Are health sharing plans legit?

dmnEPC

dmnEPC

New member
Dec 23, 2010
5,994
95
0
So I would really like to avoid Obamas new health insurance tax, which is going to become significant in the near future. I've been hearing q little more about these sharing plans. Problem is the top sites look like the scammy PC cleaner sites

Finally found something I have no idea about. Any of you guys using one? Anything to look for, or beware of? And have you collected on it? And last but not least could you have to 'share' beyond the monthly rate? Thanks in advance.
 


No way, they're not held to any sort of standard and have no obligation to give you shit with no recourse. Just google "health sharing scam" and you can find numerous customers who were denied procedures, and it looks like they still charge $450+ per month. Christian Medical Plans Get Pass From Health Law Despite Consumer Complaints | Fox News

Fake health plans

But shitty "real" insurance is still a fucking scam as well. But you at least have a "real" appeal processes where the co. can be forced to pay, even if they refuse.
 
^^ The article you mentioned wasn't really an indictment of healthcare sharing.

The 2nd link is not even related. Prices are much lower than Obamacare. You can get top level coverage from $150+.

OP, check out this website:

Health Sharing Ministries |
Health sharing ministry members refute critics |

They're not insurance. However, I think in many ways they're better. I belong to one. I think the company expenses are something like 5%. The rest of the money goes to paying member claims.

Here's one that has been around since 1981 and has paid out over a billion dollars in claims. They also have a clean BBB record. Approval is instant.

Christian Healthcare Ministries: Home
Christian Care Ministry, Inc. Business Review in Melbourne, FL - Central Florida BBB

Here's a smaller one that isn't religion based:

Liberty HealthShare

You can go to any doctor you want. However, the plans ask you to ask for provider for a 40% discount. That's normally given to health insurance companies, so it shouldn't be a problem. The plans will also help you in negotiating.

You should also look into increasing your medical payments on your car insurance policy. That part will cover you if you're hit by a car while driving in your car, in another car, or while walking or riding your bike down the street.

Also, if you ever need surgery, you should look into a center such as the Surgery Center of Oklahoma:

Surgery Center of Oklahoma | Free market-loving, price-displaying, state-of-the-art, AAAHC accredited, doctor owned, multispecialty surgical facility in central OK.

Prices are listed online and are all-inclusive. They're about 1/10th to 1/5 of competing hospital prices. You can get most of the surgeries for the price of a used Honda and in a lot of cases for less than your Obamacare deductible.
 
Forgot part of your question. With Christian Healthcare Ministries, you don't have to pay more than the monthly amount. However, if you opt for their Brothers Keeper unlimited coverage, you pay an extra amount every quarter. It's something like $30 for the gold level. PM me if you want.
 
That said, my premiums have gone from $67 in 2004 to $600ish lately for the same coverage, so I'm all ears.

And for those of you who haven't had the joy yet -- if you are self-employed in the US, and you try to change coverage as I did recently, you're in for a nice surprise... you're now part of obamacare whether you like it or not. You're NOT ALLOWED to buy coverage outside the exchange and you're NOT ALLOWED to do that any other time than those short windows they allow.

And once you're in, they can change their rates AT WILL and there isn't jack-fucking-shit you can do about it (without a "qualifying" say-so)... you can't shop around, you can't get other coverage, you can't do dick until the next annual shop-period.

Welcome to the new land of the free, home of the brave.
 
intent said:
That said, my premiums have gone from $67 in 2004 to $600ish lately for the same coverage, so I'm all ears.

And for those of you who haven't had the joy yet -- if you are self-employed in the US, and you try to change coverage as I did recently, you're in for a nice surprise... you're now part of obamacare whether you like it or not. You're NOT ALLOWED to buy coverage outside the exchange and you're NOT ALLOWED to do that any other time than those short windows they allow.

And once you're in, they can change their rates AT WILL and there isn't jack-fucking-shit you can do about it (without a "qualifying" say-so)... you can't shop around, you can't get other coverage, you can't do dick until the next annual shop-period.

Welcome to the new land of the free, home of the brave.
Click to expand...

Recently, my insurance rate went from $150/month to $300/month with a deductible that was a few thousand more than previously. And like you, I recall rates being around $50/month. That's why I took interest in healthcare sharing plans.

As Obamacare solidifies, rates will only go higher. I rarely go to the doctor. I think I might have spent $200 at urgent care facilities in the last 7+ years.

Healthcare sharing ministries are exempt from all the Obamacare bullshit. I think new companies are prohibited from opening, so you pretty much have to choose one of the four or so existing ones.

What I really like about them is that most of the money goes to people who really need it.

Definitely check out the Self Pay Patient:

http://selfpaypatient.com

Here's the blog of Keith Smith, MD. He runs the Surgery Center of Oklahoma:

G. Keith Smith, M.D.

He doesn't accept insurance but will help you file the claim for some carriers. The doctors at the facility are co-owners and they don't screw you for band-aids and whatnot. I think they have over 150 doctors who operate at the facility. The guy is a big free market proponent, too.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYaBeetbcFo[/ame]
 
You & me both, brother. I stepped on a nail 5 years ago and it went thru my boot so I needed a tetanus shot... otherwise, nada. Probably paid in $40k in premiums over the past 10 years.

Thanks for the info.
 
Truth told, shit makes me wanna join an insurance forum... worship at the altar of David Einhorn.
 
intent said:
That said, my premiums have gone from $67 in 2004 to $600ish lately for the same coverage, so I'm all ears.
Click to expand...
I will say that big increases are nothing new and not to be completely blamed on obama. His buddy Bill Clinton left us with a little treat called HIPAA. Huge increases began starting in 1996 with the HIPPA related laws. Inusrance companies started being allowed to segregate their groups.

So what insurance companies have been doing to make their new rates look competitive, is to "close" the group after X years. It starts slow but soon the rates begin going up, the young healthy people (insurable) leave the group taking salvation under the new group. Insurance is based on the "Law of Large Numbers". And with no new blood comming into offset the expenses of the "sick" people who stayed in the group only one thing could happen. The rates had to go up 10 - 50% each and every year.. You can only increase your deductible so high.

SO thanks Bill Clinton, your legacy lives on.
 
Insurance always starts cheaper to get your business then jacks rates up 20%+ year over year. At renewal time they'll offer you the same plan at a higher price or gut it (increase deductibles, reduce benefits) to keep the price the same.

I used to work at an insurance office (malpractice rather than medical) and they did 30% yearly increases until the premiums were double what they started at.

I'll have to see what the difference is this year over 2 years ago for my insurance, 2 years ago it was $8800/year for me and my gf (paid by employer, shows amount on w2), and we were both in our 20's still at that time.
 
shindig said:
Insurance always starts cheaper to get your business then jacks rates up 20%+ year over year. At renewal time they'll offer you the same plan at a higher price or gut it (increase deductibles, reduce benefits) to keep the price the same.

I used to work at an insurance office (malpractice rather than medical) and they did 30% yearly increases until the premiums were double what they started at.

I'll have to see what the difference is this year over 2 years ago for my insurance, 2 years ago it was $8800/year for me and my gf (paid by employer, shows amount on w2), and we were both in our 20's still at that time.
Click to expand...


right but understand it never used to work that way. At least not at the large double digit increases. These huge increases can be directly traced back to Bill Clinton. That is what set the stage.

Government interference is 100% responsible for the health crisis. Get the government 100% out of the health market place and it will correct itself. lol like that's ever going to happen. Seems to me like I just had this argument, net neutrality anyone.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom