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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIt Looks Like Health Insurance, but It's Not. 'Just Trust God,' Buyers Are Told.
It Looks Like Health Insurance, but Its Not. Just Trust God, Buyers Are Told.
Some state regulators are scrutinizing nonprofit Christian cost-sharing ministries that enroll Americans struggling to pay for medical care, but arent legally bound to cover their members claims.
By Reed Abelson at the NYTimes
Jan. 2, 2020
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/02/health/christian-health-care-insurance.html
"SNIP.....
Eight-year-old Blake Collie was at the swimming pool when he got a frightening headache. His parents rushed him to the emergency room only to learn he had a brain aneurysm. Blake spent nearly two months in the hospital.
His family did not have traditional health insurance. We could not afford it, said his father, Mark Collie, a freelance photographer in Washington, N.C.
Instead, they pay about $530 a month through a Christian health care sharing organization to pay members medical bills. But the group capped payments for members at $250,000, almost certainly far less than the final tally of Blakes mounting medical bills.
Just trust God, the nonprofit group, Samaritan Ministries, in Peoria, Ill., said in a statement about its coverage, and advises its members that there is no coverage, no guarantee of payment.
......SNIP"
applegrove
(118,696 posts)Historic NY
(37,451 posts)lapfog_1
(29,205 posts)this sounds like that only limit the number of pills and please make them the cheap ones.
mwooldri
(10,303 posts)"Medishare"... IMO the only "medishare" type thing that is acceptable in my eyes is something akin to the UK's NHS. However said Medishare is probably an OK idea when coupled with actual health insurance. Otherwise when that catastrophic case comes along praying to God may be the only thing you can do. Problem is Medishare type schemes are being advertised as an alternative to health insurance - and IMO that should be outlawed.
tulipsandroses
(5,124 posts)The whole thing sounds absurd.
applegrove
(118,696 posts)not government or obamacare. That would be my guess.
Ohiogal
(32,006 posts)how this isnt illegal?
Wounded Bear
(58,670 posts)all others pay cash.
PSPS
(13,603 posts)It's all a scam, of course. Their hook is that you share your medial costs with others "who share your values" (i.e., abortion coverage, contraception, or whatever the listener wants to infer that they think makes them special.)
Washington State's insurance commissioner is suing some of these outfits because what they are offering as "insurance" doesn't actually meet the definition of insurance at all.
area51
(11,911 posts)why we need comprehensive Medicare for All.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)if it's comprehensive for all? Frankly, faith in a label that doesn't even exist in reality reminds me of these people's religious faith. "My god, not yours."
Yes, my faith's in the the one in hand that can be expanded as realistically and assuredly as adding a room to the house I'm sitting in.
Warren_Pointe
(328 posts)Devious: You see, you unfortunately plumped for our 'Neverpay' policy, which, you know, if you never claim is very worthwhile, but you had to claim, and, well, there it is.
Initech
(100,081 posts)dflprincess
(28,079 posts)in Jesus' name.
ISeeSlander
(1 post)Samaritan Ministries does indeed have a cap of $250,000 per incident per person. However, members are encouraged to be a part of their "Save to Share" program, which does not have a per incident cap. All of this can easily be found in their Guidelines, which are posted on their web page, easily accessible to all, including those writing articles at the New York Times. A little research before purchasing a product/service can go a long way in avoiding financial pain and erroneous reporting.
Further, is the New York Times now in the business of reporting "almost" certainties? Where are the factual figures regarding the costs of Blake Collie's medical bills? I'd like to see some non-inflammatory honesty in reporting. Disappointing...
applegrove
(118,696 posts)Congress did not vote for skinny plans. Republican leaders like them because they make not being upper middle class or more a very precarious existance. At some point being middle class will be so frightening in terms of schooling, healthcare, meat inspection and any goods and services you can buy, and of course no government service of any quality, that rich liberals will vote republican to save their position at access to the only decent products and services and help pull up the ladder to all but other republicans. In india they kill family members because of caste issues they are so panicked by position in society. And i thought the right wing was modeling themselves on saudi arabia. It is looking more and more like india is their model. Plus this ties people to their church instead of government or Obamacare.