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Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM) is a fairly popular alternative to standard health insurance. However, many people find themselves unsure as to whether this is the right choice for them.
In this Christian Healthcare Ministries review, I’ll help you decide whether this is the right healthcare option for you. I’ll take a closer look at my experiences, give you some general information, and answer the questions I had when I first started looking into this health share program.
Let’s dive right in.
About Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM)
Christian Healthcare Ministries, often referred to simply as CHM, is a non-profit alternative to traditional health insurance.
Established in 1981, this health share solution has been serving people for over four decades.
Unlike health insurance, this type of health share program requires users to meet certain Christianity-related requirements to become members. They also need to fulfill certain criteria before they can submit medical bills for reimbursement.
Key Facts About Christian Healthcare Ministries
| Company | Christian Healthcare Ministries |
| Type of Health Share | Religious |
| Founded In | 1981 |
| Headquarters | Barberton, Ohio |
| Website | https://chministries.org/ |
| Health Share 101 Rating | 5/5 (based on 4 reviews) |
The following table discusses what this type of healthcare ministry is and isn’t.
| CHM Is | CHM Isn’t |
| A viable alternative to traditional health insurance | A type of insurance |
| A program where a large pool of people helps to cover each other’s medical expenses. | A viable solution for covering bills related to stable chronic illnesses or conditions. |
| A reimbursement plan for medical expenses over a certain value. | A payment plan for all your medical expenses. |
| Ideal for unexpected medical conditions or incidents. | A great choice for maternity care, unless you’re on the Gold Plan. |
It’s worth noting that this is a voluntary health cost-sharing ministry through which participating Christians work together to share the burden of medical expenses.
Participation is a voluntary expression of Christian faith and does not require a contract. CHM members join the ministry as part of a biblical covenant through which each party works to help the other.
How Does CHM Work?
With a Christian Healthshare like this one, each member sends a predetermined monthly “gift” amount to the ministry.
Members who incur expenses that are eligible for medical bills will submit their bills to CHM along with a few simple forms.
Eligible medical bills are then shared or reimbursed with CHM members – usually by way of a check in the mail to the member.
Overview of CHM Health Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅ Up to $125,000 cost-sharing per incident is possible on the Gold Plan ✅ No annual sharing limits; limits are set per incident instead ✅ No network limitations ✅ Covers costs for maintaining pre-existing conditions ✅ Covers people of retirement age and older | ❌ Many religious requirements to meet ❌ Most plans don’t offer maternity coverage ❌ Doesn’t cover bills for alternative medicine |
Is this Christian Health Insurance?
A lot of people will refer to a health cost-sharing ministry, like Christian Healthcare Ministries, as a type of “Christian Insurance.” It’s important to understand that even though it has this nickname, there is no such thing as “Christian Insurance.” Christian Healthcare Ministries is not an Insurance company, and they do not offer any type of health insurance plan.
Is Christian Healthcare Ministries ACA Compliant?
Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM) is a federally certified exemption to the U.S. Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (the PPACA, more commonly known as Obamacare). As such, CHM is an eligible option under the national healthcare law.
The Affordable Care Act
Since 2019, you are not required to obtain Minimum Essential Coverage under the Affordable Care Act and you will not be penalized for failing to purchase traditional health insurance.
However, there are a few states that have individual state mandates: California, District of Columbia, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
If you live in one of the states mentioned above, you will still need to meet the minimal Health Insurance requirement. For those living in Vermont, there is currently no financial penalty for not having Minimum Essential Coverage.
Christian Healthcare Ministries Review: Eligibility Requirements
While reading through the Christian Healthcare Ministries reviews people have left, I found that they have a relatively stringent set of requirements. They may seem strict to some, but it makes sense since they’re a Christianity-based organization.
While your particular denomination may not believe in the same things as CHM, these are a primary pillar of how this health share operates.
In order to join any of these programs, you must meet the following criteria:
- Attending Christian worship services as often as your health permits.
- You cannot smoke, vape, or use any other form of tobacco or nicotine product.
