Healthcare sharing ministries were formed in the 1980’s and 90’s as an alternative to insurance. Most of them cite the admonition of St. Paul in Galatians 6:2, “Share one another’s burdens, and so you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
Members of healthcare sharing ministries that were formed before 1999 are exempt from the ACA Individual Mandate and its tax penalty. Research on the internet reveals only a few such ministries. The most well-known are Medi-Share, Christian Healthcare Ministries, and Samaritan Ministries. Less well-known are Altrua HealthShare, Liberty HealthShare, Solidarity HealthShare, and Samaritan’s Catholic division, CMF Curo.
A website with some helpful information and comparisons (some PDFs) is cchfreedom.org. All Christian healthcare sharing ministries require “healthy living,” no tobacco use, no alcohol abuse; some require a statement of faith and information about your church. Policies regarding pre-existing conditions vary. Shop carefully, but one may be right for you.
Unfortunately, Medi-Share is administered by an insurance company and requires patients to go to an in-network physician. Since Dr. Garcia will no longer be in any PPO networks, Medi-Share is no longer an acceptable alternative for our patients. MCS-Medical Cost Sharing Inc. also requires members to go to in-network physicians, and is not an alternative for our patients.