When Megan Slifka joined Medi-Share, she didn’t realize she’d be going through major medical treatment almost immediately. “All things have worked together for good,” Megan says, but her Medi-Share testimony begins with a trial-by-fire kind of scenario.
As a small business owner, Megan has the opportunity to choose her own healthcare options. She first heard about Medi-Share through her local Christian radio station, and after looking into the program further, she knew it was a good fit for her.
“I’m a born-again Christian, a Jesus-follower. I’m in my church and serving. And the main thing that attracted me was that my monthly shares would not line the pockets of corporate insurance or pay for things I don’t believe in,” Megan says. She had been blessed with good health and very few medical bills, so she joined Medi-Share at a high AHP (Annual Household Portion) level.
Everything changed a few months later when she found a small lump in her breast, about the size of a pencil eraser. She immediately called her doctor. The diagnosis came back as level one breast cancer.
Being a new Medi-Share member at the time, Megan wasn’t sure what the process would be like as she moved forward with treatment. She called in to Member Services and was gently informed her that they’d first need to confirm that this wasn’t a pre-existing condition.
Having previously worked in the insurance world, Megan understood. “Once they determined that my recent mammogram (prior to joining) had no indication of cancer, Medi-Share immediately moved forward to support me financially and biblically and with prayer throughout the process.”
Treatment for Megan meant a lumpectomy and further testing of surrounding glands, which all came back clear. After that, she underwent eight rounds of radiation, and participated in additional testing to detect other hereditary cancers, as recommended by her doctor.
That was around seven years ago. Since then, Megan’s been completely cancer-free. Praise the Lord!
She says, “Medi-Share has done everything they said they were going to do, including prayer and support on every phone call. They described every piece of the billing so there was no confusion there.”
Megan tells everyone about her positive experience with Medi-Share, both at the beginning of her membership and in the years since then. “It’s a concept that’s so wonderful,” she says.
However, she acknowledges that at first glance, some may not be comfortable with the risk that she took on. With an AHP of $6,000, Megan had a significant financial portion to pay during her cancer treatment. But she looks at her Medi-Share membership through a more long-term lens, choosing to focus instead on the savings she accrues with her low monthly share amounts.
“What I don’t spend in my share amounts, I can then bank those extra dollars,” she says. Megan chooses to put the money she saves each month aside to meet her AHP or pay for any unshared bills (such as preventative care). Some years she may need to use that money – like during her first year of membership – and some years she may not.
Because her share amount is so reasonable, Megan also chooses to give toward Extra Blessings regularly. “I know it’s going to the right places. That’s my main emphasis.” She laughs as she adds, “I would never give an insurance company extra money!”
Megan plans to continue her membership even when Medicare becomes available to her (through the Medi-Share 65+ program). “For me there’s no other choice.”
We’re so grateful for Megan’s testimony of recovery and her continued part in the Medi-Share community!
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