- You must use alcohol in a Biblical fashion if you partake, I.E., you can’t get drunk.
- You may not use illegal substances or those used for the purpose of getting high.
- You may not practice sexual immorality, as defined by the Bible.
- You must live a life in line with the New Testament and CHM’s Statement of Values.
Christian Healthcare Ministries Review: Share Plans
While compiling information for my Christian Healthcare Ministries reviews, I found that they have three levels of participation; Gold, Silver, and Bronze. Each level offers different levels of health cost sharing support. They also offer a SeniorShare™ plan for individuals of retirement age or older.
Gold
This is the most extensive financial support by sharing medical incidents totaling $1,000 or more (as long as all other Guidelines are met), up to $125,000 per illness.
This program includes:
- Inpatient or outpatient hospital incidents and surgery
- Urgent care
- Independent lab work and radiology
- Maternity
- Physical therapy and home healthcare (up to 45 visits for each type)
- Incident-related doctor’s office visits
- Incident-related prescriptions
- CHM SeniorShare™ gift reduction for eligible members
- Access to telemedicine services
Silver
This program shares medical incidents totaling $2,500 or more (as long as all other Guidelines are met), up to $125,000 per illness.
This program includes:
- Inpatient or outpatient hospital incidents and surgery
- Surgery performed at facilities that meet accepted standards of medical care
- Access to telemedicine services
This program does not include:
- Maternity bills
- Testing and treatment outside of a hospital
- Urgent care facilities
Bronze
This program shares medical incidents totaling $5,000 or more (as long as all other Guidelines are met), up to $125,000 per illness.
This program includes:
- Inpatient or outpatient hospital incidents and surgery
- Surgery performed at facilities that meet accepted standards of medical care
- Access to telemedicine services
This program does not include:
- Maternity bills
- Testing and treatment outside of a hospital
- Urgent care facilities
SeniorShare™
The CHM SeniorShare™ program is specifically designed for older people over the age of 65. It shares medical incidents totaling $500 or more (as long as all other Guidelines are met), up to $125,000 per illness.
This program includes:
- Inpatient or outpatient hospital incidents and surgery
- Urgent care
- Office visits and prescriptions related to medical incidents
The Brother’s Keeper Program
Brother’s Keeper is CHM’s catastrophic bills program. It is your safeguard against catastrophic illness or injury since it enables CHM members to meet medical bills that exceed the $125,000 limit per illness.
Gold level members: Signing up for Brother’s Keeper provides unlimited cost support per illness (diagnosis).
Silver and Bronze members: Signing up for Brother’s Keeper provides an additional $100,000 of cost support. With each Brother’s Keeper annual renewal, participants receive an additional $100,000 of assistance, up to $1 million per illness. It would take ten years to achieve this level of sharing.
Members must be enrolled in Brother’s Keeper prior to experiencing any signs, symptoms, testing, or treatment for sharing of bills over $125,000.
Please note, however, that there is no Brother’s Keeper sharing for congenital conditions or birth defects.
What are the Member’s Annual Personal Responsibility Amounts?
Each level has a different Annual Personal Responsibility (PR). This is the amount that CHM members pay towards their medical bills before CHM will pay for members’ eligible medical bills.
The Gold Level – The Annual Personal Responsibility Amount is $1,000 per incident per unit.
Silver Level – The Annual Personal Responsibility Amount is $2,500 per incident per unit.
Bronze Level – The Annual Personal Responsibility Amount is $5000 per incident per unit.
SeniorShare™ – No Annual Personal Responsibility Amount.
Incident = An incident includes medical treatment or testing that lasts until one of the following events occurs:
- A certain medical condition is cured according to official medical records;
- Treatment is at a routine maintenance routine; or
- You experience 90 days without any kind of treatment for that particular condition. The medical bills incurred from the first test to the last treatment before the doctor releases you to a regular, routine maintenance regimen are considered a single incident. If 90 days pass and you receive no further treatment, any future bills you incur will be considered a separate incident.
