Medical Sharing Options
The current health care crisis has hit Catholics particularly
hard. Everyone has suffered from the
steep rate increases, but Mr. Obama’s HHS mandate has targeted pro-lifers, and
especially Catholics. The good news is
that, though we were unable to secure a repeal of the entire Obamacare law,
much of its implementation is being whittled away; and we continue to fight the
mandate in court.
Still, many people have been looking for an alternative to
traditional health insurance. Medical
sharing plans have become an option for some people. I had explored a handful of companies a year
ago but found that almost all required participants to sign a statement of
faith that was specifically Protestant, and which I could not assent to. The announcement of Solidarity Health Share,
a Catholic medical sharing plan, was greatly welcomed. However, its creation has seemingly stalled.
Recently I have been hearing advertisements for Medi-Share,
from Christian Care Ministry, on Immaculate Heart Radio. It makes sense that discouraged Catholics
would be good potential members, but I was surprised to hear them advertising
on Catholic radio since I had checked it out a year ago and the statement of
faith was not one that a Catholic could sign with integrity.
However, I checked again and saw that the statement has been
adjusted so that it is still very agreeable to Protestants, but is not so
exclusionary of Catholics. (You can see
how you interpret the
statement.) Clearly, the company is
opening its doors to Catholics and trying to create an environment in which we can
feel comfortable.
As of yet, I do not have the personal experience with medical
sharing plans that would allow me to recommend them (do your research), but it
is very nice knowing there are more options out there.
