EP 28: Christian Healthcare Ministries

While seeking out healthcare options a few years ago, Elle and her husband found Christian Healthcare Ministries, a budget-friendly and Gospel-centered approach to health care. Joining the CHM family has been a tremendous blessing for Elle and her family, and Elle is confident it will be a blessing for yours, too. Hit play to learn all about this impactful cost-sharing ministry!

Welcome

Hello, hello! Welcome to the Daughter of Delight podcast. This week’s episode is a very special one because I have the opportunity to tell you about something my husband Michael and I are so grateful to be a part of when it comes to our health care needs. That is, Christian Healthcare Ministries. Christian Healthcare Ministries, we’ll call it CHM for short, is a biblically-based cost-sharing ministry we discovered while on the hunt for health insurance. Their mission beautifully portrays the call of Galatians 6:2, which says, “Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” and John 13:35, which tells us, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (ESV).Now, just to clarify- Christian Healthcare Ministries is not health insurance and they do not use insurance agents. But stick with me while I explain the difference so that I can tell you all about what a game-changer this budget-friendly, Gospel-centered alternative to health care has truly been for Michael and I both.  

Review of the Week

Before we dive into all the good stuff, let’s take a minute to take a look at the review of the week! CCD121314 says, “Elle has an incredible gift of sharing God’s truth in love. She doesn’t waiver, she always stands firm, and will always point you to the cross!” Talk about a raving review. Goodness, Sis! I am so flattered you feel this way and beyond grateful that God led you to this podcast. Thank you so incredibly much for making time to leave this review! I am so encouraged that the Lord would use me in this way to bless you in your walk with Him! All praise and glory to Him! 

Christian Healthcare Ministries Partnership Announcement

Today’s episode is filled with a ton of information that will be incredibly helpful for you if and when you consider joining the Christian Healthcare Ministries family. The truth is, I had no idea something like this existed, and I’m so glad I found it. Michael and I have been blessed by this ministry from the moment we became a part of it, and it’s made such an impact in my own life that I decided to seek out a partnership with them. This means that you can expect to hear about CHM each month from yours truly, and I cannot even tell you how excited I am to be a voice for them. I felt led to partner with CHM for several reasons, but mostly because I believe it is a God-honoring, Gospel-centered, difference-making, and affordable approach to health care. Because I believe I’m not the only one who had no idea something like this existed and I want as many people as possible to know about it. 

What to Expect From This Episode

In today’s episode, I am going to break down what exactly Christian Healthcare Ministries is and how it differs from health insurance, I’ll share a personal testimony about how CHM lifted quite the burden off of my shoulders when my husband was extremely sick and in the hospital, I’ll tell you my favorite things about this ministry, and I’ll also point you in the right direction of where you can find more information and get any questions that this episode may not cover answered. How does that sound? Good? Great!Before we dive in, though, I want to ask you a question:What do you need from your healthcare? Pause and sit on this for a minute. When you have your answer in mind, come back and press play. Alright, let’s dive into the specifics of CHM. 

What is Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM)?

CHM is a faith-based, nonprofit, voluntary cost-sharing ministry through which participating Christians from all 50 states and across the world have and continue to help pay each other's medical bills. Their ministry model is based on the call of Galatians 6:2 to carry each other’s burdens, the call to love one another according to John 13:35 and the church principles we see recorded in Acts 2 & 4.I came across CHM once I got dropped from the health insurance I had through my father. With our family insurance plan, I was able to hold on to it until I turned 26. Talk about a great birthday gift, haha!  But it actually really was, because it made me crack down and decide what I wanted from my healthcare. We spent a couple of weeks doing research and decided to Google search whether or not there was such a thing as Christian health insurance. 

CHM is Not Health Insurance

Now, as I said earlier, CHM is not health insurance. But it is the first and longest-serving health cost sharing ministry, having shared more than $5 billion in its members’ medical bills. I had never even heard about cost-sharing up until this point, but as soon as I discovered and learned more about CHM I just KNEW it was the one!   Now, you’re probably wondering what something like this costs, and I think you are going to be pleasantly surprised. I know I was! 

A General Overview of CHM's Programs

Christian Healthcare Ministries offers three different budget-friendly programs for you to choose from—Gold, Silver, or Bronze. Michael and I are both Gold members, but each program is broken down in ways that make it easy for you to determine which one is the best fit for you and your family.  We personally chose to become Gold members because it shares things like medical testing, maternity costs, and hospital and surgery treatments.  

