Health Care Sharing Ministry Gives Those With Breast Cancer Diagnoses Emotional, Financial, and Prayer Support

October 18, 2021

PEORIA, Ill. — Samaritan Ministries International (Samaritan, samaritanministries.org) helps individuals and families struggling with breast cancer, connecting them with other Samaritan members who can help share their burdens.

“Every October, during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we join the national effort to bring attention to this serious issue,” said Anthony Hopp, chief purpose officer of Samaritan Ministries International. “Cancer-related needs constitute the largest number of requests that Samaritan receives, and breast cancer is one of the most common needs addressed.”

In 2021, an estimated 281,550 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women in the United States, along with 49,290 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer, according to Breastcancer.org.

Even men sometimes hear this unwelcome diagnosis. About 2,650 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in men in 2021. A man’s lifetime risk of breast cancer is about 1 in 833.

“Many families that we serve at Samaritan have been affected by breast cancer, are being helped with their medical expenses and are receiving life-affirming encouragement through prayers, notes and letters from other members,” Hopp said.

“Over the past five years, Samaritan members have shared more than $166 million in medical costs for cancer needs,” Hopp continued. “We hear every day from people who are blessed by their fellow Samaritan members and who are also blessed to be helping others.”

Rebecca, who lives in Iowa, shared:

“The past year and a half I went through breast cancer treatments. My bills for medical treatment, including chemotherapy and radiation, have totaled up to nearly $100,000. Samaritan has been fantastic to work with throughout this need. Not having to worry about finances during a health crisis is a real blessing.”

Emma from California wrote:

“You guys have been amazing. We are so blessed by the ministry and how amazing everyone has been. I tell my friends all the time about Samaritan, and they were always skeptical until they saw me go through my cancer need and saw how amazingly it worked. You are all such a blessing!”

Jason and Susan of Pennsylvania said:

“We are so very glad that we signed up with Samaritan Ministries nearly six years ago! We have seen its benefits several times since becoming members. Susan had a major and unexpected surgery in January of this year and had such a peace going into it knowing how the sharing process works. We certainly were not disappointed. The checks and notes poured in through the mail and we were able to settle all accounts with the providers in a very reasonable time. Thank you, Samaritan Ministries, for your faithfulness!”

Samaritan Ministries currently includes 281,670 members from 85,407 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 also 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 26 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.