Haris Ashley
Christian health insurance, also known as health care sharing plans, is a way for Christians to pool their resources and share the burden of healthcare costs. These plans are not insurance and are not federally regulated, but they can be a more affordable option for those with shared values and beliefs. While these plans may not cover all medical needs, they can be paired with Direct Primary Care memberships to provide protection against primary and emergency medical bills. With the rising cost of health insurance, these plans are becoming increasingly popular, but it is important to evaluate your own healthcare needs and ensure adequate coverage for major medical events.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM) |
| Type | Health cost sharing ministry |
| Cost | $98 to $255 per month; as low as $105 per month according to some sources |
| Membership | No application or annual membership fees; no membership restrictions based on age, geographic location, or health history |
| Coverage | Members voluntarily pay each other's medical bills; members should obtain additional coverage for major medical or catastrophic events that require hospitalization, surgery, or other events considered major medical events |
| Advantages | Affordable; fosters a sense of community; no federal regulation; flexible programs |
| Disadvantages | Less comprehensive than traditional insurance; no federal-level protection; restrictions or waiting periods for pre-existing conditions |
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What You'll Learn
Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM)
CHM is not insurance, but rather a legal way for like-minded Christians to pool their resources to share the burden of healthcare costs. Members voluntarily send a monthly contribution to cover their medical expenses and help other believers. There are no membership restrictions based on age, location, or health history.
CHM offers four different flexible programs with monthly costs ranging from $98 to $255. The specific program chosen determines the level of cost support. For example, CHM Gold members receive unlimited cost support, while CHM Silver and CHM Bronze members receive an additional $100,000 in cost support per illness, per year.
CHM members have access to a database of providers through the Member Portal, which helps them find highly-rated doctors who offer self-pay discounts, fair prices, and reliable service.
While CHM has helped thousands of families and individuals with their medical costs, it is important to note that it is not federally regulated, and members must be financially prepared to pay bills upfront. Additionally, CHM can reject any claim on moral grounds, and there is no minimum coverage requirement as there is with insurance plans.
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Healthshare plans
Christian healthshare plans are based on faith and community, with members sharing similar values and beliefs. They are more affordable than traditional insurance, with monthly costs as low as $105. Members voluntarily send monthly contributions to cover their medical costs and help fellow believers. There are no membership restrictions based on age, geographic location, or health history.
Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM), the nation's original and longest-serving health cost-sharing ministry, offers four different flexible programs: CHM Gold, CHM Silver, CHM Bronze, and CHM SeniorShare™. All programs include telemedicine services, inpatient and outpatient hospital incidents and surgery, maternity care, physical therapy, home healthcare (up to 45 visits per injury/sickness), and incident-related doctor's office visits and prescriptions. Members can also add the optional CHM Plus program to protect against catastrophic medical bills for just $32 a month.
Another example of a Christian health care sharing ministry is Medi-Share, which has been pursuing a biblical model of sharing for its Christian community for over 30 years. Medi-Share members voluntarily share each other's medical expenses in accordance with guidelines adopted by the members and administered by the nonprofit Christian Care Ministry, Inc. ("CCM").
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Christian health insurance pros and cons
Christian health insurance, more accurately referred to as health care sharing plans, medical cost-sharing, or health care sharing ministries, is an alternative to traditional health insurance. It is a way for like-minded groups to pool their resources to share the burden of healthcare costs. Members contribute a fixed premium each month into a "community bucket" used to cover the cost of members' medical care.
Pros
One of the main advantages of Christian health insurance is its affordability. Christian health insurance is about half the cost of unsubsidized insurance, with monthly costs as low as $105 per month. This is because the cost of medical care is shared by members of the ministry, and more affluent members often contribute larger amounts to help those less fortunate. There are no membership restrictions based on age, geographic location, or health history, and members will not be removed from the program if they develop a medical condition. Additionally, these plans foster a strong sense of community, as members share similar values and beliefs and can encourage one another through personal notes and prayer.
Cons
The main disadvantage of Christian health insurance is that it is less comprehensive than traditional insurance. Health sharing plans are not federally regulated and are not required to cover essential preventive care benefits or the ten essential benefits identified in the ACA as the minimum standard for health insurance. This means that if a claim is denied, there are no regulations in place to ensure that members are reimbursed. Christian health insurance companies can decline coverage for moral or spiritual reasons, even after medical treatment has been provided.
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Healthshare vs. traditional insurance
Healthshare plans, also known as medical cost-sharing plans, are an alternative to traditional health insurance. Members of health shares agree to share their medical expenses, contributing to a pool of money used to pay those bills. Health share plans are not insurance and are not federally regulated. They are run by Health Care Sharing Ministries (HCMS) or other private, membership-based sharing organizations.
Health share plans are not required to cover the same minimum essential benefits as ACA health insurance plans, making them more affordable but less comprehensive than traditional insurance. They are designed to protect people from critical medical costs and are, therefore, a good option for those who are relatively healthy and looking to save money. However, for those with serious, ongoing, or emergency health needs, traditional insurance is a safer option.
Traditional insurance involves paying premiums to an insurance company in return for coverage of certain healthcare costs. This is a commercially operated method of covering healthcare expenses, with individuals paying periodic premium payments to an insurer for financial protection against unpredictable medical costs. Traditional insurance can be cost-effective for those with serious conditions, offering better overall rates for ongoing prescription drugs, chronic conditions, and other factors.
Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM) is an example of a health cost-sharing ministry, where members voluntarily share the burden of medical expenses. CHM offers four different flexible programs with monthly costs ranging from $98 to $255.
In summary, health share plans are a more affordable alternative to traditional insurance, but they offer less comprehensive coverage and less federal-level protection. Traditional insurance provides more comprehensive coverage and better protection but at a higher cost.
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Christian health care sharing organisations
Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM), founded in 1981, is the longest-serving health cost-sharing ministry in the nation. They have four different flexible programs, sharing 100% of eligible medical bills, and have satisfied over $12 billion in members' healthcare costs. Monthly costs range from $98 to $255, depending on the program chosen.
Other Christian health care sharing organisations include WeShare® by UHSM, which provides community-driven, faith-based healthcare sharing programs, and Samaritan Ministries, which operates a direct sharing model where members directly support each other with their medical needs.
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Frequently asked questions
Christian health insurance, also known as health care sharing plans, is a legal way for Christians to pool their resources to share the burden of healthcare costs. It is not insurance and is not subject to the same regulations.
Christian health insurance is more affordable than traditional insurance, fostering a strong sense of community and sharing similar values and beliefs.
Christian health insurance is less comprehensive than traditional insurance. It does not have a minimum coverage requirement and does not provide federal-level protection if a claim isn't paid.
You can join a Christian health care sharing organisation, such as Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM), Samaritan Ministries, or Medi-Share.
