expenses while supporting fellow believers.

It is a non-profit ministry

Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM) is a non-profit ministry. It is not an insurance company, but a health care sharing ministry. Members voluntarily pay monthly contributions to cover their medical costs and help fellow believers.

CHM is a faith-based alternative to health insurance. It is a ministry made for Christians who want more from their healthcare. It is a biblical community of members that work together to share the burden of medical expenses, putting Galatians 6:2 into action.

CHM is the nation's original health cost-sharing ministry and has been operating since 1981. It is the longest-serving biblical solution to covering medical costs. CHM is not federally regulated and is not subject to the same regulations as insurance companies. It is run by Health Care Sharing Ministries (HCMS) and other private, membership-based sharing organizations.

CHM is a non-profit ministry with no network restrictions. It offers four different flexible programs, each designed to cater to different needs and stages of life. These programs include CHM Bronze, CHM Silver, CHM Gold, and CHM SeniorShare™.

CHM members must agree to a statement of faith and make a pre-set monthly contribution, which is used to fund the sharing of all members' eligible medical bills. The more members pay, the greater the amount of cost-sharing when they submit eligible medical bills. CHM has shared 100% of eligible medical bills and has satisfied over $11 billion in members' healthcare costs.

CHM is a non-profit ministry that provides an affordable option for healthcare. It is a community-oriented organization that fosters a sense of support and faith among its members.

It is a federally certified exemption to the individual mandate under the Affordable Care Act

Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM) is a federally certified exemption to the U.S. Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (the PPACA, more commonly known as Obamacare). As such, CHM is an eligible option under the national healthcare law. It is a faith-based, voluntary cost-sharing ministry with thousands of members in all 50 states.

CHM received notification from the federal government’s Department of Health and Human Services that it had "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."

This means that CHM meets the qualifications set forth for health cost-sharing ministries in the U.S. healthcare legislation. Specifically, CHM:

• Is described in section 501(c)(3) of the tax code and is exempt from taxation under section 501(a).
• Has members who share a common set of ethical or religious beliefs and share medical expenses among themselves, regardless of the state in which they reside or are employed.
• Allows members to retain their membership even if they develop a medical condition.
• Has been in existence at all times since December 31, 1999, and its members' medical expenses have been shared continuously and without interruption since then.
• Conducts an annual audit performed by an independent certified public accounting firm, which is made available to the public upon request.

The U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) removed the individual penalty for people who don’t have insurance or who can claim a qualifying exemption, such as CHM membership. Therefore, CHM members are not subject to the financial penalty that was in effect until December 31, 2018, for those without health cost support.

It is important to note that CHM is not insurance and does not provide the same level of guaranteed benefits as traditional insurance. It is a cost-sharing ministry where members voluntarily share each other's medical expenses based on their shared ethical or religious beliefs.

Frequently asked questions