***NEWS RELEASE***
For Immediate Release
January 30, 2017
CONTACT:
Jen Retallick, Hamilton Strategies, 610.584.1096, ext. 100, Media@HamiltonStrategies.com, or Deborah Hamilton, 215.815.7716 or 610.584.1096, ext. 102
Samaritan Ministries International:
What Americans Need to Know About Health Care Sharing Before Tomorrow’s ACA Deadline
68,000+ Households / 224,000+ Individuals Share $23 Million Monthly, Helping to Meet Each Other’s Medical Needs as Scripture Instructs
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Fourth in a multipart series on the most frequently asked questions about health care sharing, as the deadline for enrollment under the Affordable Care Act approaches.)
PEORIA, Ill.—Just one day remains before uninsured Americans—or those looking for a change in how to pay for expensive health care—must make their final decision on whether to enroll for health care coverage under the Affordable Care Act. The good news is, at Samaritan Ministries International (samaritanministries.org), there is no deadline.
For months, the Jan. 31 ACA deadline has loomed, and even though news coming out of Washington indicates that a repeal or at least a replacement of the law is likely, the deadline for this year still stands. In the wake of a changing health care landscape, many who saw their insurance premiums double or triple continue to face difficulties.
In the course of their health care research, many find Samaritan Ministries, one of the largest health care sharing ministries in America, and discover how Samaritan offers more than 224,000 individual members the refreshing opportunity to apply the principles of New Testament living to 21st-century health care.
“Even with the uncertainty of the health care world right now, members of Samaritan Ministries can know that a Biblical community is committed to sharing each other’s burdens, as the Bible instructs,” said Anthony Hopp, Samaritan’s vice president for external relations. “Politics change, prices change and even people’s needs change, but the Word of God is unwavering. He will take care of all of our needs, and He gives us guidance through the Bible on exactly how we can take care of each other. Health care doesn’t have to be complicated, because the Biblical way is simple.”
Hopp and the entire team at Samaritan have been answering questions from thousands of callers who are exploring their health care options. Health care sharing has been in existence for decades, but many are only recently learning about this simple, non-insurance, direct-sharing approach.
A few key facts communicated to those inquiring about Samaritan and health care sharing include:
- Samaritan Ministries accepts new members all year long, regardless of any federal deadlines.
- Members of Samaritan Ministries, with its direct-sharing, household-to-household, non-insurance approach, pay a monthly share of only $495 for a family of any size, while individuals pay $220 and couples pay $440.
- Samaritan members pray for one another and include notes and cards of encouragement and comfort with their monthly shares, which are sent directly to other families.
- Samaritan members share $23 million per month in medical needs, following the Bible’s teachings to “bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2 | ESV).
- More than 68,000 member households (224,000 individuals) in all 50 states and worldwide share each other’s needs.
- Members of Samaritan Ministries are exempt from the Affordable Care Act’s individual health insurance mandate, and they do not share in needs for unbiblical practices, such as abortion.
Samaritan members, whether recently enrolled or with the ministry for years, recommend Samaritan to others as well:
- “Best choice for us! So glad to be a part of Samaritan! It’s really blessed us, and many friends and family who are members as well.”—Joelle, Washington
- “We’ve been members for 14 years and love that we get to help people every month.”—Dan, New Jersey
- “Samaritan Ministries has been a God-send! I highly recommend them. It’s been a huge blessing to receive, but yet a huge blessing to be able to give straight to another family in need.”—Malinda, Alaska
- “Love being able to help other Christians with their medical needs and having control of which doctors and hospitals we use.”—Carolyn, Mississippi
For more information on Samaritan Ministries International, visit 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 Jen Retallick, 610.584.1096, ext. 100, Media@HamiltonStrategies.com or Deborah Hamilton, 610.584.1096, ext. 102, or 215.815.7716.
Samaritan Ministries International is a health care sharing ministry that seeks to help members of the body of Christ carry out His Great Commission by helping Christians to obey Jesus’ command to care for one another. Samaritan Ministries offers a Biblical, non-insurance approach to health care needs.
