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CrowdHealth has become a popular choice for people looking for a health insurance alternative. But is it the best option around?
In this post, I am going to review monthly costs (range is dependent on age, individual/family memberships, and the Initial Unshareable Amount), preventative sharing, pre-existing conditions, maternity, turnaround time to pay medical bills, and any special considerations to be aware of.
Armed with that knowledge, you’ll be able to decide whether joining CrowdHealth is right for you or whether it might be better for you to look for an alternative.
Let’s see what CrowdHealth has to offer and how it compares to health share plans!
About CrowdHealth
CrowdHealth is a fairly new company that started towards the end of 2021. However, despite its relatively short age, its community already has over 6,000 members, with new ones joining every day.
At first glance, they operate in the same way as health share companies, with members reimbursing each other medical bills and healthcare expenses.
The important thing to know, however, is that CrowdHealth is not a Health Share.
CrowdHealth is a for-profit company that has created a new way for people to share each other’s medical expenses, using a crowdfunding model to pay medical bills in the community.
They are transparent about their pricing and state that 100% of the member’s contribution goes towards the community, but members are paying an additional $25 fee per person that goes towards administrative costs (the $25 fee is included in the quoted amount).
Key Facts about CrowdHealth
Company | CrowdHealth |
Type of Company | Crowdfunding Platform |
Founded In | 2021 |
Headquarters | Austin, Texas |
Website | joincrowdhealth.com |
Health Share 101 Rating | 5/5 (based on 2 reviews) |
CrowdHealth vs. Traditional Health Shares
As stated, although it operates in a similar way, CrowdHealth isn’t a health share company. Here’s a breakdown of how CrowdHealth differs from traditional health share companies and ministries:
CrowdHealth | Health Shares | |
Operational Model | Crowdfunding platform | Health care sharing ministries |
Fund Collection | Members voluntarily contribute to crowdfunding requests, with a “Generosity Score” influencing future contributions | Members are required to contribute regularly, with participation contingent on contributions |
Payment Timing | Crowdfunds expenses before procedures to cover costs upfront | Often requires members to pay large bills upfront and get reimbursed later |
Wellness Visits | Crowdfunds one primary care, pediatric, or OBGYN visit per member per year, plus basic labs | Generally does not fund wellness visits |
Care Support | Provides a personal Care Advocate for guidance and support | Typically leaves members to navigate the system on their own |
Bill Negotiation | Negotiates health bills for members to obtain better rates | Members often need to negotiate bills themselves |
Funding Limits | No maximum limit on crowdfunded bills (except for preexisting conditions) | Usually has maximum limits on health care needs (e.g., $250,000 per year or $1M lifetime) |
Legal Status | For-profit organization | Non-profit organizations |
Faith-Based | Not faith-based | Usually faith-based |
Membership Requirements | No common religious beliefs, but a shared belief in finding high-quality, fairly priced healthcare | Members must have a common set of ethical or religious beliefs |
How Does CrowdHealth Work?
CrowdHealth operates on a very straightforward, monthly subscription basis. Members pay $50 each month for their subscription, which grants them access to healthcare tools, resources, and a dedicated team of Personal Care Advocates.
From there, each month, you’ll assist other members with their healthcare expenses and medical bills. You’re allowed to freely choose which requests you want to contribute to, with each fulfilled request building your Generosity Score.
The higher it is, the more likely you are to have your future requests funded, with other members seeing you as an integral part of the community.
Monthly Contribution Price Range
How much you pay each month depends on several factors, primarily your age and the number of subscribers in the plan. In most instances, the monthly contribution price ranges from $175 to $695.
If you have 9 or more in your family, there are additional fees for the additional members on the plan. That information is not on their website, and it looks like you would have to contact the company for a personalized quote.
The per-member contributions you see are monthly maximums. If you and the CrowdHealth Community spend less in a given month, your contribution can be lower than these numbers. These contributions are also voluntary and there’s no required monthly contribution as usually in the case of health share plans.
When you make healthy and smart spending choices, you and the whole Member Community benefit.
Member Responsibility Amounts
Members have a $500 Member Commitment, which is the amount paid by the member per unique health event before expenses are eligible for funding by the community.
Maternity care has a unique Member Commitment of $5,000.
Member Requirements
Although CrowdHealth claims to be much more open than health share ministries, it does have several requirements potential members must meet to join the community.
