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The Keeler Family Update: Seven Years of Medi-Share Membership

12/31/2021

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In honor of our family approaching seven years as faithful Medi-Share members, here are my current top Seven favorite aspects of membership. 

Savings: As we talk about in the main Medi-Share review and price comparison pages, most will save over 60% compared to traditional health insurance. And that’s just on a cost basis not factoring in the perks discussed below. If you’re self-employed or otherwise need to provide for your own healthcare, savings of thousands of dollars per year can be invaluable for you and your family.

Customer Support: There is no better health insurance-related customer support. It’s that simple. Many issues can be quickly resolved over chat or email. Phone support requires almost no waiting and you quickly speak with an empowered Christian customer care agent who genuinely cares about you and your family. If you don't believe me, try calling! 


Medi-Share Customer Service and Support Information
Physicals, Covid Testing, and Mental Health: The Medi-Share offering evolves with time based on member feedback and voting. Recent changes have included one annual physical per year being eligible for sharing, as well as Covid tests and Coronavirus treatment. You can also get 30-minute Christian counseling sessions as needed.

Free Telehealth: See a doctor almost instantly for an online consultation. Perhaps most importantly, they can prescribe. So if you need antibiotics for a child in the middle of the night, for example, you can just make an online appointment and easily get the prescription (assuming the doctor agrees that’s the right treatment option, of course).



Telehealth Medical Visits

Careington Dental and Vision
: I’ve had more and more appreciation for this perk recently. While most dental and vision-related expenses aren’t eligible for sharing, you automatically become enrolled in the Careington discount program. These are significant discounts at a tremendous number of dentists, periodontists, eye exams, frames, etc. I have personally saved over three thousand dollars worth of dentist bills from Careington discounts.


Everything Online: While there are plenty of paper options available for those who prefer the old-fashioned way, you can now do almost anything online as a member. This includes: Seeing new bills as soon as Medi-Share receives them; automatic share payments; virtual copies of your membership card; customer support chat; finding providers; and much more. Do it on your computer or through the phone app quickly and easily.

Online Members Portal Bills Processed
Personal Choice: I want to say one more thing that I appreciate about Medi-Share: They respect the intelligence of their members. I don't know about you, but I value having the decision-making power for my own body. Tell me the facts, and let me decide what to do. Too much of what we hear from the government and media is simply fear-mongering.

This is why I appreciated Medi-Share's stance on the vaccine so much. Quoted directly from a letter written by Medi-Share's medical director, Dr. Alesia Greene, and posted right on the site:


"Remember, whether or not you choose to receive the vaccine is a personal choice, and one only you can make. What a privilege that we can take our cares and concerns before the Lord in prayer and ask for His wisdom and guidance in all things.

"'Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.' 3 John 2"


How well said. 

Our six years so far have been a true blessing, saving our family a large amount of money each year while providing excellent service and faithfully sharing our medical expenses. If you’re thinking of joining or have any questions, please feel free to post here or get in touch over email anytime and we would be happy to help!
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What is "Christian Health Insurance"?

7/12/2016

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The term "Christian health insurance" is an interesting one because it doesn't mean what it appears to: health insurance for Christians. The reason is that it isn't traditional insurance. 

Christian Insurance

​Insurance is a heavily regulated trillion dollar industry. The goal of insurance companies is to minimize the ratio of claims they pay out and expenses relative to the premiums they take in. They use money they take in to invest (for example, this is a big part of how Warren Buffett got so rich -- investing premiums paid to insurance companies he owned), and spend large sums in regulatory compliance.

I'm not complaining about insurance companies. They're businesses out to make a profit and there's no problem with that. The question though is whether it's the right solution for you.

"Christian health insurance" is a different type of solution. Instead of the insurance model, it works simply: If you have a medical bill you submit it to the healthcare sharing ministry you belong to, and other members pay it. 

It is a simple system and it works. Money isn't siphoned off for regulatory compliance or a quest for underwriting profit. It's just members helping other members. You also know exactly how much you'll pay each month, so there are no surprises. Everyone pays a reasonable fixed amount each month based on their ages and family size, and this money is used to pay medical bills as they arise.

There are different healthcare sharing ministries available, but at this point I can only speak about Medi-Share since this is the one I am a member of and see firsthand every month how well it works. Medi-Share is designed to help families by minimizing how much they pay per month and providing them the best possible care.

Affordable Health Care for Families

​Here are the benefits of Medi-Share compared to traditional insurance or being uninsured:

  • You will save an average of about 63% per year compared to normal insurance. 
  • Even if you haven't met your AHP (deductible), Medi-Share will negotiate a discount of up to 80-90% on your bill.
  • Free 24/7 online doctor appointments
  • No Obamacare penalty for being uninsured
  • Prayer, help, and guidance from Medi-Share itself and fellow members as desired.

For more details, please read our main Medi-Share review, or watch the Medi-Share video review, providing complete information on how Medi-Share works. ​​If you have any questions, please feel free to leave them as a comment on this blog and I'll be happy to reply and answer. 
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The Top 5 Differences between MediShare and Samaritan Ministries International

7/3/2015

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The two largest healthcare sharing ministries (HCSMs) are MediShare and Samaritan Ministries International (SMI). We'll compare these alternative healthcare options using five important criteria, deciding which has the advantage for each.  


