Alyssa Lane
Christian medical insurance, also known as health care sharing plans, healthshares, medical cost-sharing, or health care sharing ministries, is a faith-based alternative to health insurance. It is a membership-based, non-profit ministry where members voluntarily share each other's medical expenses. These plans are not insurance and are not regulated as insurance, meaning they are much less expensive but also provide less federal-level protection. Christian healthshare plans are an affordable, faith-based healthcare solution for individuals and small companies with less than 50 employees.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM) |
| Type | Health cost sharing ministry |
| Year founded | 1981 |
| Cost | $98 to $255 per month; $105 per month (as per one source); $32 per month (CHM Plus add-on) |
| Membership | Members pay each other's medical bills; Members are from all 50 states and around the world |
| Nature of service | Faith-based, non-profit, non-insurance |
| Programs | CHM Gold, CHM Silver, CHM Bronze, CHM SeniorShare, CHM Plus |
| Services covered | Telemedicine, inpatient and outpatient hospital incidents and surgery, maternity care, physical therapy, home healthcare, doctor's office visits, prescriptions |
| Illness cap | $125,000 per illness unless adjusted by CHM Plus |
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What You'll Learn
Christian health insurance is not insurance
Christian health insurance, more properly referred to as "health care sharing plans", is not insurance. It is a legal way for like-minded groups to pool their resources to share the burden of healthcare costs. Health care sharing plans are not federally regulated and are run by Health Care Sharing Ministries (HCMS) or other private, membership-based sharing organisations.
As it is not insurance, Christian health insurance does not provide the same federal-level protection as traditional insurance. If a claim isn’t paid or the company goes out of business, consumers have less recourse. Healthshare plans are also not required to cover a list of essential preventive care benefits, and they have more freedom to set their own rules regarding which medical costs can be shared. This can make comparing healthshare plans more difficult than comparing insurance plans.
Christian health insurance is often cheaper than traditional insurance, with monthly costs ranging from $98 to $255, or even as low as $105 per month, according to some sources. This is because these plans are built upon faith and community, not profit. They are designed to help Christians care for one another and be good stewards of their resources.
Christian health insurance is a good option for those who are relatively healthy and looking to save money. However, those with larger medical needs or ongoing treatments may be better off with a traditional insurance plan.
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$13.73 $17.99
It's a legal way for like-minded groups to pool resources
Christian medical insurance, or Christian healthshare plans, are not a form of insurance. Instead, they are a legal way for like-minded groups to pool their resources to share the burden of healthcare costs. These plans are run by Health Care Sharing Ministries (HCMS) or other private, membership-based sharing organisations.
Christian healthshare plans are built upon faith and community, not profit. They are a way for Christians to come together and help each other pay for their medical expenses, often referred to as "cost-sharing". Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM), for example, is a ministry made for Christians who want more from their healthcare. Members voluntarily pay each other's medical bills, putting the biblical teaching of Galatians 6:2 into practice.
CHM offers four different flexible programs, each designed with a specific age or stage of life in mind. Members can choose their healthcare provider with freedom and quality care, without being restricted to a specific network. CHM shares 100% of eligible medical bills and has satisfied over $12 billion in members' healthcare costs. Monthly costs range from $98 to $255, depending on the program chosen.
It is important to note that Christian healthshare plans are not federally regulated and do not provide the same level of protection as traditional insurance. They also do not qualify as minimum essential coverage under the Affordable Care Act. While most healthshare plans now include telemedicine and mental health services, they may have restrictions or waiting periods for pre-existing conditions.
Christian healthshare plans can be a great option for those who are relatively healthy and looking to save money on their healthcare costs. However, those with larger medical needs or ongoing treatments may be better off with a more conventional insurance plan.
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Members help each other pay medical bills
Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM) is a faith-based alternative to health insurance. It is a membership-based, non-profit ministry where members help each other pay medical bills. Founded in 1981, it is the nation's original health cost-sharing ministry.
CHM is a biblical community of members in all 50 states and around the world who work together to share the burden of medical expenses. Members voluntarily pay each other's eligible medical bills, putting Galatians 6:2 into action. CHM shares 100% of eligible medical bills and has satisfied over $12 billion in members' healthcare costs.
CHM offers four different flexible programs: CHM Gold, CHM Silver, CHM Bronze, and CHM 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. Members can also add the optional CHM Plus program to protect against catastrophic medical bills.
Monthly costs for CHM range from \$98 to \$255, depending on the chosen program. There are no application or annual membership fees. CHM is not subject to the same regulations as traditional insurance and is therefore much less expensive. It is important to note that CHM is not insurance and does not provide the same level of protection as federal-level insurance.
Other similar organizations include Samaritan Ministries International and Sedera, a medical cost-sharing community that is not associated with a specific religion or creed.
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It's a faith-based, affordable healthcare solution
Christian medical insurance, also known as health care sharing plans, healthshare, medical cost sharing, or health care sharing ministries, is a faith-based, affordable healthcare solution. It is not a traditional insurance plan but rather a way for like-minded individuals to pool their resources to share the burden of healthcare costs.
Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM), founded in 1981, is the nation's original health cost-sharing ministry. It is a faith-based alternative to health insurance, where members voluntarily come together to pay each other's eligible medical bills. CHM offers four different flexible programs: CHM Gold, CHM Silver, CHM Bronze, and CHM SeniorShare™. These programs include various benefits such as telemedicine services, inpatient and outpatient hospital coverage, surgery, maternity care, and more. Members can also add CHM Plus as an option to protect against catastrophic medical bills.
Other organizations, such as Christian Healthcare Centers, Inc., also offer faith-based healthcare solutions. They provide an outpatient MemberCare plan that works well alongside a medical expense-sharing ministry or a lower-cost "catastrophic" insurance policy. Christian Healthcare Centers, Inc. is a nondenominational non-profit organization dedicated to providing affordable, quality, and comprehensive healthcare services to Christians.
It is important to note that health sharing plans are not federally regulated and do not provide the same level of protection as traditional insurance. They may have restrictions or waiting periods for pre-existing conditions, and members should ensure they understand the specific rules and guidelines of their chosen plan.
Christian medical insurance offers a community-oriented approach to healthcare, allowing individuals to save money on medical costs while also honouring their faith and helping fellow believers. It provides an alternative for those seeking a more affordable and faith-aligned option to traditional insurance plans.
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It's not subject to the same regulations as insurance
Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM) is a faith-based healthcare solution, where members voluntarily share each other's medical expenses. It is a non-profit ministry, and members work together to share medical expenses, putting biblical teachings into practice.
CHM is not insurance and is therefore not subject to the same regulations as insurance. This means that members do not have federal-level protection if a claim is not paid or if the company goes out of business. It also does not satisfy the individual insurance mandate in the Affordable Care Act, which requires individuals to have coverage for major medical events.
As it is not insurance, CHM has more flexibility in how it operates. It can set its own rules regarding which medical costs can be shared, making it difficult to compare plans. However, this flexibility allows CHM to offer affordable healthcare options to its members.
CHM offers various programs, such as CHM Gold, Silver, Bronze, and SeniorShare™, with optional add-ons like CHM Plus, which provides protection against catastrophic medical bills. Members can submit eligible bills through the Member Portal and receive funds to help pay for their medical expenses.
CHM has been in operation since 1981 and has satisfied over $12 billion in members' healthcare costs. It provides an affordable, faith-based alternative to traditional insurance, allowing members to save on their healthcare expenses while adhering to their religious values.
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Frequently asked questions
Christian medical insurance, more accurately referred to as a healthcare sharing plan, is a faith-based alternative to traditional health insurance. Members voluntarily share each other's medical expenses.
Christian medical insurance is about half the cost of unsubsidized insurance. One source quotes $105 per month, while another mentions a $32 per month add-on for extra protection.
Christian medical insurance is a way for Christians to save money on healthcare while upholding their values and beliefs. It can also be used to supplement traditional insurance plans.
Christian medical insurance does not satisfy the Affordable Care Act's individual insurance mandate, which requires coverage for major medical events. It also does not qualify as minimum essential coverage for the ACA employer mandate.
There are several Christian healthcare sharing ministries, including Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM), Christian Healthcare Centers, Inc. (MemberCare), and Medi-Share. You can visit their websites to learn more about their programs and sign up.
