An overview of the Christian Care Ministry’s Medi-Share
According to Christian belief, members of the community must make their best efforts to stand up for each other. Fellow Christians must also try to be there to share the burdens. On the basis of this belief, the Christian Care Ministry started providing healthcare assistance in 1993 with Medi-Share.
What is Medi-Share?
The idea was to take this program to a bigger scale and work toward a common agenda that there can be a better way of providing healthcare.
Medi-Share is a way of an organized sharing of the medical bills of people for people who really could use this extra help. This system is based on Acts 2 and 4 of the early church. Today, it has proudly served over 400,000 members, and medical bills of about $2.6 billion have been discounted and shared.
Features
Medi-Share is a healthcare solution that relieves you from the worry of any type of unexpected healthcare cost. Furthermore, it lets you save hundreds of dollars on your monthly healthcare cost. Some prominent healthcare features of the Christian Care Ministry’s Medi-Share include
- Biblical approach
As mentioned earlier, the Christian Care Ministry’s healthcare establishment Medi-Share takes after Acts 2 and 4 from the times of the early church. where everyone was of one mind, one heart, and shared every little resource they had. - Highly accountable
Since all the members vote whenever any new guideline needs to be passed, it is 100% accountable. - Communal system
Since in this non-profit healthcare service, every member tries to support each other in whichever manner possible. Medi-Share works as a community; be it in prayers or the mere presence in times of need, you’ll find support whenever you need it. - Affordable
Since there’s an alternative pricing scheme available for every budget, it turns out to be affordable. Members can usually save up to 50% on bills. - Nation-wide access to doctors
The most unbelievably astonishing feature of Medi-Share is that it gives you access to doctors from around the country without having to bother about the state rules.
How does it work?
Healthcare workings of the Christian Care Ministry’s Medi-Share are rather simple. Every month, your monthly medical share is matched up with a needy person’s medical bill. You can use Medi-Share’s secure online portal, wherein you can see all the published bills eligible for sharing. The platform securely handles direct medical cost-sharing amongst the Medi-Share members. It is an easy to use platform that keeps you updated about the information on the eligible bills and relevant information on whose bills you are paying for every month. Similarly, when you are in need, the fellow members will be sharing your bills and paying for you.
This platform lets one help their fellow Christians, where everyone comes together to help lower the burden of massive medical expenses. Medi-Share gives a sense of relief that the community is always watching out for you.
Membership qualifications
To be a member of the Christian Care Ministry’s Medi-Share healthcare program, you need to adhere to the qualifications, which are as explained below.
- Christian testimony
- Produce a statement of faith
- Be an active supporter of the ministry
- Partake in the fellowship of believers
- Give a Christian testimony stating your relationship with Christ
- Lead a Christian lifestyle
- Does not engage in sex out of the marriage
- Believes that in marriage there’s a union of one woman and one man
- Doesn’t consume alcohol, tobacco, or substances
- Be a legal alien or a citizen
- Should either be a legal alien or a citizen who lives in the country full-time
- People working as missionaries abroad also qualify
Who benefits from Medi-Share?
Christians who bear high healthcare costs are the ones to benefit most from the Christian Care Ministry’s Medi-Share. Members of this community who register for Medi-Share can find a way to pay for the procedures and medications that unaffordable by many. This healthcare solution is ideal for a Christian in need of urgent help. It comes with an array of affordable healthcare options for individuals, seniors, and even families. You also get a specialized group program, which is solely applicable to the Christian employees and churches.
- For families and individuals
Medi-Share is a perfect alternative for families, irrespective of size. So, be it newly married couples, single adults, or an already established family, you can certainly find a convenient and affordable option with Medi-Share. The members who lead who a healthy lifestyle enjoy a saving of 20% on their annual household portion in the form of a health incentive. - For seniors
This plan is ideal for senior Christians who are 65 or older and have Medicare Parts A and B. It is applicable for individuals only and has an AHR of $1250. For these Medi-Share members, Medi-Share allows the sharing of only a portion of the medical bill. So, naturally, the complete bill is not paid off, that includes- Hospitalization
- Urgent care required outside the national borders
- Co-payments
- Facility care by a skilled nurse
- Deductibles
The monthly share portion for seniors starts at around $70 payable monthly. For seniors between the age of 65 and 70, the amount payable is around $70 per month. For seniors between 71 and 75, it’s around $85 per month. Those over 76 pay around $95 per month
- For groups
As a part of the Medi-Share group, both the employees as well as the employees avail of the benefits of a shared bill together as a group.
Guidelines
Medi-Share has a set of norms and guidelines, but they keep changing from time to time. Every member has to follow the guidelines that prevail in the current time and not the guidelines that existed when the member associated with Medi-Share. You can find the latest and the most updated version of the guidelines on the Christian Care Ministry’s official website. It’s important to know that in times of disparity, the guidelines stand final and hold the power to overrule any statement made by any other with regards to the program. However, from time to time, the guidelines are changed and evolved, keeping in mind the present scenario.
How does the change in guidelines happen?
The members of Medi-Share have an exclusive right to amend, change, and create the guidelines. These changes can be made by
- Members
Every once (maximum twice) a year, a ballot meeting is conducted, in which the proposed changes to the guidelines are put forward for the members to review. Thereafter, voting is conducted, and if at least a guideline receives a vote of 67% of the members, it is changed. - Medi-Share Steering Committee
It is a committee of the members of Medi-Share. These members are in no way controlled by the Board of Directors are not the staff of the Christian Care Ministry. In case the changes do not bring in any new relaxations or restrictions, the steering committee can bring in a change on behalf of the members. - Board of Directors
The primary role of the board of directors of the Christian Care Ministry is to empower the Medi-Share program. It also strives to protect the members associated with it. They are independent of the staff and have the necessary powers to alter the guidelines. However, before the change to happen, every proposed guideline change is put forth for a review to the members in a ballot within a year. Then, if this proposed change gets approval of 67% of members, it becomes permanent. In case that doesn’t happen, the change will not follow.
Pricing
The amount that you pay for Medi-Share will depend upon the number of people participating. So, the amount for an individual, a family of two, or three will be accordingly variable. Furthermore, the age of the oldest applicant as well as the geographical location will determine the amount that you pay. You’ll have to provide in all of this information in full honesty, and then you’ll see your AHR, i.e., the annual household portion. Those qualifying for health incentives can also see their share amount. You can easily opt for an AHR, which is ideal for your family and suits your budget.