Posted on 10/27/2016 1:19:32 PM PDT by Alberta's Child
Sorry for the vanity, folks, but I'm looking for some input from Freepers who are members of one of the Christian health-sharing ministries I've heard advertised on the radio. I'm in the application process for an individual medical insurance plan, and I just learned that I'm not eligible for a mid-year enrollment because I don't have a "qualifying life event" under Federal law.
At first I thought I would just need to cover a two-month gap in my insurance coverage between November 1st of this year and January 1st of next year when I'll be eligible through open enrollment, but it turns out I can't buy such a policy in my state.
Finally, I've decided (in the midst of this election season) that I've had enough with this nonsense ... and it's time to just give up on the whole system and change course on this completely.
I've done some research on these groups and I have a good idea about how they work. I find the whole concept -- and the religious exemption from Obamacare mandates -- absolutely intriguing.
Just a few questions for anyone out there on FreeRepublic who knows more about these organizations than I do:
1. Are you enrolled in one? Which one is it?
2. Would you recommend it?
3. Is there any particular reason (they don't cover a such-and-such procedure, for example) why your group would not be suitable in some cases?
4. Any other positive or negative experiences that you'd want to share?
I use to be enrolled, have Aetna now through my husband’s job. I think Christain Health Ministries is an excellent choice. I would definitely use them again. I know they cost less than the others I checked.
Ping I am also interested in this.
Tell them you are stressed out from the election coverage, can’t sleep, haven’t had a minute of sleep in months.
Thanks, LOL. But it turns out I can only get coverage if I am eligible for Medicaid. Not gonna happen.
Great — thank you. That’s one of the organizations I’ve come across in my research. Did you ever have a need to send medical bills to them? If so, how was the process?
Tell them you donated all your money to the Clinton Foundation. I’ll bet you can get Platinum Medicaid!
No, I didn’t have the need. They send a newsletter that shows people needing additional funds to cover the deduction. People donate to those to others so they help one another.
I don’t use them - I’ve got a decent retiree plan - but I know folks who do use them and are happy with the results. My understanding is that they generally don’t cover pre-existing conditions, and they don’t cover abortions. I think they can ask for more if expenses spike some month, but historically, they never have had to. There may be caps.
I never did file any claim with them, but know this - and I know this is driven home repeatedly - that THESE MINISTRIES ARE NOT INSURANCE. With that in mind, know that they are NOT obligated to pay any of your claimed medical bills, either in part, or in whole. Count your contribution as a donation, not as a premium.
The groups understandably do not cover the medical consequences of an immoral life: smoking, illicit drug use, single pregnancy (unless by untimely death of husband), STD's, HIV medications, birth control or contraception, etc. And this is their reasonable right. Nor do they cover optional, unnecessary or elective procedures not critical to the life and health of the member. Cutting out all of these costs associated with the lowest-common-denominator member of the public saves massive amounts of funds to be used on other medical needs.
Up front costs need to be covered, or accounts established, before any claim is considered by the ministries, to be reimbursed upon board decision.
My level of membership was minimal, and very affordable compared to what socialist O-care wanted to charge. When I became employed again, I even contributed for a while out of benevolence, because I believed in the ministry.
Also, be aware that such ministries have been viciously attacked by the pagan left for not joining the worldly "system." The attacks are likely to increase and become more effective, especially if Trump doesn't win.
Excellent — thank you!
If you lose insurance that you already had for just about any reason other than you just cancelled it on your own, that's a qualifying life event.
Then what's the point of them?
It seems like the only short-term risk is that I could have unforeseen medical expenses that they refuse to reimburse for one reason or another. In my particular situation, I may just try it for two months to get me to 2017 and see what happens. If I like what I see, I may walk away from standard medical insurance completely.
I've never heard of this happening with any of them, but they warn you about it just so their members know the deal.
Excellent thread you posted, and we’re looking into this as well.
Wikipedia has some details for consideration:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_care_sharing_ministry
http://www.lifehealthpro.com/2015/07/21/4-new-things-to-know-about-health-care-sharing-min?slreturn=1477600644
*note: MCS complaint
Very helpful details and valuable comments about people’s experiences:
http://www.kitchenstewardship.com/2015/12/01/review-comparison-healthcare-sharing-ministries/
*Note: more MCS complaints
The point is sharing through a Christian worldview. Although they make that disclaimer, the point is that they are not OBLIGATED to pay, although they almost always do. If there is even the slightest HINT that these ministries constitute the equivalent of "insurance coverage," they will fall under the onerous yoke of massive bureaucracy, as insurance companies can attest to.
So you’d still need to be on a recognized insurance or be fined by Obeyme.
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Everyone I've spoken to in the industry has confirmed this.
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