Health Care Sharing Ministries Help Over 1.5 Million Members Seek Transparency, Fair Pricing and Freedom

WASHINGTON, D.C.— “Ownership” is not one of the first words the average American might use to describe their health care.

According to data from the Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries (The Alliance, ahcsm.org), more than a million and a half members of Health Care Sharing Ministries are much more in control of their health care than they were prior to joining their ministry community. For over 30 years, Health Care Sharing Ministries have enabled their members to truly “own” their health care while at the same time honoring God and connecting with a community of Biblical believers through sharing each other’s medical financial burdens and praying for fellow members.

“Health Care Sharing Ministries advance the foundations of the American Dream—freedom and ownership—when it comes to health care,” said Katy Talento, executive director of the Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries. “Health Care Sharing Ministries members are free to work with the health care providers they choose as they determine the best treatment for their families. Along the way, the ministries provide their members with tools they can use to seek out and receive fair prices and the best treatment available. When members engage with their health care in a real and personal way, they have true ownership that has physical, emotional and spiritual benefits.”

Health Care Sharing Ministries not only assist members in getting the best “deal” for their health care, but also educate them so they can advocate on their own behalf when it comes to choosing the best course of treatment.

For example, the online Healthcare Bluebook app allows members to research pricing in their area for various procedures, doctors or hospitals in their own area, and learn more about quality and cost ratings. Healthcare Bluebook’s research shows that it is common for the same health care services in the same area to vary in cost by as much as 400 percent, meaning that a $20,000 service or procedure with one provider could be $80,000 at another provider down the street or across town.

Not only is having knowledge powerful in pricing, but also when it comes to health care questions and answers. Many Health Care Sharing Ministries have current relationships with independent health care professionals who are available 24/7 to answer members’ questions.

“For far too long, prices for medical care have been shrouded in secrecy as insurance costs have skyrocketed,” Talento commented. “It’s one of the reasons why many Americans of faith have turned to Health Care Sharing Ministries, which facilitate sharing costs among their members and help their members negotiate lower bills.”

Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries was established as a 501(c)(6) trade organization to represent the common interests of Health Care Sharing Ministries which are facilitating the sharing of health care needs (financial, emotional, and spiritual) by individuals and families, and their participants. The Alliance engages with federal and state regulators and policy makers, members of the media, and the Christian community to provide accurate and timely information on Health Care Sharing Ministries.

Learn more about the Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries visit www.ahcsm.org or follow the ministry on Facebook or Twitter.  

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To interview a representative from The Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries, contact Media@HamiltonStrategies.com, Beth Harrison, 610.584.1096, ext. 105, or Deborah Hamilton, ext. 102.