F.A.Q.'s
Can I use any medical provider?
Yes, and you now have access to a new healthcare concierge service that you can call to find out whether your new provider or future provider is on our preferred provider list! Just call
Are HealthShares exempt from the Affordable Care Act? We are recognized by the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) as a Health Care Sharing Ministry and all active Members are eligible for exemption from the federal tax penalty.
How will the HealthShares handle my private personal and medical information?
Although the HealthShares are NOT insurance companies we require all our employees to be HIPAA certified and adopt all the basic tenets of the HIPAA Privacy Standards.
What is the monthly premium amount?
The HealthShare Members do NOT have a monthly premium. Our Members receive a Voluntary Monthly Contribution Request. The amount varies based on age and the number of members in your family and the Membership you choose.
Who can take part in the Membership?
Our Membership is for anyone who believes in living a healthy lifestyle and can agree to our Statement of Standards.
How do claims get processed?
HealthShares are NOT an insurance company and our Members do NOT file ‘claims.’ HealthShare Members share in eligible medical needs. HealthShare processes eligible medical needs for sharing among the Membership. Your medical provider may submit your medical needs by using the instructions within your Member Portal. Once the medical need is received and determined eligible for sharing, the medical need is assessed. The Membership will send your provider payment for the shareable amount from the membership escrow account.
What do I tell my provider when I need medical attention?
Members can explain to any medical provider or facility that they are a participant in a Health Care Sharing Ministry and that you are a self-pay patient. Show your provider the HealthShare Member ID card and explain that the medical need should be sent by the provider either electronically or by mail as outlined by the instructions in the Member Portal.
What is ERS ? How does it help me?
The Established Provider Reimbursement Solution (ERS) is a pricing mechanism that eliminates the need to use a traditional “network” or “affiliated providers' while driving down costs. This allows our Members to go to any provider or facility they choose regardless of their network affiliation, and skip the extra costs that used to be associated with visiting a non-affiliated provider. You now have access to virtually any provider in the nation. Members also have access to a new concierge service that you can call to find out whether your new, or future provider is on our preferred provider list!
What are “Pooled” Office Visits?
If you are a family of five (5), and you have selected six (6) office visits per family member, under the Pooled Office Visits feature, you would now have a combined family office visit allotment of 30 visits for the year. This allows you greater flexibility to utilize office visits for family members who may require more office visits during any particular year.
How do I know the health share works?
The concept of Medical Cost Sharing has been highly successful in the context of faith-based groups for more than 60 years. More than two million members have shared over a billion dollars in medical expenses over that span of time, demonstrating a strong track record of success. We believe that a community of health-conscious people who care for one another can successfully participate in the sharing of each other’s medical burdens. However, it is important to note that past successes by faith-based sharing groups does not guarantee the future success of similar programs. There is no promise or contract by health shares or the Members to contribute toward any Need a member might have in the future. The only promise health shares make is to facilitate the distribution of shares given through the medical cost sharing process. Health shares distribute these monthly Shares on behalf of those Members with Needs.
Can my membership be dropped if I have very high Medical bills?
No. Members cannot be dropped from the membership due to their medical Needs. Neither your membership nor your monthly share is affected by the amount of medical expenses you or any of your family members may have.
How does the health share handle very large medical expenses?
There is no maximum limit to the amount that will be shared by the Community toward a specific medical Need. However, the Need must be within the scope of the “MEMBERSHIP GUIDELINES” before it will be considered eligible for sharing. Health Shares reserves the right to negotiate medical expenses with providers, and to prorate available shares, as necessary, in order to address all Member’s medical expenses.