First and foremost, the CrowdHealth community does not accept tobacco users (which is defined as daily use for a period of 3 or more months – past or present). Secondly, they don’t accept those who are considered to be overweight (260 pounds for a female or 300 pounds for a male).
On the other hand, CrowdHealth is completely non-religious, accepting people of all faiths and beliefs. This is one of their main selling points and key reasons why so many are considering it as an alternative to health share ministries that typically require their members to meet strict religion-based requirements.
Preventative Sharing
One of the key advantages CrowdHealth has over traditional health shares is the possibility of the community funding wellness visits. Members receive one annual wellness visit per year, including routine lab work.
Pre-Existing Conditions
For pre-existing health conditions, you are responsible for all costs associated with the condition(s) in the first year.
The CrowdHealth Community will contribute up to $25,000 to bills related to pre-existing condition(s) in the second year, $50,000 in the third, and $100,000 in each year after.
Prescriptions are subject to the annual pre-existing condition maximums outlined above.
Maternity
Maternity care has a unique Member Commitment of $5,000.
Medical expenses for childbirth that have an expected delivery date within the first 12 months of membership are not shareable.
Normal vaginal deliveries and emergency Cesarean section deliveries have a total Initial Unshareable Amount (IUA) of $5,000. Non-emergency/elective Cesarean section deliveries have a total IUA of $7,500. The standard IUA levels of $500 – $5,000 do not apply for Maternity Needs.
Turnaround Time for Paying Medical Bills
A typical turnaround time for CrowdHealth paying medical bills is 5-10 days from the moment you request funding.
The whole crowdfunding process is very efficient and straightforward, which allows CrowdHealth to quickly collect all contributions and pay for requested expenses.
As soon as the crowdfunding is finished, the company will notify you that your request has been funded and then handle the final transfer. All you have to do is request funding and wait!
CrowdHealth’s Pros & Cons
Pros | Cons |
✅ No strict membership requirements common in health share ministries ✅ Voluntary monthly contributions ✅ Accepts members with pre-existing conditions ✅ Fast turnaround time for paying medical bills (5-10 days) ✅ No religious requirements ✅ Can help fund wellness visits ✅ A massive range of resources Access to a dedicated team of Personal Care Advocates | ❌ Doesn’t accept obese people ❌ High maternity member responsibility amount ❌ The app isn’t necessarily user-friendly ❌ Some members complain about the billing system |
Is Crowd Health Right for You? Key Considerations
Overall, I think CrowdHealth is an excellent option for those seeking a solid alternative to traditional health insurance and those who don’t necessarily meet stricter requirements imposed by health share ministries.
I’ve read a lot of great stuff about the company, and based on my research, these praises seem well-deserved.
Their crowdfunding model clearly works, offering fast turnaround times despite monthly contributions being voluntary. This means that their growing community cares about each other, and that’s what such plans should be all about.
On the other hand, CrowdHealth is still a new company. This isn’t a bad thing, but something to consider before joining. I’ve also read some complaints about their billing system and funding not being always transparent.
All in all, though, it’s definitely an option to consider when looking for health insurance or a religious health share alternative. And if you’re still not sure whether CrowdHealth is the right fit for you, be sure to check out my guide to the best health share plans, including non-religious ones.
Write a CrowdHealth Review
Are you a current or former member of CrowdHealth? If you have any experience with CrowdHealth, please write a review! Reading other people’s experiences is a huge when trying to make a decision about which company to join. In fact, over 90% of people will read online reviews before they buy a product or service! Please consider writing a review!
CrowdHealth is Amazing!
I have been a member of CrowdHealth since Nov. 2021. Since then I have participated in their coverage of the Annual Physical and I have had a major surgery (Knee Replacement). I am getting ready to have my other knee replaced at the end of this month. I only paid $500 to be able to have my knee replaced (as well as paying my regular monthly $176)! Because CrowdHealth found a private surgery clinic that was only an hour away from my house… I never had any more bills to handle. The only thing I had to deal with was my physical therapy afterward, which was reimbursed in full. Their Care Advocates are excellent and will help you find the best possible care. They work with many networks to find the best cash price available in your area for anything you need… even if you won’t be meeting that $500 commitment. I highly recommend CrownHealth… They have changed my life!
A smarter approach to healthcare for the self-employed
As a self-employed person, traditional insurance simply was not working for our family of 4. Crowdhealth’s innovative new crowdfunding approach has saved thousands for us and simplified our healthcare experience.
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