Release 2

For all non-maternity Needs that are started on or after September 1, 2024, the new maximum co-share amount in Basic is $2,500.

The Basic maximum co-share amount for maternity is still $13,500. Maternity is the highest-cost Need category Samaritan has. In many ways, this is a reason to rejoice—we love babies and their families!

We do recognize, however, that this single Need category must be handled in a balanced way that will function best for the whole membership. The way maternity Needs are handled in Basic functions very well, so we are not currently looking to change this.

In general, the new maximum co-share amount of $2,500 will apply only to Needs started on or after September 1, 2024.

On your Need, after you pay the initial unshareable amount (IUA), which in Basic is $1,500, the co-share is the percentage of your Need (10%) that is not shared with other members. You pay that amount.

For example: a $10,000 Need in Basic

If you have a Need in Basic that totals $10,000:

1. First, when you start your Need, you pay the $1,500 IUA. If your Need total were $10,000, you would first pay the $1,500 IUA. That would leave $8,500.
2. Then, after you pay the IUA, your Need is shared among the membership with a 10% co-share. On the remaining $8,500:
   1. You would pay $850—that is, 10%.
   2. The membership would pay $7,650—that is, 90%.

Note: In Basic, for all non-maternity Needs started on or after September 1, 2024, your Need’s maximum co-share amount is $2,500 (after you pay the IUA).

Many members have concerns about finding the best solutions for their family budgets. As we’ve made program updates, we’ve been considering the options members look for as they budget for health care.

With the updates to both Samaritan programs this year, we have anticipated that some Samaritan members may consider making changes to their own memberships. We therefore took a close look at the Basic program to address cost concerns, yet still keep the program balanced to ensure that Shares continue to meet Needs.

Most Needs in Basic do not have a co-share that reaches $2,500. Therefore, lowering the Basic maximum co-share amount from $13,500 to $2,500 is a relatively low-impact way to make Basic a more attractive option for both current members and potential members.

It is our desire to reach as many people as possible with this Christ-centered way of sharing health care burdens. The larger our membership community grows, the stronger our ability to share burdens, minister to more people, and glorify God. Ultimately, that has been the goal of all the changes we’ve been making to the Samaritan programs. We look for any way we can to make the programs work better for current members and to make Samaritan the best option for other Christians looking to join a health care sharing community.

We have anticipated with the recent program updates that more members will switch from Classic to Basic, and that more new members will sign up for Basic than what we have seen in the past.

We are very happy about this because current members have told us they would rather switch to Basic and stay with Samaritan! With health care cost inflation, we understand why so many members would make this shift.

And as they do, we want to continue delivering the same quality of ministry and service to all Samaritan members. Basic has a lower Share amount, so the more members that join Basic, the lower the annual Share amounts that come to Samaritan for ministry operations and administration. This is why members in Basic now send Shares for two months per year to Samaritan, rather than just one.

In general, you will send your office Share in your continuation month and then again six months later.

The Share amounts in Classic are higher than the Share amounts in Basic, so one Share per year is still sufficient for ministry operations.