This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you enroll through my link, I’ll receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
If you are looking for Altrua HealthShare reviews, you have come to the right place.
I will discuss some information about Altrua HealthShare, how it’s different from Health Insurance, how Altrua HealthShare works, the costs, and what’s included with each type of plan at Altrua HealthShare.
About Altrua HealthShare
Altrua HealthShare is a health care sharing ministry, also known as a Health Share. Altrua HealthShare is not an insurance company.
Altrua HealthShare is unique health care sharing ministries because they do not require a pastor, elder or representative from a local church to sign an acknowledgement verifying church attendance or validation of medical needs being submitted to the membership for sharing of eligible medical needs.
As a member of Altrua HealthShare it’s important to live a healthy lifestyle and follow the faith-based requirements.
Is Altrua HealthShare an Insurance Company that offers Health Insurance?
It’s important to know that Altrua HealthShare is not the same thing as an insurance company and they do not offer any type of health insurance plan.
Altrua HealthShare does not provide minimum essential coverage and legally does not guarantee payment like a health insurance company is required to do. Of course, a health insurance plan will not cover every health care expense either.
Altrua HealthShare is a health care sharing ministry. Altrua HealthShare is considered an affordable alternative to health insurance since the main purpose to have help with major medical expenses.
Altrua HealthShare will pay for a member’s eligible need. Altrua members can continue their membership on a month-to-month basis. This means that members can cancel at any time, which gives the Health Sharing community every incentive to take care of their members and pay for eligible bills.
As with any Health Share plan, be sure to go through the membership guidelines to have a better understanding on what is an eligible medical need.
How Does a Health Care Sharing Ministry Work?
With your Altrua HealthShare membership, you would pay, or contribute, a set amount of money each month to the Altrua HealthShare community.
Altrua HealthShare members are self pay patients. When a member has a larger and unexpected medical need, the member would first need to pay a set amount, which is the member’s responsibility before the Altrua HealthShare community pays any medical bills. This is similar, but not the same as, a deductible that you’d have with a Health Insurance plan.
Once the member has paid their responsibility, the Altrua HealthShare would “share” in all eligible medical expenses.
What are the Requirements to Join Altrua HealthShare?
In order to qualify for an Altrua membership, members must agree to the Health Share’s member guidelines and a “Statement of Standards. These standards are based on ethical and religious beliefs, including no sexual relations outside of marriage.
Altrua members must live by these standards in order to have their medical needs eligible for sharing with the Altrua HealthShare community.
What are the Plans at Altrua HealthShare?
There are four different kinds of Altrua HealthShare memberships; Diamond Plan, Emerald Plan, Sapphire Plan, and the Ruby Plan.
Diamond Plan
Altrua HealthShare members on the Diamond Plan are eligible to receive:
- 6 Pooled Office Visits per Member (this means the family has 6 visits total, so if one person needs more visits than another family member of Altrua HealthShare, it can be used).
- Unlimited Telemedicine
- Maternity sharing
- Adoption sharing(not available to Texas residents)
- Cancer Treatment sharing
- Laboratory Services
- No Annual Limit up to the Lifetime Maximum Limit of $2,000,000
Emerald Plan
Altrua HealthShare members on the Emerald Plan are eligible to receive:
- 6 Pooled Office Visits per Member (this means the family has 6 visits total, so if one person needs more visits than another family member of Altrua HealthShare, it can be used).
- Unlimited Telemedicine
- Maternity sharing
- Adoption sharing(not available to Texas residents)
- Cancer Treatment sharing
- Laboratory Services
- No Annual Limit up to the Lifetime Maximum Limit of $1,000,000
Sapphire Plan
Altrua HealthShare members on the Sapphire Plan are eligible to receive:
- 6 Pooled Office Visits per Member
- Unlimited Telemedicine
- Cancer Treatment sharing
- Annual Limit is $250,000
- Lifetime Maximum Limit $1,000,000
Ruby Plan
Altrua HealthShare members on the Ruby Plan are eligible to receive:
- 6 Pooled Office Visits per Member
- Unlimited Telemedicine
- Cancer Treatment sharing
- Annual Limit is $150,000
- Lifetime Maximum Limit $1,000,000
You can read more about the Altrua HealthShare membership guidelines here.
