Medi-Share is a non-profit, medical expense-sharing program for Christians. Members share the cost of each other's health expenses. It is not insurance and is not regulated as insurance. Members are exempt from the individual mandate in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. It is a great alternative to expensive healthcare coverage for some.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Type of Program | Not insurance, but a health care sharing ministry |
Purpose | To help members share medical costs |
Who is it for? | Christians |
Who is it not for? | Non-Christians, people with pre-existing conditions, people who engage in activities that are not Christ-like |
Cost | $50 application fee, $120 membership fee, $2 admin fee, $350 per month for a family of five, $230 per month for a family of four |
Cost Savings | Up to $500 per month, 50% of health insurance premiums |
Annual Household Portion (AHP) | $1,000 to $10,500 |
Doctor Visits | $35 |
Hospitalizations | $35 |
Emergency Room Visits | $200 |
Telemedicine | Free |
Maternity Coverage | Yes, if the member has been contributing for at least the month of conception |
Membership Requirements | Must adhere to a biblical lifestyle, no tobacco or illegal drugs |
Customer Service | Long wait times, but consistently helpful |
What You'll Learn
Medi-Share is not insurance
Medi-Share is a health care sharing ministry of Christian Care Ministry, Inc ("CCM"). Medi-Share members voluntarily share each other's medical expenses in accordance with guidelines adopted by the members and administered by CCM. Medi-Share is not insurance and is not regulated as insurance. Neither CCM nor any Medi-Share member assumes any legal obligation to share in the payment of any medical expense incurred by another Medi-Share member.
Medi-Share members are exempt from the individual mandate in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. See 26 U.S.C §5000 A(d)(2)(B). Certain states expressly exempt from insurance regulation healthcare sharing ministries that, among other things, post a specific notice. Although Medi-Share does not rely on such express exemptions, Medi-Share has elected to publish these notices. You can review the disclosure required for the state in which you reside: KY, MD, PA, WI - All Other States.
Medi-Share is a comprehensive alternative to health insurance. It provides access to quality health care at an affordable monthly cost. With annual household amounts from $3k to $12k, Medi-Share Complete has options that fit your needs and budget.
Medi-Share is not HSA-compatible. Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are designed to be used alongside high-deductible health insurance plans. Since Medi-Share is a health care sharing program and not an insurance plan, it does not qualify for HSAs.
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It is a Christian healthcare sharing ministry
Medi-Share is a healthcare sharing ministry based on the faith community values and practices of the early Christian Church. It is a not-for-profit organisation that facilitates the sharing of medical costs of its members based on biblical stewardship and responsibility. Members voluntarily share each other's medical expenses in accordance with guidelines adopted by the members and administered by the Christian Care Ministry (CCM).
Each month, members pay a "share" (similar to a premium) into an account with their name on it at America's Christian Credit Union. The funds in these accounts are what pays the member's medical bills each month. Members choose an annual household portion (AHP), which is similar to an annual deductible. The size of the AHP determines how much members will have to pay out-of-pocket for covered medical expenses before the health share kicks in.
Medi-Share is not insurance and is not regulated as insurance. Members are exempt from the individual mandate in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. However, it is important to note that neither CCM nor any Medi-Share member assumes any legal obligation to share in the payment of any medical expense incurred by another Medi-Share member.
Medi-Share has certain requirements for membership. Members must adhere to a biblical lifestyle and agree to the Statement of Faith. This includes abstaining from tobacco and illegal drugs. Members must also be aware that certain medical expenses are not covered by Medi-Share, such as routine physicals and health maintenance costs.
Medi-Share has been in operation for over 25 years and has a high customer satisfaction rating. It offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional health insurance, with members saving up to 50% on their healthcare costs compared to insurance.
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Members voluntarily share each other's medical expenses
Medi-Share is a non-profit, Christian-based medical expense-sharing program. Members voluntarily share each other's medical expenses by pooling their monthly contributions into a single credit union account. This account is used to pay the medical bills of members in need.
Each month, members pay a "share" (akin to a premium) into their individual Sharing Account with America's Christian Credit Union. These monthly shares are then used to cover the eligible medical bills of other members. This process is facilitated by Christian Care Ministry (CCM), which publishes the bills eligible for sharing through a secure online portal.
Members can choose their Annual Household Portion (AHP), which is similar to an annual deductible. The AHP determines the out-of-pocket expenses that must be paid before medical bills can be shared. Members are also required to pay a provider fee (like a co-pay) of $35 for doctor visits and $200 for emergency room care.
