***News Release***
The Growing Number of Entrepreneurs in the U.S. Need a Different Approach to Their Health Care
The Quarter of a Million Individuals in the Nearly 80,000 Households of Samaritan Ministries Have Found Health Care Freedom
PEORIA, Ill.—More and more Americans are choosing entrepreneurship, pursuing their dream of self-sufficiency in an occupation they love. November is National Entrepreneurship Month, and self-employed workers across the U.S. are setting the example of “placing more value on maintaining flexibility and autonomy and less on climbing a traditional corporate ladder.”
Currently, the number of self-employed workers in the U.S. stands at 15 million, according to AARP. Freshbooks, the survey researcher, forecasts that an additional 27 million workers will go the self-employed route over the next two years, bringing the total to 42 million—nearly three times as many.
At the same time, millions more workers will be looking for health care options when their health insurance is no longer offered through an employer. Just as entrepreneurs have the freedom to be their own boss, both groups can experience freedom with health care sharing through Samaritan Ministries International (samaritanministries.org), one of the nation’s leading care sharing ministries.
Jeff, a self-employed Samaritan Ministries member from North Carolina, experienced a rare medical crisis—a snake bite. But during this frightening situation, with medical bills totaling $70,000, he and his family found they didn’t need to worry.
“Being self-employed and having switched to Samaritan Ministries, we were concerned, having always used insurance,” Jeff said. “We weren’t sure what to expect. When we received the listing of all those we should receive shares from within the coming month, we were in awe. It was a joy to see those flow in daily until the need was met, with about 80 percent also including notes of encouragement and handwritten prayers for my healing. This was overwhelming and humbling, and we glorify Him for complete healing.
“We are so grateful for Samaritan Ministries, who brings the larger body of Christ together to help one another in time of need,” Jeff added. “One never expects to be taken ill suddenly, but what a joy to know that we can share together, bear one another’s burdens and thus fulfill the law of Christ through Him—to love one another.”
Younger Americans will make up a large part of the growing number of entrepreneurs, with 42 percent expected to come from the millennial generation. Likewise, many of Samaritan’s nearly 80,000 member households are headed by millennials.
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 is much more affordable than insurance premiums for many of the self-employed. At Samaritan, the monthly share has never exceeded $495 for a family of any size and is even less for two-person and single-person households.
Susan from Wisconsin said her family has been members of Samaritan for three years.
“(Samaritan Ministries) is a great fit and I am always happy to share your ministry, which helps those of us who are self-employed or simply do not want to be a part of insurance,” she said.
Mindy from Indiana added:
“We are self-employed, and insurance was so expensive. I ask my husband why it took us so long to switch to Samaritan! It has been such a blessing. One day we got 18 cards in the mail for our Special Prayer Need—I got teary eyed! We just love it so much.”
Meghan from Colorado said Samaritan Ministries has been “far better” than insurance.
“I’m self-employed and health care sharing is both more financially feasible AND useful for me,” she said.
Kathleen from North Carolina reported that her husband is self-employed, and they had purchased their own health insurance for 25 years.
“Last year the premiums were just CRAZY!” she said. “When you deal with insurance, you’re so used to people who are just looking for reasons to say, ‘Nope! Can’t do!’ But that is not (Samaritan), and it is so refreshing.”
The open enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act began Nov. 1 and continues through Dec. 15. During this research and enrollment period laden with government procedures, many find the process to be difficult and frustrating. They may not realize that becoming part of a biblical health care sharing ministry can be a simple way to bring fulfillment and blessings to both the sender and receiver, as Samaritan members have shown for nearly 25 years.
Samaritan Ministries offers two membership levels, Samaritan Classic and Samaritan Basic. Samaritan Basic has a lower monthly share coupled with a higher initial unshared amount than Samaritan Classic. Monthly shares for Samaritan Basic start as low as $100 for one person, $200 for two people and $250 for a family of any size, depending on age. Some guidelines differ between Samaritan Basic and Samaritan Classic; contact Samaritan Ministries for details or visit this link.
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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