How much does Altrua HealthShare cost?
The monthly contribution price ranges from $136 to $1,145. The monthly contribution amount is based on the household membership, such as how many members are on the plan, their ages, and which plan you choose.
What are the Member Responsibility Amounts?
Altrua HealthShare members are responsible for a financial portion of eligible medical needs. This is called the Member Responsibility Amounts, also known as the MRA.
1st MRA
The member’s first responsibility amount before the membership shares in eligible needs (any amount not related to office visits, wellness visits, sick visits, check-ups, follow-up visits, etc.).
2nd MRA
The percentage members are responsible for, after the 1st MRA is met, and before the membership shares in eligible needs. The membership shares simultaneously in eligible needs as the member’s 2nd MRA is being met.
What is the Member Responsibility Amounts for each Plan?
For the first MRA: It is $500 (Diamond Plan), $1000 (Emerald Plan), $1500 (Sapphire Plan), or $7500 (Ruby Plan).
For the second MRA: If the member is on the Ruby Plan, the member is responsible for 50% of the next $10,000 per member ($5,000 maximum) if the licensed medical professional/facility is non-affiliated.
If the member is on the Sapphire, Emerald, or Diamond Plan, the member is responsible for a maximum of $2,500 to the licensed medical professional/facility (maximum of $5,000 if Medicare Plus 25% isn’t accepted and licensed medical professional/facility is non-affiliated).
Source: Altrua HealthShare How it Works
What about Preventative Sharing?
All plans now have 6 Pooled Office Visits available per Member.
For the Diamond and Emerald Plans: Up to $300 is shared on the member’s behalf per visit after $35 office visit MRA. Visits are per member, per calendar year and are pooled. Households combine their individual office visit allotment so that unused office visits of one household member can be used by another household member if needed.
For the Sapphire and Ruby Plans: Members submit the full or discounted charges of the eligible medical need to the licensed medical professional and the membership allows up to $300 of charges per visit to be applied to the 1st then 2nd MRA. Visits are per member, per calendar year and are pooled.
What about Pre Existing Conditions?
Altrua HealthShare has a 2-5 year waiting period, depending on what the pre-existing condition is.
The waiting period means that any medical expenses that is related to your pre existing condition will not be considered for eligible needs.
What about Maternity Benefits?
Altrua HealthShare members must be married in order to have maternity and newborn needs shared.
The lower cost plans (Ruby and Sapphire) do not share in any maternity needs.
Whether you are on the Emerald or Diamond plan, the Altrua HealthShare member would need to pay a $5,000 member responsibility amount for maternity needs.
Turnaround Time for Paying Medical Bills
Altrua HealthShare are expected to take care of members medical expenses within 30-45 business days.
Considerations
Altrua HealthShare is a health care sharing ministry that pays for eligible medical needs for Altrua members.
Do not expect that it will work the same as an insurance company. I think for most of us that are done buying health insurance, we know this, but sometimes inaccurate expectations for what a health sharing really is
Cost
In order to keep your Altrua HealthShare membership and remain eligible for health sharing, members pay their monthly contributions and any member responsibility amounts when medical bills occur.
I think it’s important to do a price comparison on how much you would pay for the year if nothing happens and if something happens (worst case scenario). Look at what your costs would be as a member of Altrua HealthShare, other health sharing plans, or even health insurance.
In addition to looking at the monthly costs and out of pocket expenses when medical bills come, how much sharing is available to you?
Sharing Limitations
At Altrua HealthShare, there are lifetime sharing limits of $2 million per member for medical needs.
Before you join any Health Share, be sure to check out their membership guidelines to have a better understanding on what is qualified as eligible medical needs.
Do I recommend Altrua HealthShare?
I really want to help people find a great health share that cares about providing good customer service and financial relief when large and unexpected medical bills come their way.
However, based on the Altrua HealthShare reviews on this website (see below), I am a bit concerned about the Altrua membership experience. I also realize that people are having great experiences with them, and I hope that we can get some more positive reviews so people can see both experiences.
Health Sharing is still a good option for those who are looking to save money and find an affordable alternative to health insurance.