How much does Christian Healthcare Ministries Cost?
Each month, CHM members pay “monthly gifts” to the health cost-sharing ministry. This money is used to share medical costs with other CHM members.
The monthly price range is anywhere from $90 to $705. This cost is based on which plan you join, and how many people are on the plan.
There is an additional $22 a month per unit to add “Brother’s Keeper.” Individuals would be one unit ($22/month), Couples would be two units ($44/month), and families with one or more kids would be three units ($66/month).
Source: CHM Program Costs
Does CHM Help with Preventative Sharing?
CHM will share in preventative needs as long as you pay your annual personal responsibility first.
If you are on the Bronze Plan, you would need to pay for all medical bills that are less than $5,000 per incident. If you are in the Gold Plan, you would pay for medical bills that are less than $1,000.
When you look at how much preventative services cost, most of it will not be considered shareable and part of the Annual Personal Responsibility – especially on a lower level like the Silver and Bronze plans.
What about Pre-Existing Conditions? Can I Still Join CHM?
There is a one-year waiting period for most conditions.
For cancer specifically, there is a five-year waiting period before anything relating to it can be considered shareable.
During the waiting period, this means that any medical expenses related to any pre-existing conditions will not be considered eligible medical expenses for sharing with the CHM community.
What are the Maternity Benefits at Christian Healthcare Ministries?
Gold Level Plan
Maternity has a separate Personal Responsibility of $1,500, which can be reduced by $500 if members call CHM within the first 16 weeks of pregnancy.
The CHM member would need to first pay their personal responsibility amount. Maternity benefits are limited to $125,000. If the CHM member is also in the Brother’s Keeper program, then they would have unlimited sharing available to them for eligible medical expenses.
Bronze Level and Silver Level
There is no maternity sharing available to CHM members.
What is the Turnaround Time for Paying Medical Bills?
According to the CHM Guidelines, CHM members should expect it to take 60 days for members’ eligible medical bills to be paid.
Special Considerations Before Joining CHM
A Christian Healthcare Ministries Review would be incomplete without this reminder. As with any health cost-sharing ministry or Health Share, it’s important to understand and remember that CHM is not health insurance.
CHM is a nonprofit cost-sharing ministry and CHM offers an affordable alternative to insurance plans. As a CHM member, you would be considered self-pay patients, and CHM shares in members’ eligible medical bills.
Caps and Limitations
You are capped at $125,000 per illness (not per year but for the illness) unless you pay extra for the Brother’s Keeper program. The Brother’s Keeper program gives you an additional $100,000 of sharing per year you are a member until you are capped at $1 million per illness (which you don’t have until you have been a member for nine years).
However, if you pay for the Gold Level Membership and pay extra for the Brother’s Keeper program, then you will have unlimited sharing available to you immediately (on eligible needs).
You never know if or when catastrophic medical expenses will come. If you are considering joining CHM, I highly recommend the Gold Level with the Brother’s Keeper program (for individuals and families) to allow unlimited sharing for eligible medical bills.
Do I recommend Christian Healthcare Ministries?
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. Health Sharing is a good option for those who are looking to save money and find an affordable alternative to health insurance.
Overall, Christian Healthcare Ministries is a great option for Christians who want to join a health-sharing community of people with the same beliefs. While their membership requirements are strict, the features CHM offers, such as the Brother’s Keepers program, make this health share ministry a valid option.
And if you want to look at some alternatives, I recommend looking at my article on the Best Health Share Plans. You will find which health share plans I recommend to help you in your search for affordable healthcare.
Write a Christian Healthcare Ministries Review
Are you a current or former member of Christian Healthcare Ministries? If you have any experience with Christian Healthcare Ministries, 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!
Left gutted
I thought CHM was great until I had some postpartum issues. Because it didn’t occur when they feel it should have, I was left with over $7,000 in medical bills. It would have been $25,000 if the hospital didn’t help me out. I am canceling my gold membership and am leaving with bitter feelings about them. Everyone, watch out. They only seem to care through their words, not actions.
