HCSM Myth #3: ‘Big need’ would ‘break’ us

From the beginning of health care sharing ministries, objections to the system have been raised that do not accurately reflect reality. To help clear up these misunderstandings, we’re running a series of posts over the next few weeks that dispel those myths.

Myth #3: A “big need” would “break” a health care sharing ministry.

Reality: HCSMs have always understood the reality of health care costs. That’s why Samaritan has a basic ministry with a need limit that reflects that reality ($250,000 per need) and an additional ministry that members can join with no limit.

Members of HCSMs have been sharing needs since 1982, when the oldest HCSM began, and are seeing God provide not only for financial needs totaling more than $10 million dollars every month, but also for physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.

HCSMs like Samaritan Ministries have handled many “big needs” over the years, from open heart surgery to long-term bouts of cancer treatment. Samaritan Ministries uses a process they call pro rating to keep the amount of needs in line with the share money available.

Additionally, some needs actually get spread out over a longer time, such as cancer treatment, and so aren’t billed all at once. For instance, a $500,000 need stemming from cancer may end up being billed in increments as treatments proceed, meaning the amount is also shared in increments. Finally, discount negotiations also help reduce larger needs, since providers are getting their money in cash soon after a treatment is billed, and initial hospital invoice amounts are frequently overpriced.