***NEWS RELEASE***
What Is Health Care Sharing?
ACA Open Enrollment Offers Opportunity to Experience Trusting God With Health Care
Samaritan Ministries International Offers a Simple, Non-Insurance Approach to Health Care Where Members Help One Another Directly
PEORIA, Ill.—When Cathy from California was searching for the health care sharing ministry that would be the best fit for her health care needs and desires, she knew she wanted to directly share with other believers, bearing their health care burdens following the Biblical pattern found in Galatians 6:2.
Cathy was able to do just that by joining Samaritan Ministries International (samaritanministries.org). Now, she sends her monthly financial shares “directly to a person—with a name and a health need!” she said.
“That made me so excited to be able to pray for another Kingdom member that I don’t know and help with a need to get them through a physical trial,” Cathy added. “I look forward to getting my share (assignment) to see who I am blessed to pray and help out for the month. What a blessing!!”
During open enrollment, as Americans around the country research their health care options—like Cathy did—the process can be difficult and frustrating, and some may not realize that becoming part of a Biblical health care sharing ministry can bring fulfillment and blessings to both the sender and receiver.
Open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) began Nov. 1 and continues through Dec. 15, so Samaritan Ministries is encouraging Christians to look into options they may not have considered for their health care.
For 23 years, Samaritan Ministries, one of the leading health care sharing ministries in America, has offered a viable, affordable and God-honoring option for Christian families. Members send monthly financial shares directly to other families, along with notes and cards of encouragement and prayers.
“We have had nothing but good results since we joined (Samaritan) 14+ years ago,” wrote Tol of Tennessee. “We’ve had to share too many needs, from cataracts, hernia surgeries, pancreas surgery to physical therapy, and all have been taken care of quickly and expeditiously. We heartily recommend Samaritan Ministries.”
Nathanael and Geralyn of Texas have also experienced blessings by choosing health care sharing.
“We love Samaritan Ministries and tell everyone we know how happy we are with it,” they said. “This is what happens when believers are given the opportunity to care for each other.”
Besides providing the opportunity for members to lift up one another through financial support and prayer, Samaritan Ministries offers tools that help members navigate the sometimes-complicated world of health care.
“Thank you for the opportunity to speak with a nurse on your 24/7 nurse advice line when I was in a quandary about what to do,” wrote Karen from New York. “I wasn’t sure what I was dealing with but received more clarification and set up a doctor appointment that day.”
Samaritan Ministries executive vice president James Lansberry recent wrote an op-ed for The Christian Post about seven important questions to ask during open enrollment. Read his editorial here.
Samaritan Ministries has introduced a new membership level called Samaritan Basic, which features a lower monthly share amount coupled with a higher initial unshared amount, giving both current and potential members another way to make the best health care sharing decisions for their families—and their budgets.
Monthly shares for Samaritan Basic are determined by age and household size and start as low as $100 for one person, $200 for two people and $250 for a family of any size. Some guidelines differ between Samaritan Basic and Samaritan Classic; contact Samaritan Ministries for details or visit this link.
All members, however, regardless of their membership level, will be a part of the same Biblical community that will “bear one another’s burdens” as the Bible instructs in Galatians 6:2. All members will still receive shares directly from other members, along with notes of encouragement and prayers.
Every month, Samaritan members—70,000 households and more than 231,000 individuals—give directly to their fellow members who have qualified medical needs. Currently, this Biblical community shares about $25 million each month in medical needs.
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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