Brother's Keeper

In addition, you can add something called “Brother’s Keeper” to the membership program you decide on. Brother’s Keeper is an additional program that protects against catastrophic medical bills. Michael and I also have this in addition to our Gold membership. So, now that I have shared a general overview of the different program options with you and provided you insight into their ministry model, let’s take it a step further and talk about how cost-sharing actually works when it comes to one’s medical bills. 

Monthly Membership Breakdown & Perks

Each month, members pay their monthly financial gifts and the funds are then placed in an audited Member Sharing Account. The monthly membership gift of CHM’s members is the very thing that makes cost-sharing possible because this is what is used to meet members’ medical bills. We are, quite literally, participating in the act of carrying each others’ burdens. Don’t you just love that?Because CHM is a cost-sharing ministry, anytime you have to pay a medical bill, you will be considered self-pay. At first, I was a little confused about how this worked, but it’s really not that hard. In fact, it’s a good thing! This means:

• Members and doctors can determine treatment plans without interference from a third-party payer
• There is transparency in pricing
• There is less paperwork for the provider—which can mean higher discounts for patients

Personal Example of Cost Sharing

Let me walk you through a personal example of a previous medical visit of mine. Earlier this year, I was really struggling with my health. I discovered I had an autoimmune disease, but while I was in the process of trying to get answers for what was going on, I had to get some blood work and an MRI done. So, that being said, when I showed up to my Primary Care Physician for the blood work, I told them I was considered self-pay when they asked for my insurance card. I showed them my CHM membership card, they scanned it into their system to have on file for me, and then we talked about my payment options. Because I was considered self-pay, I was also given a discount. A few days later, when I went to the radiologist to get my MRI, the same process took place. Another thing I love about CHM is that they can help you understand how to and also assist with negotiating discounts to keep costs low and serve as many members as possible.

ITEMIZED RECEIPTS

For payment purposes with both of these visits, I had one of two options. I could pay in full out of pocket or opt-in to a payment plan until I got reimbursed by CHM. I decided to go ahead and pay for it in full out of pocket, but regardless of what I decided, and regardless of what you decide if you find yourself in the same spot down the road, it’s extremely important to get an itemized receipt of your medical bills. Put simply, an itemized receipt is simply a bill that breaks down each charge from your visit or stay. All you have to do in order to get it is ask. It’s important for you to have because this is what is needed by CHM in order to get you reimbursed for your medical costs. Make sense?

SUBMITTING BILLS

Members who incur medical costs that are eligible according to CHM guidelines and their specific program submit their bills to CHM along with a few simple forms. There is an online member portal that makes this incredibly easy to do and the forms are to help give CHM an idea of what’s going on with you health-wise and also how their team can be praying for you as you navigate said season. Once you submit your bills, eligible expenses are shared (AKA reimbursed)—usually by way of a check in the mail. Something helpful to note here as well is that the sharing time average is around 75-90 days.And that’s it! Ba-da-boom, ba-da-bang. Sis, as a CHM member, you are part of a body of believers who serve as the hands and feet of Christ Jesus. CHM makes it possible for us to steward our resources well and truly bring honor and glory to God in our approach to health care. I could not recommend this ministry more.

#IAMCHM

Speaking of which, let me tell you about a time when CHM lifted so much weight off of my shoulders while caring for a very sick husband of mine.In late September of last year, Michael got sick. Like, really sick. Honestly, I had never really seen him sick outside of the occasional migraine since I had known him...which was around five years at that point. But, boy when he got sick did he ever! As it turned out, Michael not only had strep throat but also the flu AND pneumonia. Talk about a triple whammy.  He was pitiful and it broke my heart to pieces to see him like this. Not only was he unable to physically walk up and downstairs, but he also had to quarantine himself in our guest bedroom for almost a month. And he had to sleep sitting up because anytime he laid down he couldn’t stop coughing. It was miserable for me to watch and I cannot even begin to imagine how miserable it was for him to experience. I cried just looking at him sometimes if I’m going to be completely honest with you here. 

Doctors' Visits, tests & a Hospital stay

During the course of this awful season, I took him to the doctor several times. They finally admitted him to the hospital, where we stayed for three nights and four days so that his body could get the fluids and antibiotics it needed in order to get past all of this mess once and for all. And if that wasn’t enough, his body had really been overworking itself and his heart was tired, so he was experiencing irregular heart rhythms that called for special attention. While he was in the hospital, Michael received shots, fluids, breathing treatments, medicine, CT scans, and visits with a pulmonologist and a cardiologist as well. Even after he was discharged from the hospital, he had several follow-up appointments with his pulmonologist and cardiologist. 

