It's almost time for health insurance open enrollment again. For many families, that means sorting through premiums, deductibles, coverage options, and rising healthcare costs. But what if you didn't have to wait for open enrollment to explore a different approach?
Traditional health insurance isn't the only option available to Christians. Health cost-sharing ministries offer an alternative rooted in biblical community, mutual support, and financial stewardship.
Lauren Gajdek, Senior Director of External Affairs at Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM), joined us today to explain how this approach works and why more Christians are exploring it.
Why Healthcare Decisions Feel So Overwhelming
Choosing healthcare coverage can be one of a family's most stressful financial decisions. Between monthly premiums, out-of-pocket expenses, and uncertainty about future medical needs, it's easy to feel overwhelmed.
And those feelings are widespread. According to a recent survey from KFF, a healthcare policy research organization, Americans who enrolled in Marketplace coverage reported significant frustration with the process:
- 63% said evaluating their options made them feel worried.
- 52% said they felt angry.
- 46% said they felt confused.
These numbers show how challenging it can be to navigate healthcare decisions, especially when families try to balance quality care with responsible financial stewardship. But as Lauren explained, Christians have another option.
What Is Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM)?
Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM) is the nation's longest-serving health cost-sharing ministry, having served Christians since 1981.
Unlike traditional insurance, CHM operates through a voluntary community of believers who contribute monthly to help share one another's eligible medical expenses.
Rather than paying premiums to an insurance company, members participate in a ministry designed around Christians helping Christians. This approach reflects the biblical principle in Galatians 6:2:
"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."
Of course, CHM is not insurance, and it differs in important ways. Sharing is subject to the ministry's guidelines, and payment of medical expenses is not guaranteed. Members remain responsible for their medical bills. That's why it's essential to understand the program's eligibility requirements, limitations, and sharing process before joining.
Still, for many Christian families, health cost sharing provides an opportunity to approach healthcare expenses through the lens of faith and community.
You Don't Have to Wait for Open Enrollment
One of the most appealing distinctions between CHM and traditional health insurance is that CHM doesn't have a limited open enrollment period.
With conventional health insurance, individuals often must enroll or make changes during designated periods unless they experience a qualifying life event.
CHM operates differently. Because it isn't an insurance company, individuals and families can apply for membership year-round.
That flexibility means you don't have to make a rushed decision during the traditional open enrollment season. You can take time to explore your options, understand the guidelines, and determine whether health cost sharing fits your family's circumstances.
As Lauren explained, you don't have to limit your consideration of a different approach to healthcare to a particular time of year.
Why More Christians Are Exploring Health Cost Sharing
Interest in healthcare alternatives continues to grow, and CHM is seeing that interest firsthand. Lauren shared that CHM received more than 6,600 new applications through its marketing efforts during the second quarter, an 8% increase from the previous year.
She also noted that more than 80% of CHM website visitors were new. Those numbers suggest that many Christians who have never considered health cost sharing are beginning to explore alternatives to traditional insurance.
Affordability is certainly one consideration. As healthcare expenses put increasing pressure on household budgets, families are looking for ways to manage those costs responsibly. But Lauren believes there's something more behind the interest.
For Christians, healthcare decisions aren't exclusively financial. They can also reflect our desire to care for others and participate in a community that shares one another's burdens.
CHM offers a model centered on those convictions, bringing together believers who voluntarily help meet one another's eligible medical needs.
Making a Wise Healthcare Decision
Healthcare is one of the most important areas of financial stewardship, and there's no single solution that's right for every family. Whether you're considering traditional insurance or a health cost-sharing ministry, take time to understand your options.
Consider your family's medical needs, monthly costs, potential out-of-pocket expenses, and how different arrangements handle unexpected healthcare bills. If you're exploring CHM, pay particular attention to its sharing guidelines, pre-existing condition policies, and expenses that aren't eligible for sharing.
The goal isn't simply to find the lowest monthly payment. It's to make a thoughtful decision that balances your family's healthcare needs with wise stewardship of the resources God has entrusted to you.
And for Christians interested in a community-based approach to managing medical expenses, CHM may be worth exploring. The good news is that you don't have to wait for open enrollment to consider your options.
To learn more about how Christian Healthcare Ministries works, explore membership options, and determine whether health cost sharing might be right for your family, visit FaithFi.com/CHM.
On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:
- My husband and I have both Trump accounts and 529 plans for our grandchildren, ages 7 and 11. Which accounts should we prioritize, and should the Trump accounts be invested more aggressively because of their long time horizon?
- I’m nearly 71 and want to buy a home before selling my current one. Would it be better to sell investments and pay capital gains tax, or take out a mortgage and pay it off once my current home sells?
- We need home repairs, and my father-in-law has offered to withdraw money from his retirement account and lend it to us. We’d help cover the taxes on his withdrawal. Would that be wiser than taking out a loan ourselves?
Resources Mentioned:
Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every weekday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God’s resources.
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