Healthcare Sharing Ministries In Arizona
Consumers are choosing faith based, healthcare sharing programs over traditional insurance in ever-increasing numbers. Why? In most cases, it boils down to flexibility, transparency and price.
So, what are healthcare sharing ministries?
Healthcare sharing ministries are non-insurance company entities that consumers from all walks of life are utilizing to manage the risk of unexpected medical bills. The plans offered by these companies are designed to work
very much like a traditional health insurance plan. The difference is, these plans are not governed by the ACA (Affordable Care Act) rules and regulations. This distinction makes
it possible for faith-based health plans to be structured in ways that are distinctly different than traditional ACA plans.
There are several advantages (and a few disadvantages) that are inherent within this distinction. This article will address both.
Want to see faith-based / healthcare sharing programs and rates now? Click here.
Good to know: If your family is healthy and doesn't visit the doctor often, a high-deductible health plan could save you hundreds of dollars in lower monthly premiums. In addition, most high deductible health insurance plans are HSA eligible. An HSA eligible plan qualifies you to open a health savings account (HSA). A health savings account is designed to work in concert with a your high deductible health insurance plan. You can save money in your HSA account before taxes and use the funds to pay for eligible health care expenses. Additionally, unused HSA funds continue to grow tax-deferred, year after year.
The advent of faith-based / healthcare sharing ministries.
Healthcare sharing / faith based ministries have grown exponentially beyond what anyone could have possibly invisioned, when such ministries were exempted from the Affordable Care Act health plan requirements.
At the time, the exemption was a way to sooth objections from conservative leaning congressmen who had reservations on the passage of the ACA. This exempted niche, is now a fast growing segment
of the health plan industry. From all appearances, this trend will continue well into the foreseeable future.
What was once a fringe idea, limited to devout Evangelicals and rural churches, has found acceptance with a wide swath of the American populous.
How do healthcare sharing ministries work?
To put it simply, healthcare sharing ministries are about like-minded people voluntarily coming together to share the burden of medical expenses. These entities are typically faith-based -
meaning the core concepts are based upon religious beliefs. What most are unaware of however, is that in most cases, consumers do not need to be affiliated with any religious group, or be religious at all,
in order to purchase a faith-based health plan.
Usually, funds to pay medical bills are dispersed within the same community that the members reside. in other words, membership dues collected from plan members living in the Arizona region
will be used to pay for medical costs that arise within the very same Arizona region.
Healthcare sharing are designed to accomplish the same fundamental goals as traditional health insurance:
- Help people maintain good health by offsetting the costs of health care access.
- Assist people with the cost of medical bills.
- Protect people from catastrophic financial loss due to major medical expenses.
The mechanics.
In Arizona, the workings of healthcare sharing programs offered by various entities are quite similar. Each month, all the members pay a set contribution or "share" amount. This contribution
is based on the health plan style they have purchased. Other factors that may contribute to what the contribution amount will be, are age, gender, and health history. Contributions are placed into a pool
and managed by the healthcare sharing company. The funds are shared with members who have immediate medical bills, according to their chosen plan and company guidelines.
Good to know: You shouldn't promptly pay medical bills. Yes, you read that right. The reason is, healthcare providers tend to send bills well before the insurance company has decided what part of the claim they are obligated to pay. The average person sees a bill and thinks they are obligated to pay it. This couldn't be further from the truth. Health care companies routinely shoots out bills to everyone one involved - regardless of who is actually responsible for paying it. You need to know what the insurer is going to pay before you do anything. Our advice? Don't pay a dime until you get an EOB (Explanation of Benefits) from your insurer that explains your claim and how much they are paying.
Advantages of Faith-Based / Healthcare Sharing Programs.
Because Faith based health plans do not fall under Affordable Care Act regulations, there is enormous flexibility in plan structure. This is one of the factors that contribute to a lower
monthly premium, when compared to a traditional health insurance plan with similar benefits. Another contributing factor to lower premiums is the comparative lack of bureaucracy within entities
that offer faith-based health plans. Insurance companies have had over a century to build up a virtual mountain of bureaucracy. This stifling excess is invariably passed on to
the consumer, in the form of high plan premiums.
Also, the lack of bureaucracy, translates into your physician, medical facility, or hospital being paid much more quickly for services provided.
Consequently, medical providers generally like healthcare sharing programs.
Disadvantages
One big advantage of an ACA backed plan is you cannot be declined ACA coverage due to a health issue. Health care sharing companies can choose to decline coverage to any individual due
to medical issues or history. Also, certain ACA plan benefits are mandated by law. Some benefits, like maternity, for example, may be very important to you. Your faith-based plan may not offer it.
For more information on Faith-Based / health care sharing ministries, please contact us directly.
Good to know: Ask questions. If you don't understand the details of the plan offered, contact the insurance company or give us a call. While there are a variety of online tools and resources that can help, the best thing to do is simply pick up the phone and talk to an insurance professional. You need to clearly understand what you're buying.
Other articles:
Explaining the Growth of HealthCare Sharing Plans.
5 Strategies For Reducing Medical Bills.
Resources