I recommend looking at my article on the Best Health Share Plans. You will find which health share plans I recommend to help you on your search for affordable healthcare.
Write an Altrua HealthShare Review
Are you a current or former member of Altrua HealthShare? If you have any experience with Altrua HealthShare, please write a review! Reading other people’s Health Share experiences is a huge when trying to make a decision about which Health Share to join. In fact, over 90% of people will read online reviews before they buy a product or service! Please consider writing a review!
Terrible organization. Dont trust the Christian Advertising
Terrible organization. Unethical and hard to work with. They mistreat providers and clients by underpaying, having everyone jump through hoops, and then not paying what they say they will. I don’t know how they are still in business. Was with them for years, and I regret ever signing up.
Needs to be a zero option
Altrua is terrible. They don’t even deserve a 1/5. We were members for years and their ambiguity and deceitfulness is beyond words. In most recent events, our son broke his arm and Altrua has manipulated, lied, avoided, and ignored our coverage leaving us exposed to a hospital and their collections department. We have paid the MRA in full plus a thousand dollars extra and Altrua still is avoiding their responsibility. Altrua staff play dumb by telling us they lost files or didn’t receive files. They claim to be making payment to the hospital and suddenly checks are lost in transit. This is not a Christian or a reputable business. This is a clown show. We have the most expensive plan you can buy at around 900 monthly and it gets you nothing but stress and neglect. My wife has been spending hundreds of hours talking to Altrua team who all claim docs are missing or have no knowledge. It’s like dealing with idiots and unprofessional jokesters daily. They blame everyone but themselves. They offer no support. Every answer is ambiguous. Anyone that uses them needs to know that your premiums are going up in smoke. You get nothing but abuse and headaches for your monthly premium. This isn’t a health share. It’s a scam where you pay and trust and find out you have zero coverage and support. I know that this isn’t insurance, in fact, it’s nothing. We have full coverage insurance for $1150 when Altrua was $900. I’m saddened when I hear family life radio promote them as a key sponsor. Tell everyone to Run away from Altrua!!!
This company is a scam!!!!
I would give this company a 0 star rating!
They lie routinely and use any excuse they can to not pay a cent of your healthcare costs.They will leave you hanging with the bill!They scammed me for a $3000 medical bill and repeatedly lied to me about it!
They use the word Christian to lure unsuspecting people into this huge scam!!
Interim health coverage for emergencies while in between jobs.
I am a Physician who is looking for interim health coverage for emergencies while in between jobs. Altrua is not insurance, but is a health share company. I appreciated how thorough their website is in detailing their coverage. Mr. Lane Morris also was very helpful in explaining the best way to use the service and the limitations of coverage. My wife and I have not yet used their service, but can tell you that the enrollment process was easy and smooth. I look forward to being a member during my time without traditional insurance coverage!
Don’t do it.
The member guidelines on the website are hard to navigate and understand once you find them. Half of the guidelines don’t apply to your plan. There are no guidelines stating exactly what is covered. When you do file a claim, nothing is “eligible for coverage”.
Run, do NOT use. RIP OFF
We have had this for about 18 months. I had surgery for my heart, and it took over 6 months to get reimbursed. With MANY headaches. My wife crashed and needed surgery, last June. Still not reimbursed. MANY phone calls. The supervisors will not call back. This program will make you SICK!
Poor insurance
This is poor insurance I have called and emailed and sent a overnight written cancellation and they are still trying to charge me
Response from Health Share 101
Hi Kathy,
Just a friendly reminder that Altrua HealthShare is an alternative to health insurance (so it’s not insurance at all).
Thank you,
Holly
HealthShare101.com
Awful customer service
Leaving a review for the customer service assistant Steven. Was absolutely awful, went to cancel my plan, as I have another one im trying to get on and Steven proceeded to argue with me insult me, and continuously repeated that I had no clue what I was doing, which in fairness is true but is none of his business whatsoever. He proceeded to hang up on me leaving me with a “good luck”…. Nick who set up my plan was great and helpful, but both times I’ve spoken to Steven It felt demeaning. Even told him I felt insulted in which he responded with you should “you sound like you know what your doing” in response I told him “and you seem like a great customer service rep” is n which his response was “I am” 😂 horrible.
