Delaware families can save thousands with Medi-Share

Medi-Share, a healthcare cost-sharing ministry, has been growing steadily as healthcare costs continue to skyrocket. The program is not insurance, but a community of like-minded people sharing medical bills through Christian Care Ministry, the providers of Medi-Share and Senior Assist in Delaware and nationwide.

Many of the most popular doctors and specialists throughout Sussex County are already participating providers, so patients can keep their same doctors.

Medi-Share functions similarly to insurance and meets the requirements for the Affordable Care Act, exempting its members from the mandate to purchase private insurance. There’s an annual household portion, which is the same as a deductible.

As with most types of insurance, the size of this annual household portion or deductible determines the monthly premium, or family share portion.

One family saw its insurance bills rise 20 percent to 30 percent each year the past few years since the Affordable Care Act's mandate, and this January that meant their $1,275 premium would become almost $1,600 per month. That’s $19,200 for a family of five to have basic regular health insurance with a $3,000 in-network deductible, even before any costs are covered.

David Forman, president and owner of Visiting Angels, a home care company that helps seniors live independently, said, “Once we learned our own family doctors were in the provider network, and called around to be sure most of the doctors our Visiting Angels care recipient families use are also in-network, I decided not only to switch to Medi-Share myself, but to help spread the word to help families who are struggling make their insurance premiums and keep their doctors, throughout our entire community.”

The above-mentioned family of five including three children in Sussex County chose an annual household portion of $3,750, which is the amount that needs to be met before medical bills are paid, but their monthly share is $510, rather than $1,600 - an annual savings of more than $13,000 to visit the same doctors, specialists and facilities. To search for a doctor, specialist or facility, go to phcs.com.

Forman says, “We’ve already done much of the research and determined that dozens of the most popular doctors, specialists and facilities throughout Sussex County and Milford are within the PHCS – PPO (MultiPlan), but you should check the website and call your provider to be sure.” Even if a patient's provider is not in the network, or the patient is traveling and must use a non-participating provider, the plan will still pay a large portion of eligible necessary medical bills. Medi-Share also offers a unique health incentive, applying further discounts up to 20 percent off the monthly share when both heads of households meet certain healthy lifestyle requirements such as waist size, BMI and unmedicated blood pressure.

Seniors over the age of 65, or those receiving Social Security disability benefits, are already receiving Medicare benefits for their health insurance. Visiting Angels doesn’t accept Medicare because it pays for skilled nursing, while the company provides non-medical living assistance services. However, the new plan’s Senior Assist option, which can cost as little as $70 per month for ages 65-70, $85 per month for ages 71-75, or $95 per month for anybody 76 and older, is worth learning about.

There are no limits for pre-existing conditions, and patients cannot be dropped for medical reasons. Members will share the portion of eligible medical bills that Medicare allows but does not pay completely, including copayments, deductibles, hospitalization, skilled nursing facilities, out-of-country urgent care and more.

Both Medi-Share for individuals and families, and Senior Assist for individuals require a Christian testimony of faith and healthy lifestyles that include not smoking or using illegal drugs. Cost sharing never includes paying for procedures that conflict with biblical ideals.

Forman says, “While Visiting Angels does not accept either of these programs as payment, because the company provides assistance with uncovered daily activities of living, such as personal care, meal preparation, errands, shopping and appointments, medication reminders, transfer assistance, compassionate companionship and respite care for family caregivers, our own family has been so pleased by the Medi-Share, and so impressed by the potential of Senior Assist, that we’ve been spreading the word however we can.”

For more information about Medi-Share and Senior Assist plans and options, go to mychristiancare.org or call 1-800-PSALM-23. For more information about how Visiting Angels can help a loved one remain safe and independent at home, go to visitingangels.com/sussexde or call 302-329-9475.