Most churches aren’t exactly high-margin operations.
Every dollar counts.
That’s why the high cost of offering health insurance to church workers and missionaries pose a significant problem.
These costs can strain personal finances and divert church funds from essential ministry work, making it imperative to find more sustainable healthcare solutions.
With average group health insurance costs for employee now nearing $24,000 per year, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, most churches need to look for alternatives if they want to attract and retain quality employees, and ensure that clergy, lay people, and missionary workers both in the United States and abroad are taken care of.
Compare Pricing on the Best Insurance Plans Available
Plans That Uphold Christian Values
Christian communities often face a dilemma with standard health insurance plans.
Many policies cover procedures that may be contrary to Christian beliefs and morals, such as the abortion of a live fetus, in vitro fertilization, or gender reassignment surgeries.
Most churches and other religious charities and organizations are looking to find alternatives to traditional, secular health insurance companies, specifically so they can avoid being forced to subsidize these procedures.
READ MORE: Can I Get a Health Plan That Doesn’t Cover Abortion?
Embracing Health Sharing: A Faith-Centric Approach
Health sharing organizations offer a unique model where members share each other’s medical expenses in accordance with a shared set of values.
These organizations operate on the principle of mutual aid and responsibility, echoing the early Christian tradition of sharing resources within the community.
What Is Health Sharing?
Health sharing is a distinctive model tailored for managing healthcare costs, deeply embedded in Christian values of community and mutual aid.
It’s a lower-cost alternative to traditional insurance models – and one much more friendly to churches and other Christian organizations who want to operate according to their Christian values.
Here’s how it works:
Health sharing members make monthly sharing contributions, which are pooled to assist in covering the medical costs of fellow members.
This concept resonates profoundly with Christians, as it extends beyond a mere financial mechanism to embody faith in practice.
It also cultivates a network of support where members not only share financial resources but also offer prayers and encouragement, reinforcing the community’s shared faith.
The alignment with Christian values ensures that contributions support lifestyles and procedures consistent with Christian ethics, enhancing the community’s spiritual cohesion.
A Commitment to Christian Living
Christian health sharing organizations also emphasize accountability and a commitment to Christian living principles.
Members typically commit to health and ethical standards reflecting Christian teachings, such as avoiding tobacco use, alcohol and drug abuse, and leading a wholesome lifestyle according to Biblical values.
Additionally, health share organizations require new members to agree to their statement of faith or values.
Some organizations require members to attend regular worship services. Others simply ask members to profess the divinity of Christ and the Triune God to join their Christian health share ministry.
LEARN MORE: Health Share Statements of Faith: 2024 Comparison Guide
The Community Aspects of Health Sharing
Beyond financial support, health sharing fosters a robust community spirit.
Christian health share ministry members often engage in prayer for one another, offer emotional support, and sometimes provide additional assistance to those facing significant medical challenges.
This sense of community is a cornerstone of health sharing, reflecting the Christian ethos of compassion and mutual aid.
Cost Savings
Health sharing plans offer a much more affordable alternative to traditional insurance for churches and missionary organizations.
Because health sharing plans aren’t insurance, they are able to screen out individuals with pre-existing conditions, or who have habits, vices, or a history of behaviors likely to drive up costs for other plan members.
As a result, health share plans cost as much as 50 percent less than comparable unsubsidized health insurance plans – while still providing massive sharing capacity to help members pay for treatment even for large or catastrophic health care needs.
This affordability is crucial for church workers and missionaries operating within limited budgets.
LEARN MORE: How Much Does Health Sharing Save Compared to Health Insurance?
Flexibility and Freedom in Healthcare Choices
Unlike HMOs, PPOs, and EPOs – the three managed care systems that dominate most plans available on the Obamacare exchanges – health share plans don’t limit you to seeing doctors in their approved network of providers.
Instead, health share members have much more freedom to choose their own doctors. This allows them to choose healthcare providers that best meet their needs, whether they are at home or abroad.
This flexibility is especially critical for missionaries who may require healthcare access in various global locations.
Travel Insurance
For short-term missionary work or travel, integrating travel insurance with health sharing plans is essential.
Some countries won’t even let missionaries in unless they can show they have travel insurance in place, or otherwise show proof of financial responsibility.
Travel insurance plans not only help missionaries and other employees serving abroad with direct medical expenses, they also help pay for medical evacuation back to the United States, if necessary.
This benefit isn’t normally included in standard health insurance products or health share plans. But it can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. So it’s critical for your people working abroad to have this coverage in place.
Compare Pricing on the Best HealthShare Plans Available
Don’t Go It Alone. Get Professional Guidance.
The landscape of health sharing and insurance can be complex.
Seeking advice from healthcare professionals, such as Personal Benefits Managers (PBMs), can provide valuable insights into the best options available.
Our expert PBMs can assist you in navigating the various options and help tailor a solution that best fits individual and organizational needs.
Click here to arrange a free consultation with a Personal Benefits Manager.
There’s no obligation. And we can save you hours of research and hassle
For Further Reading: Christian Health Insurance: The 2024 Guide|How A Christian Healthcare Sharing Ministry Can Benefit Your Church and its Congregation|How Your Organization Can Save Money By Offering Health Sharing As an Employee Benefit
