Why SMI? Prices were going up for Vanderwiers

The independent church in Indiana that employed Wayne Vanderwier as pastor had to take care of his health care like a family has to take care of its health care: on the open market.

That was causing financial problems for the congregation as well as Wayne, and his wife, Susie, as they tried to support their family.

“It just kept going up,” Wayne says. “The price went up, the deductible went up, the coverage got no better. It was just a burden to the church after a while.”

In 2000, the Vanderwiers and their congregation looked into health care sharing ministries as an option. They investigated the different ministries and settled on Samaritan.

“What became important to us was backgrounds, track records, standards,” Wayne says. “We decided to go with Samaritan. We’re really happy we did.”

The cost is reasonable, he says, but “we’ve appreciated the relationships we’ve had with others as we’ve prayed for them and sent our share each month.”

“It’s very family-oriented in that sense. Samaritan is not a nameless, faceless company. It’s just families that believe like we believe, that practice pretty much like we practice. And we can have a really joyful heart about sharing each month.”

He says he and Susie have had good experiences when submitting needs.

“The staff is responsive,” Wayne says. “The shares get sent. Our costs for health care are reduced, because we can negotiate a lower price because of cash payment.”