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Health Care Sharing Ministries (HSM)
En Español | For people that don’t have insurance, or that their insurance won’t cover their medical costs, a Health Care Sharing Ministry can be a solution to confront medical expenses.
Healthcare sharing ministries are not health insurance, but faith-based organizations that operate on a voluntary cost sharing plans where the members of this ministries share the costs of members’ medical bills by contributing a share amount which is held in an escrow account.
Although anyone can join, they are religiously affiliated, and members must follow certain faith based guidelines to be able to participate, such as regular worship participation.
Not being an insurance, there are no network requirements and you are able to choose your doctor freely.
It is important to know that some of the protections you receive with health insurance you don’t receive with HSM. Maternity care, small medical bills, prescription drugs, pre-existing conditions can vary from one HSM to another. This alternative is mostly used to cover the big expenses like hospitalization and surgery.
When you enroll you will receive a healthcare sharing card to present to your physician of choice or you can be reimbursed after you pay out of pocket.
Some Healthcare Sharing Programs are:
Christian Healthcare Ministries
A comparison list can be found here.
Resources:
Church Finder