When Ruth Bowser thinks back over her Medi-Share journey since she joined seven years ago, she candidly admits that she did not fully understand how the sharing model worked. However, over the course of multiple procedures for endometrial cancer, Ruth now fully appreciates the advantages of being part of a sharing community.
Ruth signed up with Medi-Share when her husband retired from his previous job and became a pastor. With no insurance benefits offered to her through the church or through her job, Medi-Share seemed like a great option, and it was affordable.
As a relatively healthy individual, Ruth had very little need for bill sharing for several years. She even acknowledged she was a bit confused about the sharing model; on the surface, it seemed that she was paying more in monthly shares than she was receiving in “benefits.”
But in August of 2023, her medical situation shifted dramatically. Ruth visited her gynecologist who found a growth in her uterus and ordered a biopsy. The biopsy came back benign, but the doctor still recommended removal either by total hysterectomy or by DNC.
To avoid a more invasive surgery and lengthy recovery time, Ruth opted for the DNC procedure in February of 2024. During that procedure, another biopsy was conducted. This time, the results came back quite different. Endometrial cancer was detected; it was in an early stage, but aggressive, nonetheless.
At her doctor’s urging, Ruth now had to undergo a total hysterectomy – and fast. Surgery was scheduled for March 3rd, followed by three rounds of radiation as a preventative measure against the cancer spreading to other organs.
Despite the shock of this surprising diagnosis and subsequent surgery, Ruth says that she experienced newfound peace in her Medi-Share membership. Almost immediately upon her initial diagnosis, Sarah, a member of Medi-Share’s Care Management Team, called to offer support in the form of encouragement, information, and most importantly, prayer.
From the onset, Sarah made sure that Ruth had all the contact information that she needed for any type of question she may have. At every stage of Ruth’s journey, Sarah was there with a follow-up phone call. In fact, Sarah called to check in on Ruth the day after her surgery, making sure she was okay and all went well.
Ruth says, “If I had had insurance, I would never have received that kind of call.”
By the time Ruth underwent her hysterectomy, she had met her Annual Household Portion, so all of her medical bills from that point forward were fully shared. She also enjoyed the extra support she received from Medi-Share staff when there was confusion over payment at her hospital. The staff member calmly sorted everything out with a three-way phone call and all necessary paperwork, relieving the burden of having to chase down information while Ruth was still recovering.
Today, Ruth recognizes that there are some people who may have doubts about the sharing model, as she did previously. But she confidently says, “I now understand the concept of sharing. I am the recipient. Everyone (members) took care of my bills.”
In addition, she says that she now truly grasps why Medi-Share is called a ministry, thanks to the care and compassion of Sarah and others. The staff members she interacted with ministered to her needs above and beyond just the remittance of bills. “I just love the way I’ve been taken care of by Medi-Share,” Ruth says.
We’re so grateful for Ruth’s part in our Medi-Share community, and we pray she is blessed with continued recovery and future good health.
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