MediShare – Is MediShare Right For You?
Medishare, a type of health insurance that allows members to create their own sharing accounts with ACCU (the financial sponsor of Medishare). Members deposit their monthly share into these accounts each month. Other fees include a $2 one-time membership fee, a $2 monthly administrative fee, and a $1 paper statement charge. For more information on Medishare, click here. You’ll be glad you did!
Pre-existing conditions aren’t covered by Medi-Share
If you’ve had a health condition before you joined a healthcare sharing program, you may be concerned that you’ll be denied coverage. Medi-Share does not deny coverage for pre-existing medical conditions. However, it has certain rules and a phase-in period before coverage becomes full. For example, you cannot join Medi-Share if you’re pregnant or have high blood pressure or cholesterol. To be eligible for coverage, you’ll need to have been a member for 36 consecutive months.
Unlike insurance, Medi-Share does not cover primary care services. Exempt are well-child visits up to 6 years of age and an annual physical for each family member. You’ll also need to pay out of pocket for most preventive services, such as flu shots, if you have them. You’re also expected to use a PPO network of physicians, but you’ll still need to pay out of pocket. Medi-Share offers telehealth services for its members.
Unlike most traditional health insurance, Medi-Share doesn’t deny coverage for pre-existing conditions. While it doesn’t exclude pre-existing conditions from coverage, it limits how much you can share based on the date of your membership. You can share up to $100,000 per person per year for pre-existing conditions if you’ve had no symptoms for at least three years. Sharing is not allowed for congenital diseases such as cancer. However, you must wait at least 36 or 60 months before getting covered under Medi-Share.
Medi-Share offers many coverage options. This is an excellent way to obtain health coverage without having to pay high-cost health insurance. Medi-Share is an excellent option for people with pre-existing medical conditions and has a generous yearly cap on benefits. Just make sure to read the fine print before signing up. Medi-Share might not work for you if you cannot afford to have insurance.
Because Medi-Share is a faith-based health insurance program, it’s also a good option for Christians. The program will not cover abortion, drunk driving accidents, tobacco use, or other unbiblical lifestyle choices. Medi-Share covers adoption and pregnancy if you comply with their guidelines. The program is an excellent way to protect your financial future and to have peace of mind if you’re ever in need of health care.
Medi-Share covers preventive care
Certain preventive services are not covered by traditional health insurance. Medi-Share does not charge a fee for preventive services, even though they are a very common service. Medi-Share does not cover lab work or immunizations. Medi-Share has several plans. These are the main differences in the plans, and the ways they provide preventative care. The difference between these plans is most pronounced when comparing preventive care costs.
Medi-Share doesn’t cover primary care. Well-child visits up to the age of six and one annual physical are the only exceptions to this rule. Medi-Share encourages its members to use doctors in its PPO network, which includes more than 900,000 providers nationwide. Your deductible does not include preventive care, so make sure you plan ahead. Preventive care is a great way to avoid unanticipated costs.
Medi-Share does not cover behavioral health services, such as counseling or treatment for learning disabilities or behavioral problems. Medi-Share does not cover routine health screenings or vision and dental care. Medi-Share might pay for certain tests based upon symptoms. For more information, you should refer to your plan’s guidelines. There is no co-pay for preventive care services, so expect to pay less than you would with traditional health insurance.
Although Medi-Share is not the best financial choice for many people, it can be a viable option for people who don’t have job-sponsored health insurance and are not covered under the ACA. Medi-Share members can get a free health coaching program that costs an additional fee and helps them to make healthy lifestyle choices. Unfortunately, Medi-Share does not accept members who are older than 65 years of age. However, Medi-Share does cover people with Medicare Parts A and B. Legal non-citizens and adults with dependent children can both be members.
Medi-Share also contains a section on biblical living. Participating members must believe in God and live a Christian life. This clause says that the member will not engage in alcoholism or drug abuse. The member must not smoke or use illegal drugs. Medi-Share covers adoption and pregnancy. Pregnancy and adoption are covered as long as members make monthly contributions. Medi-Share covers costs if the member is a Christian and lives within the guidelines set by the church.
Sharing is not available for pregnant expenses
You’re not the only one wondering if Medishare is available for pregnancy expenses. Pre-existing medical conditions are no longer a bar to membership. The program’s guidelines were updated in 2013. While the ministry no longer disallows a woman from sharing pregnancy expenses, you can use Medishare for your prenatal care and delivery costs, which can add up to thousands of dollars.
When considering a health care sharing program, you’ll need to choose the one that fits your lifestyle. Medi-Share members must adhere to biblical principles. That means no abortions or drunk driving accidents. Other restrictions include abstinence from tobacco and illegal drugs. Pregnancy and adoption costs are not covered. Medi-Share is available to you as long as your monthly contribution are made. Important to note that your eligibility for maternity benefits will be determined after 36 months of membership.
If you’re pregnant and are covered under Medi-Share, you will pay an in-network provider fee for in-person doctor visits. If you have to visit an emergency room, an additional $35 fee will be charged. If you are unable to find a doctor in your area, you may use telemedicine. If you’re married, pregnancy expenses are eligible for Medishare sharing. However, you may need to pay a copayment if you plan to use out-of-network providers.
The guidelines for CHM coverage cover most of the expenses related to pregnancy, though not the entire maternity episode. They include routine office visits and lab tests as well prescriptions and immunizations. If you’re pregnant, you must be married at the time of conception and have been sharing faithfully for at least 60 months. You will not be eligible for Medishare sharing if you change to Gold or fall below these guidelines.
Adoptions and funerals are eligible for Medi-Share
Christians have shared healthcare burdens for thousands of years. MediShare was introduced in 1993. This formalized the approach. Since its inception, the program has helped over 400,000 members share four billion dollars in medical bills. The MediShare plan for believers under 65 covers medical expenses as well as funeral and adoption expenses. This plan is not insurance, but rather a charitable organization. The plan aims at providing Christian families with the resources they need for health and care.
To apply, a person must meet certain requirements and must have an AHP of three thousand dollars or more. MediShare will also cover routine well-child care, as well as mental health counseling. MediShare members are eligible for one annual physical. The counselling calls last no more than 30 minutes. These will include basic tests such as hemoglobin A1C or a Lipid panel. Your monthly MediShare payment will decrease if you are eligible.
Moreover, MediShare members are exempt from the individual mandate clause of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and will not be penalized for not carrying insurance. In addition, members can’t be denied MediShare coverage due to a medical condition, and the plan never imposes lifetime or annual limits. MediShare also pays for adoption and funeral expenses that are sometimes prohibitively expensive. For Christian families, MediShare is a beautiful example of sharing and supporting one another. Members can also use MediShare to bless others.
MediShare members may also contribute to eligible adoption and funeral expenses. The organization negotiates with providers to get the best prices. MediShare pays all bills and covers costs for those members who have met their AHP. Members are required to abstain from certain sinful practices and pay a $35 provider fee. MediShare reimburses members’ costs when their household meets the AHP requirement.