Medi-Share is not insurance and is not regulated as such. It is based on biblical stewardship and responsibility, with member-voted guidelines governing what is eligible for sharing. While there is no guarantee of sharing, Medi-Share members have shared each other's medical bills for more than 20 years.
The cost of Medi-Share depends on factors such as the chosen AHP, state, marital status, family size, and age. There are also application fees and upfront costs, including a $50 application fee, a $120 one-time membership fee, and a $2 administrative fee for setting up the Sharing Account.
Medi-Share offers a flexible program with multiple choices of benefits and out-of-pocket expenses. Members have the option to choose their own doctors and hospitals, but there are discounts available for using in-network providers.
While Medi-Share does not cover all costs, it provides an affordable alternative to traditional health insurance for Christians who adhere to a biblical lifestyle.
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It is a non-profit organisation
Medi-Share is a non-profit, Christian-based medical expense-sharing program. It is a healthcare sharing ministry of Christian Care Ministry, Inc ("CCM"), a non-profit organisation. Medi-Share members voluntarily share each other's medical expenses in accordance with guidelines adopted by the members and administered by CCM.
As a non-profit, Medi-Share is not insurance and is not regulated as insurance. It is a community of believers who voluntarily come together to share the cost of one another's medical bills. Members choose to share with each other, governed by member-voted guidelines. There is no guarantee of sharing, but Medi-Share members have been sharing each other's medical bills for more than 20 years.
Each month, members pay their "share" (a fixed amount depending on the plan chosen) into an account with their name on it at America's Christian Credit Union. The funds in these accounts are what pay the members' medical bills each month.
Medi-Share has certain requirements for membership. For instance, members must adhere to a biblical lifestyle and agree to the Statement of Faith. Members must also abstain from the use of tobacco or illegal drugs. In addition, there are certain medical expenses that are not covered by Medi-Share, such as routine physicals and health maintenance costs.
Medi-Share offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional health insurance, with members saving up to $500 per month on their healthcare costs. The program is flexible, with multiple choices of program levels, benefits, and out-of-pocket expenses. Members can choose their own doctors and hospitals, but there are also discounts available for using networked professionals.
Medi-Share has been in operation for over 20 years and has a good track record of paying members' medical bills. It is a reliable and affordable option for Christians seeking an alternative to traditional health insurance.
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It is exempt from insurance regulation
Medi-Share is a healthcare sharing ministry that is exempt from insurance regulation. It is not insurance and is instead a not-for-profit ministry. Members of Medi-Share are exempt from the individual mandate in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as outlined in 26 United States Code §5000A(d)(2)(B).
While Medi-Share is not insurance and therefore need not qualify for exemptions, it has elected to publish these exemptions. The following states require a notice for Medi-Share to qualify for an exemption from insurance regulation: Kentucky, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and all other states.
Medi-Share is a health care sharing programme facilitated by Christian Care Ministry (CCM). It is a community of believers who voluntarily come together to share the cost of one another's medical bills. Members choose to share with each other, governed by member-voted guidelines. There is no guarantee of sharing, but Medi-Share members have been sharing each other's medical bills for more than 20 years.
Each month, members pay their "share" (a fixed amount depending on the plan chosen) into an account with their name on it at America's Christian Credit Union. The funds in these accounts pay the members' medical bills each month.
Medi-Share is based on the faith community values and practices of the early Church. It is run according to biblical principles and members must adhere to a biblical lifestyle. For example, abortions are not covered, and members will not be covered if they are injured in a drunk driving accident. Members must also abstain from tobacco and illegal drugs.
Medi-Share has certain restrictions. For example, routine physicals and health maintenance costs are not eligible for sharing. It is also secondary to any other payer, so if a member's expenses are covered by insurance of any kind, such as health or auto insurance, or if a third party is responsible for paying such expenses, Medi-Share will serve as a secondary payer.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Medi-Share is not insurance. It is a not-for-profit health care sharing ministry in which Christians share their financial resources to pay each other's medical expenses.
Each month, your monthly share is matched with another’s eligible medical bills. Through a secure online portal, Medi-Share publishes the bills eligible for sharing and coordinates the direct sharing of medical costs between members.
Members do not have a monthly premium. They contribute a monthly “share amount” based on factors such as age, family size, marital status, the Annual Household Portion (AHP) selected, and the state they live in.
Medi-Share does not have deductibles. The AHP functions similarly to a deductible in health insurance plans, representing the amount a member household is responsible for paying out-of-pocket before any medical bills are eligible for sharing.