An important article from World magazine, July 18, 2009…

CHARITY: Health care sharing ministries seem to work, if they can survive | Warren Cole Smith, Rusty Leonard

President Obama says he’s looking for creative, “outside-the-box” thinking on health care. But the reform plans that have the greatest likelihood of passing put at risk a Christian alternative to insurance that is now being used by more than 100,000 people in the United States.

James Lansberry is vice president of Samaritan Ministries, the largest of the “health care sharing ministries” whose members pay for each other’s health care costs. His organization’s members pay for about $3 million in expenses a month. Payments vary, but a three- (or more) member family pays $285 per month directly to another family with a current need. Samaritan Ministries keeps track of who’s paying and who needs to be paid, and the ministry receives $170 per year from each family for serving as the clearinghouse.

Christian Care Medi-Share, the other major player in this market, has members set up a credit union account. Monthly payments go into that account. When needs arise, the ministry is authorized to transfer money in—or out to the accounts of others. (Disclosure: Samaritan Ministries and Christian Care Medi-Share have advertised in WORLD.)

“We’re already saving our members dramatic amounts of money,” Lansberry said. “But the current reform schemes threaten our survival. They mandate traditional insurance. We’re working hard to make sure that our members are seen as filling the intent of individual insurance mandates.”

To read the whole article, go here.

Stacy and I have been members of Samaritan for years. God has used this ministry to direct Christians around the world to bless us when we have had medical needs. With their help, we have paid for the births of two children, Emma’s surgery, and a major infection (which also required emergency air travel). We have likewise been able to directly help others in need. We send our share directly to a real family with a real need. And then we pray for them at our home during family worship.

Samaritan Ministries has been a true blessing to our family. Before deciding to go with Samaritan, we were paying almost $800 per month to a for profit company. And, like most insurance options, this company assisted with medical “needs” that we found morally troubling (such as abortions). Samaritan not only saved us money, it is a true ministry – not a profit center. And it helps with real needs, and does not compromise its Christian stand.

I encourage all Christian families to join Samaritan Ministries. And pleased pray for Samaritan and other health sharing ministries as they strive to be a help Christian families around the globe.

To learn more about Samaritan, go to http://www.samaritanministries.org or call them at 877.764.2426. Please let them know you heard about them from Stacy and I.