Health Care Sharing Through Samaritan Ministries Applies Free Market Principles, Offers Affordability and Transparency
Member Debi from Florida Says, ‘One of My Favorite Parts of My Life Right Now is Samaritan Ministries’
PEORIA, Ill.—How many Americans would say that dealing with health care is one of the “favorite parts of my life”?
But Debi from Florida says that about her membership in Samaritan Ministries International (samaritanministries.org), one of the leading health care sharing ministries in America—and means it.
“One of my favorite parts of my life right now is Samaritan Ministries,” Debi says. “In this ever-changing world of surveillance, welfare/nanny statism and ever-encroaching socialism, there is little to get excited about. But this completely free-market approach to health care makes me feel great.”
For 25 years, Samaritan Ministries has focused on a Bible-based mission, enabling tens of thousands of households to send financial shares directly to other families while they also lift up one another, pray and send notes of encouragement.
“Not only are the prices (through health care sharing with Samaritan) a fraction of what the large ‘insurers’ charge, but the personal service, the lack of corporate attitude, the friendly and genuinely concerned administrative personnel and the sense of community make me feel great every time I have to deal with the unfortunate situation of muddling through the dysfunctional ‘health care’ system that exists in the U.S. today,” Debi adds. “I actually enjoy paying my monthly shares! It makes me feel good.
“Furthermore,” she continues, “I actually take better care of myself than if I was paying four times what I should be to a giant inhumane insurance corporation that sees me only as a number and whose business model is to pay as few claims as possible. I care about keeping my costs down whenever possible with Samaritan Ministries. When I was paying too much for insurance, I always had the feeling that I needed to get my money’s worth. So my attitude was completely different than with Samaritan. I also really enjoy sending and receiving kind notes from other members. So I am a proud member of Samaritan Ministries.”
Anthony Hopp, Samaritan’s vice president of external relations, said the ministry routinely hears from thousands of members just like Debi who appreciate Samaritan’s longstanding history, its commitment to Biblical stewardship and a transparent model that works, and that it is grounded in Galatians 6:2: “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (ESV).
Hopp also noted that some members, such as young families or singles, choose the membership level called Samaritan Basic, which has an even lower monthly share coupled with a higher initial unshared amount than Samaritan Classic. This gives both present and future members two options for choosing what they believe is best for their families—and their budgets. Monthly shares for Samaritan Basic start as low as $100 for one person; some guidelines differ between Samaritan Basic and Samaritan Classic.
Each month, the more than 270,000-plus individual Samaritan members like Debi (82,000 member households) send their financial shares directly to other members, along with notes and cards of encouragement. Through this effective, God-honoring ministry, Samaritan’s growing Biblical community shares approximately $29 million in medical needs person-to-person each month. In fact, Samaritan members have shared $1.8 billion in needs over 25 years.
Learn more about Samaritan Ministries International here; visit the Samaritan website at www.samaritanministries.org, or follow the ministry on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
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