***NEWS RELEASE***
For Immediate Release
March 27, 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’ Members Share $23 Million Every Month in Health Care Needs
69,000 Households (225,000+ Individuals) Honor God with Their Health Care by Bearing One Another’s Burdens and Lifting Up Families
PEORIA, Ill.—One major concern of those thinking about joining a health care sharing ministry, especially with the very uncertain world of health care, is whether their fellow members will be faithful to help with their financial needs—especially if they are extremely large.
Members of Samaritan Ministries International (samaritanministries.org), one of the leading health care sharing ministries in America, testify below to how their doubts were dispelled by their experiences. But beyond assistance with the “big bills,” one thing that makes Samaritan different is that the traditional “deductible” structure, with thousands of dollars paid up front, is not a factor. Instead, Samaritan members are eligible to receive shares from other members for anything more than the first $300 for every shareable need.
Today, Samaritan members share $23 million each 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).
Currently, Samaritan members pay a monthly share of only $495 for a family of any size, while individuals pay $220 and couples pay $440. Just as significant, Samaritan members also pray for one another and include notes and cards of encouragement and comfort with their monthly shares, which they send directly to other families.
“At Samaritan Ministries, we want to focus first and foremost on how our members are helping their brothers and sisters in Christ,” said Anthony Hopp, Samaritan Ministries’ vice president for external relations. “It so happens that the monthly share that individuals, couples and families pay can be a very affordable option, especially as health care costs climb higher and higher. Jesus teaches His people to take care of one another, so, ultimately, we have faith that He will take care of all our needs, including medical burdens. Through health care sharing, we are obeying His command to love one another and bear one another’s burdens.”
The feedback is positive from those who have discovered health care sharing and found they can rely on God and other members, even when health care costs are significant.
“I am so thankful to be a member of Samaritan Ministries,” wrote Dorothy from Utah. “I am old enough to be on Medicare, but rather than have the government involved in my health care, which I did not want, I chose to stay with Samaritan Ministries where I could help others with their medical needs through giving and praying. And now that I have had a few large needs—the largest one being the removal of a basal cell carcinoma from my eyelid—I have experienced and been blessed by the giving of others to my need, by their notes and prayers. My surgeon … is not a Christian, and I was blessed to be able to give him Gospel literature and witness to him. God healed my eyelid, and I praise the Lord!”
Maureen from Illinois added, “We had submitted other needs before, but nothing as much as a pregnancy! I have to admit, I was scared about it financially panning out, but it really did! I had some anxiety about this pregnancy and prayed regularly for our son’s health and a safe delivery. What made the difference was feeling the prayers of all of those who wrote to us. Knowing there were so many people out there praying for us brought so much peace and comfort. Thank you, Samaritan members!”
Megan from North Carolina shared that her faith was tested, but her fellow Christians helped quell the anxiety that came with a large need.
“As I sit here in awe of the lovely cards, notes, and checks in front of me, I thank God for Samaritan Ministries and their members,” she wrote. “We have had a lot of surprises recently: a hospital birth instead of a home birth, a beautiful son with Down syndrome, and a three-night stay in the hospital because of RSV. The Lord has blessed us mightily through all of this. He wasn’t surprised—a source of great comfort to us—in each instance. And among His greatest blessings in all of this is you all—the Samaritan members. We knew we would be able to pay all of these unexpected medical expenses because of our brothers and sisters who would share our burdens. Wow! This was our first large need, and the beautiful ministry of Samaritan Ministries, as evidenced by the notes and checks in front of me, brings me to tears of joy and gratitude. What a privilege to be a part of the Body of Christ and Samaritan Ministries!”
Learn more about Samaritan Ministries International here; visit the Samaritan website at www.samaritanministries.org, or follow the ministry on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
###
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.