Peace of Mind
I am so thankful that I found out about CHM. In the past almost 3 years since I’ve been a member, I haven’t had to use it, but it was wonderful peace of mind that if I had a health crisis, it would cover catastrophic medical bills.
Richard Helms
Paid 100% minus my part of my hospital bills. We do not mind the paper work we have to turn in. It’s very easy and simple. Payout time was to our satisfaction. We love this Christian Co for health sharing and continue to recommend to everyone. They are very helpful on the phone with any questions you may have. They really do care.
Our family has been Gold Level w/Brothers Keeper for several yrs now.
Simply the Best!!!
We originally had Medi-Share (Christian Care Ministries) for several years. When we finally needed them they were not there. I was in the hospital for some heart tests and they would not pay a dime of my $6000 bill (all bills total for occurrence but $4000 for just hospital) I’m in Charlotte NC and went to a smaller hospital in Pineville NC that Cardiologists recommended so I could get in quicker for testing than going to Charlotte. Because it was not a huge hospital (but still a hospital) they refused to pay anything!! Our new Insurance guy, through Dave Ramsey, told us about CHM. Thank goodness because a couple years later my husband was in the hospital for high blood pressure that just snuck up on him one day. Terrible terrible headache. Just could not function. His family Dr sent us to ER/Hospital in Harrisburg NC on Christmas Eve. All kinds of tests were ran and he followed up with family Dr for a couple of weeks. EVERYTHING ($26,000) was paid for minus our $500. If we would have still been with Medi-Share they would have paid $0 because it was not a huge hospital.
The staff that helps over the phone is fantastic!!!’ Great Christian Co. Worth more than 5 stars!!!
Great Company, Great Program
I’m actually a health insurance agent, licensed for 13 years and in 9 states. I specialize in Medicare, but also work in the individual health markets as well.
The first thing to know about any of these sharing plans is that they are not insurance. They are not regulated by the state or federal government in the way insurance carriers and plans are. They are not usually under any financial obligation to pay (or share) your medical bills. Instead, it is important to look at plan experience and member reviews. With that background, let me explain my experience with Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM).
Why would an insurance agent opt for a health sharing plan instead of traditional health insurance? Frankly, it came down to cost for me. I felt it would be financially irresponsible to pay $18,000-$21,000 per year in insurance premiums for a plan with a ridiculously high deductible and out-of-pocket maximum. This would be for the most basic Bronze-level plan. I recognized that after one year of premiums plus the deductible, I would be out-of-pocket at least $28,000 before I could access care. And since I’m healthy, even if I didn’t see a doctor all year long, I’d still be out-of-pocket $18,000-$21,000. Is that a wise financial decision?
Although I was extremely skeptical at first, I did enough research to (mostly) satisfy my cautious approach. My wife and I signed up in 2013 with CHM, primarily because of their track record and the fact that with Brother’s Keeper, I could get coverage without any caps.
My experience has been extremely good. They have paid everything I expected them to pay, and then some. They have paid a much higher percentage of my bills than if I had traditional insurance. Most medical providers recognize the health sharing concept although some work with it better than others. For those who don’t bill, we have to pay up front and submit for reimbursement. We always get a cash discount, usually even without asking for it. The only real negative I can think of is that sometimes we have to wait 2-3 months to be reimbursed.
I refer consumers to them often if they don’t qualify for the federal health insurance subsidy. I’m not aware of any of them who have had any major difficulty. I’ve had a few of them call me and thank me for saving them so much money.
Although I’m not paid a commission by CHM, they do have a referral program that pays for one month’s membership. I’ve referred enough people to them that I normally have several free months every year. So yes, I like how they operate. I recommend them to my clients. I estimate that I’ve saved $135,000 in premiums with them over the last 9 years! I know we’re experiencing inflation and all, but $135,000 is still a LOT of money. I give them 4.75 stars, with the .25 discount because of the reimbursement time.
