Samaritan Ministries members avoid limited networks, escalating premiums, and government intrusion

November 4, 2022

PEORIA, Ill.—November is National Entrepreneurship Month, and a growing number of innovative, courageous Americans who may feel trapped in their current jobs are choosing to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams, placing more value on maintaining flexibility and autonomy and less on what some may consider “normal.” As of August 2022, approximately 9.6 million people in the U.S. have opted for self-employment.

As a result of this growth in entrepreneurship, millions more workers are looking for health care options because they no longer have health insurance. Just as entrepreneurs have the freedom to make their own daily work decisions, they also can have freedom in making health care decisions through Samaritan Ministries International (Samaritan), one of the nation’s leading health care sharing ministries.

“Samaritan Ministries health care sharing offers support for those facing the challenges of starting their own businesses,” said Anthony Hopp, Samaritan’s vice president and chief purpose officer. “For families and individuals who want more control over their own employment and career, Samaritan is a great fit for their health care needs.”

Brendan and Dawn Riordan of North Carolina, owners of Homestead Food Gardens, have been members of Samaritan since 2005, finding the ministryto be the best solution for their family’s health care needs. The Riordans teach best practices on how to grow and store food, offering consultation, design, installation and coaching. With such a unique business model, Samaritan suits their health care needs significantly better than insurance.

“Samaritan has been such a blessing in our lives,” Dawn said. “Every one of our children’s births were shared by Samaritan members. Receiving cards in the mail was more of a blessing to me than the checks, knowing that members were sending up prayers before the throne of God. I would put the check to the side and devour the card. I would become pen pals with some of them. It’s a great way to get to know people all over the world.”

“Samaritan has blessed us unbelievably,” Brendan commented. “Our son, John, had bacterial pneumonia, but we have had all of our needs taken care of.”

Many self-employed members of Samaritan Ministries say they couldn’t be happier with their decision to join, especially as they have opportunities to pray and send monthly financial shares directly person to person while also including encouraging notes and cards. Likewise, Samaritan Ministries’ monthly share is much more affordable than health insurance premiums for many of the self-employed.

Charles from Wisconsin stated:

“I am so thankful that Samaritan Ministries is there to serve the needs for so many. I am self-employed, so when I was injured, I didn’t know what I would do. When I was down from my injury, my income ceased. Fortunately, my savings account got my family through the worst of it. But without the good people of Samaritan Ministries contributing to my needs, I don’t know if we could have made it. The financial support paid my medical bills, and I received the proper care and therapy and got back on my feet. Here is the impressive part of the story: once fully recovered, I felt better than I did before I sustained the injury! That is not only the result of good health care alone (and getting the bills paid), but divine intervention and the power of prayer. It is God at work! Thank you to all who contributed financially and in prayer.”

Caleb and Hannah from California added:

“We tell people all the time how happy we are with Samaritan Ministries. It’s economically a great choice for a self-employed family like ours. However, more importantly, we feel good about the Biblical model of sharing each other’s burdens. We love that we send our shares directly to people with a need that month and that we pray for them and send notes of encouragement as well.”

Michael from Indiana stated:

“It is simply a blessing that this sharing ministry exists. I am self-employed and have dealt with rising health care costs and premiums for 20 years. Not sure where I would be if we hadn’t started with Samaritan a few years ago. Thanks again!”

Samaritan Ministries currently has a membership of 280,901 individuals from 83,032 households.

Samaritan has no limited enrollment period. Government exchange-based 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 additional 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.
• Monthly shares are hundreds of dollars less per month than insurance.

Learn more about Samaritan Ministries International here; visit the Samaritan website at www.samaritanministries.org, or follow the ministry on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.