$24,268.16 in Medical Bills

Thanks be to God for Christian Healthcare Ministries. I honestly do not know what I would have done without them. CHM not only lifted the weight of the financial stress off our shoulders, but they also offered to pray over Michael when we called in to ask questions about what would be shared. Speaking of which, they shared absolutely everything. Just to give you a visual here, our medical bills amounted to $24,268.16. Because we are considered self-pay, we received a discount of $13,633.96, which left us with approximately $10,634.20. Every cent of this was shared by my CHM family. Talk about a BLESSING!  It was so nice to be able to focus completely on Michael rather than worrying about how much money we were racking up with all of his doctor’s appointments and his hospital stay. CHM stepped in and lifted the burden off our backs. We felt so very cared for by them. It’s so nice to know that our monthly membership fees go directly to those who need it. CHM has done such a great job making way for our resources to be stewarded in life-giving and financially freeing ways. To say Michael and I are grateful to be a part of something this special is, quite honestly, an understatement. There is truly so much to love about them.  

What I Love About Christian Healthcare Ministries

They are Prayer Warriors

Take, for example, the fact that CHM believes supporting each other spiritually is just as important as the financial support members receive. Each month when we receive our billing statement in the mail, we also receive a prayer card that provides us with information of other CHM members who are going through hard times, which makes it possible for us to write letters of encouragement to them. How special is that? In addition, the CHM staff also prays daily for members, especially those who have submitted prayer requests by mail, email, or telephone.

Heartfelt Magazine

They also have a monthly magazine called Heartfelt Magazine, and I get so excited when it comes in the mail! They also have a digital version of it that you can sign up for, even if you aren’t a CHM member. I encourage you to check it out! You can find the link to get this month’s copy HERE.  Each issue includes CHM staff introductions, member testimonials, health-related articles, and a prayer page of those who are currently going through especially hard times. Through the prayer page, we also have the option to donate to the needs of our brothers and sisters in Christ on top of our monthly membership fees if we feel led.  

CHM is For You If…

If you are wondering whether or not CHM is for you, here are some helpful guiding points for you to keep in mind.

• You are a Christian who attends worship regularly as your health permits (Hebrews 10:25)\
• You actively follow the teachings of the New Testament in its entirety and embrace the CHM Statements of Beliefs, which you can find on their website. 
• There are no restrictions based on age, weight, geographic location or health history.
• You are ready to participate in a Kingdom-driven mission that values stewarding our resources wisely by extending the opportunity to participate in affordable cost-sharing with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Ready to Learn More?

If this is you and you are ready to learn more, I want to encourage you to head on over to the Christian Healthcare Ministries website. In addition, you can expect to see more CHM related resources on the Daughter of Delight website and social media platforms. If you have made it this far through the episode, then I’m sure you know exactly why it is that I am such an advocate for CHM and their ministry model. It is truly a blessing! 

The Hands and Feet of Jesus

Like I said earlier, by becoming a CHM partner, you become part of a body of believers who serve as the hands and feet of Christ Jesus. CHM makes it possible for us to steward our resources well and truly bring honor and glory to God in our approach to health care and how we look after and care for our brothers and sisters in Christ. I could not recommend this ministry more and I just cannot say it enough!Sis, if you have a desire to learn more,  head on over to the CHM site. In addition, don’t forget to check out their latest issue of Heartfelt Magazine. My favorite read from it is called “God’s love can move mountains” and you can find it starting on page 5! Also, if you know someone who you think would be interested in CHM’s health care cost solution program, please be sure to share this episode with them!It is such a privilege to be a CHM partner and I cannot wait to continue being a voice for them. 

Coming Up Next

Thank you so much for tuning in to this week’s episode! If you have never heard of Christian Healthcare Ministries, I am honored that I got to introduce you to it. It truly has been such a game-changer for my family and me.Next Wednesday, we are going to talk about biblical self-care and I cannot wait. I hope you will choose to join me for it! In the meantime, I pray that you have a blessed rest of your week. Bye for now!  

More

Did you enjoy today's podcast episode? Click here to listen to last week's episode, How to Choose Joy!Want more encouragement? Click here to check out a Daily Delight devotionals!