MediShare has Greater Price Flexibility

MediShare vs Samaritan Ministries International
Monthly payments in MediShare range from roughly $30 to $800.  Monthly payments in SMI range from roughly $180 to $405.  Of course, you're getting different benefits depending on which HCSM you choose and which plan.  But one nice advantage to having lower-priced options is that if you are signing up to avoid the ObamaCare penalty, you can do that very inexpensively through MediShare (often for less than the 2016 penalty would be).

Advantage: MediShare

     

SMI has higher copays and lower deductibles

Technically this is inaccurate, as neither program is standard insurance with copays and deductibles.  But the two HCSMs function similarly to insurance with different structures.  In MediShare, different plans have different deductibles (called an annual household portion), and the copay (called a provider payment) is always $35 for doctor/hospital visits, and $135 for emergency room visits.  In SMI, you pay a flat $300 per visit, and the rest (up to $250,000) is covered.  This is like having no deductible and a $300 copay.

Either of these types of plans could be better depending on your particular situation.

Advantage: None.


Bills are Sent Directly to MediShare

If you belong to SMI, you must send in your medical bills yourself.  Whereas your health care provider sends the bills directly to MediShare for processing.

Advantage: MediShare

SMI has no Out-of-Network Penalties

MediShare has a large network, but if you want to see a doctor outside of that network, you must pay a fee to do so.  With SMI, there is no network and you can see any doctor without penalty.

Advantage: SMI


MediShare has no Maximum Amount for a Claim

MediShare has no maximum amount per claim, whereas the maximum is $250,000 for SMI -- above that you have to pay yourself.  So with SMI, this could leave you open to a very large bill in the event of catastrophe.

Advantage: MediShare



So which is the better HCSM overall?  I believe the answer is MediShare, but only you can judge for yourself and your family.  

Which HCSM do you belong to, and are you happy with them?  
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Christian Health Insurance

6/27/2015

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Christian Health

Today we're going to break down what the term "Christian Health Insurance" really means.  As we'll see, it's actually a Christian alternative to health insurance.  Then we'll talk about how it works.



What is Christian Health Insurance?

When most people say Christian Health Insurance, they actually mean the same healthcare sharing ministries we've talked about in the last two blog entries: see here and here.  Let's discuss the two components individually.

Christian health insurance is Christian because it only allows Christians to join.  In the application process, you will be asked about your faith, and must give your word about your religious beliefs and church attendance.  It is based on a system of trust.  

One of the reasons why this trust is so important is because the members themselves vote -- on an annual basis -- exactly what medical expenses should be eligible under the program.  And ones pertaining to un-Christian behavior, such as drug rehab or pregnancy out of wedlock, are not covered.

Additionally, you are given the opportunity to send messages of support and prayer for those in the program your monthly payments are benefiting.  And conversely, you will receive a network of support and prayer when you need it.  

So that is the religious component of Christian Health Insurance.   Now let's look at the insurance component.


Is it Really Insurance?

The answer is "No," and believe me that when you apply, you will be told this more times than you can probably count!

Healthcare sharing ministries do not act like insurance companies that have armies of actuaries calculating how high premiums must be to ensure sufficient profit.  They are not subject to the same intensive regulations whose costs are ultimately passed on to consumer.  And  nor do they make the same guarantees of payment.

Instead, they have a network of members who pay each other's medical bills.  The system functions very similarly to conventional insurance.  You will pay a fixed monthly amount, which depends on your age, health, deductible, and how many are in your family.  This amount acts like the premium.

You will pay a certain amount for each doctor or emergency room visit.  This amount acts like the copay.

You will only have your medical bills paid once you have already spent a certain amount in the year.  This amount acts like the deductible.  

For more details on exactly how one healthcare sharing ministry works, feel free to look at our MediShare review, which goes into more detail.


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In Search of a Better Way: Healthcare Sharing Ministries

6/19/2015

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Hi, my name is Colin, and I'm launching this site because I wanted to help others looking for affordable healthcare, Christian health insurance, and other alternatives to Obamacare.  

Perhaps you're like me:

Do you believe that it should be your decision how best to provide for your family's healthcare?

Do you believe that conventional health insurance is too expensive and too impersonal?

Do you believe there should be affordable medical care for you and your family?

I believe all these things.  That's why I was very happy to discover that there is an excellent alternative to conventional health insurance, called Healthcare Sharing Ministries (HSMs).  

I plan to discuss this topic in much more depth in future blog entries.  But as a starting point, here are some of the benefits of healthcare sharing ministries:

1. Belonging to an HSM will immediately exempt you from Obamacare and the highly punitive Obamacare penalty.  More on this in the next blog entry.

2. Most will pay substantially less compared to conventional health insurance.

3. You will become part of a personal and caring network of fellow members.  

4. Access to a vast network of doctors.  

5. A convenient system where bills are automatically submitted for payment.  

The reason this site is called "MediShare Reviews" is because the particular HSM my wife and I joined is called MediShare, and we have loved it so far.  I would like to find and publish others' experiences with MediShare and compile many reviews.  So please get in touch if you're also a member.  

The other goal of this blog will be to discuss other HSMs and alternatives to conventional health insurance.  I hope you keep reading!

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    Author

    Hi! My name is Colin. My family and I switched to Medi-Share when we could no longer afford normal health insurance. It has changed our lives and now we want to help others and spread the word.

    Please feel free to contact me with any questions or comments. I will always be happy to help.

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