Health Insurance Costs Have Doubled or Even More Under the Affordable Care Act

December 2, 2021

PEORIA, Ill. — Since 2013, when the Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare, was enacted, the cost of health insurance nationwide has doubled or even tripled in some states.

“The ACA’s mandates and regulations dramatically increased the cost of individual market health insurance in almost all states,” according to a recent report from the Heritage Foundation.

In 40 states, the average monthly premium for individual market coverage more than doubled by 2019—and it more than tripled in five of them: Alabama, Nebraska, Missouri, West Virginia and Wyoming.

While the cost of health insurance has been increasing dramatically for consumers in most states, members of Samaritan Ministries International (samaritanministries.org) have enjoyed vastly lower monthly share amounts.

“The monthly share for Samaritan has never exceeded $530 for a family of up to seven people or $555 for a family of eight or more,” said Anthony Hopp, chief purpose officer of Samaritan Ministries. “This contrasts with the average cost of health insurance in 2020, which was $623 per month for an individual and $1,779 for a family.

“Our members not only have been spared the dramatic increases we have seen with health insurance, but we have been able to enjoy the additional advantages of a Bible-based approach to health care. We care for each other through cards, letters and prayers,” Hopp said.

Many members have written to share their experiences:

Eric from New Jersey said:

“I am a small-business owner and the cost of insurance was becoming a major concern as monthly premiums and deductibles continued to rise year after year. I’m so thankful to have a choice and love making a check out to an actual person each month vs. a big insurance company.”

David and Nancy from California wrote:

“We really like sending money to other members in need. This is so much better than sending it to a large, so-called nonprofit insurance corporation. Unlike insurance companies, we are able to meet everyone’s medical needs at a fraction of the cost.”

Cheryl from Colorado shared:

“I have been so happy to be a part of Samaritan Ministries! Dealing with insurance eligibility, changing requirements and sky-rocketing costs had been such a stress for our family. Conversely, working with Samaritan is always a heart-warming experience. I can see that God is working through this organization!”

Samaritan Ministries currently has a membership of 282,358 individuals from 85,402 member households.

Unlike health insurance, Samaritan Ministries has no limited enrollment period. Health insurance requires signups to occur only during open enrollment periods unless one qualifies for a special enrollment period due to a “life event,” such as losing coverage, getting married, moving, or having a baby.

Samaritan Ministries health care sharingoffers several advantages:

• No network restrictions. When medical care is needed, Samaritan members choose the health care provider, hospital, and pharmacy that work best for them.
• The direct-sharing approach allows members to not only help fellow believers with their medical financial needs but to pray for and connect with them on a regular basis.
• The monthly share has never exceeded $530 for a family of up to seven people or $555 for a family of eight or more. This contrasts with the average cost of health insurance in 2020, which was $623 per month for an individual and $1,779 for a family.

Samaritan Ministries gives people of Biblical faith an effective, Bible-driven health care community in which approximately $30 million in medical needs is shared person to person every month. Over the past 27 years, Samaritan Ministries members have shared more than $3 billion in needs while also praying for and encouraging fellow members through personal notes, cards and letters.

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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To interview a representative from Samaritan Ministries International, contact Media@HamiltonStrategies.com, Beth Harrison, 610.584.1096, ext. 105, or Deborah Hamilton, ext. 102.