What is Medi-Share? | Medi-Share Blog

Oct 12, 2016

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Medi-Share is not “Christian insurance.” Rather, it is a health care sharing program facilitated by Christian Care Ministry (CCM) through which a community of believers voluntarily come together to share the cost of one another’s medical bills. Members choose to share with each other, governed by member-voted guidelines. Although there is no guarantee of sharing, Medi-Share members have been faithfully sharing each other's medical bills for more than 20 years, trusting the Lord to provide in their time of need through the voluntary gifts of other believers. Since 1993, more than $1.5 billion in healthcare costs have been saved through sharing or discounting.
 
 
 
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It's Not Insurance

Medi-Share is not “Christian insurance.” Rather, it is a health care sharing program facilitated by Christian Care Ministry (CCM) through which a community of believers voluntarily come together to share the cost of one another’s medical bills. Members choose to share with each other, governed by member-voted guidelines. Although there is no guarantee of sharing, Medi-Share members have been faithfully sharing each other's medical bills for more than 20 years, trusting the Lord to provide in their time of need through the voluntary gifts of other believers. Since 1993, more than $2.5 billion in healthcare costs have been saved through sharing or discounting.

 

It's Much More than Healthcare

In addition to sharing medical bills, Medi-Share members encourage and pray for each other, supported by an organization that provides health education and promotes biblical living. We give Christians greater opportunities to serve and support one another as Jesus taught.

 

It's a God-honoring Choice

The Affordable Care Act includes a special provision for members of Health Care Sharing Ministries, so Medi-Share members are exempt from the mandate to purchase insurance or face financial penalties. And your healthcare dollars go to help other Christians rather than funding medical choices that are not God honoring-like abortion and the morning-after pill, which many insurance plans are now required to cover.

 

How Does It Work?

Members open their own Sharing Account with America’s Christian Credit Union. Each member household voluntarily contributes their Monthly Share into their Sharing Account. For each member with eligible medical bills to be shared, Christian Care Ministry identifies one or more other members with sufficient funds in their accounts. Each member is notified of the other member(s) with whom they are sharing. (This notification is sometimes called “publishing” the bills for sharing.) CCM electronically transfers funds from each sharing member’s account into the account of the member with whom they are sharing. CCM processes payment from the member’s account.

 

What Happens at the Doctor’s Office?

When a medical event occurs, you simply select a network provider from the Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS) PPO network, which offers 700,000 providers nationwide! (Note: Members may select any provider of their choosing, including out-of-network providers, but in doing so may not benefit from discounting of medical bills as with an in-network provider.) Show your Medi-Share ID Card to the provider, and pay your provider fee—$35 initial charge for doctor visits, $200 for an Emergency Room visit. The doctor’s office or hospital sends your bills to Medi-Share directly.

PHCS negotiates discounts, an average adjustment of 30–35% by staying in-network. Your Provider Fee of $35 or $200 is also deducted from the total bill. Medi-Share processes the bills for sharing and notifies you of any amount you must pay directly in order to meet your Annual Household Portion. For any amounts to be shared, Medi-Share transfers sufficient funds from other members’ accounts into your account. Medi-Share notifies the sharing members of the recipient of their monthly share amount. Share amounts are used to pay providers. Once the dollars are transferred, Medi-Share processes payment to the doctor or hospital from the member’s share account.

 

What’s My Annual Household Portion?

Your Annual Household Portion is the annual amount of eligible medical bills that your household must meet before any of your medical bills will be processed for sharing by your fellow members. (Note: Members pay a $35 provider fee at each office or hospital visit. $200 for emergency room visits. This fee does not apply toward the AHP.) Once your Annual Household Portion is met, all eligible bills will be published for sharing at 100%—no 80/20 or 70/30 co-insurance here! In addition, your Annual Household Portion applies to your entire household, not per person or per event. It is one amount for the entire family for the entire year! There are seven different Annual Household Portion options to choose from.

 

How Much Does it Cost?

Your monthly share amount, the amount you deposit into your sharing account, depends upon the age of the oldest person in your household as well as the Annual Household Portion that you choose.

 Download the Medi-Share Sharing Summary

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Medi-Share Is A Community Of Like-Minded Christians

Medi-Share is an innovative health care solution for Christians looking to save money without sacrificing on quality.