Why SMI? Cathy McAndrew made the call

Paul McAndrew doesn’t hesitate when asked why he and his wife, Cathy, turned to Samaritan Ministries for their health care needs.

“I hate insurance,” he says.

The musician and computer repairman calls insurance a “necessary evil” for their home, cars, and instruments. But after Paul left the corporate world about 12 years ago, the McAndrews needed to find something for their health care.

They shopped around for several years and tried some health insurance plans, but rates kept jumping up. At one point, they were paying $750 a month in health insurance premiums.

Cathy was familiar with the concept of health care sharing ministries because she worked for some attorneys who were members of one. When she called their organization for more information, a representative told her they could accept her, but, because of a pre-existing condition, Paul wouldn’t be eligible for their program. The helpful rep mentioned she might try Samaritan Ministries, and she made the call.

“We were very impressed with how Samaritan does things,” Cathy says.

She appreciates the emphasis on Scripture in the newsletter and the Prayer Guide.

“We love it that the money goes right to the members, with notes, as opposed to going to the administrative office to be distributed,” she says. “It’s more personal.”

Paul agrees.

“Insurance feels very impersonal, and it’s very expensive, and you end up supporting lifestyles you don’t agree with,” he says. “I’d much rather be sharing with a few neighbors and friends, and Samaritan Ministries does that on a grand scale. We don’t know most of these people, but we know what their values are. It seems like a more personalized way, which is a more loving and therefore more Christian way of dealing with the needs that we have. It just works for us to connect with a little bit of prayer when sending off a check rather than, ‘Oh no, here’s my payment this month.’”

The McAndrews haven’t had to submit a regular need in their six years of membership, but more than 25 responses to a Special Prayer Need for a dental expense helped them pay a portion of Paul’s $3,200 bill.

“Financially, it wasn’t a huge chunk of money, but it was encouraging,” Cathy says. “We’re so thankful for all the prayers and encouragement.”