Christian Care Ministry is a not-for-profit organization based in Melbourne, Florida. It was founded by Dr. E John Reinhold in 1993, as a division of the American Evangelistic Association, with the goal of providing what it calls "biblical healthcare solutions" for Christians. The organization's main focus is their family healthcare program, Medi-Share, a medical bill sharing system based on principles from the Bible as outlined in Galatians 6:2. Medi-Share's affordable healthcare plan, that is exempt from the mandate to purchase health insurance under the Individual Mandate of the Affordable Care Act, has attracted many consumers. With a program membership population of 317,576 as of October 2017, Christian Care Ministry currently operates in all US states. Since 1993, members of the organization have shared and discounted medical expenses amounting to more than $2.1 billion. The common thread running through all of Christian Care Ministry's programs is the emphasis on a "healthy Biblical lifestyle". Christian Care Ministry is recognized by the American Heart Association as a Gold Level Fit-Friendly Company. Along with Samaritan Ministries and Christian Healthcare Ministries, Christian Care Ministry represents one of the three largest Christian healthcare sharing ministries in the U.S.
History
Christian Care Ministry began in 1993, when E. John Reinhold, a member of the AEA, decided to formalize the casual medical bill sharing process that existed among some of the association's membership. Working in his garage and home, Dr. Reinhold established guidelines for the sharing of members’ medical bills. That same year, he moved his family to Melbourne, Florida, where Christian Care Ministry is still based today.
Healthcare Bill-Sharing Program
In order to participate in Christian Care Ministry's bill sharing program, members must be Christians who ascribe to the Statement of Faith and are active members of a church community.
Medi-Share
Medi-Share is the main focus of Christian Care Ministry, and has been the primary service of Christian Care Ministry since 1993. It is a Christian healthcare system of medical bill sharing. However, Medi-Share is not insurance, and not all medical conditions are eligible for sharing. Participants pay an AHP toward their own medical costs; expenses beyond this are eligible for sharing among the ministry's membership. As of 2017, Medi-Share has grown to over 300,000 members who share millions of dollars annually to pay one another's medical bills. The central theme of Christian Care Ministry is "connecting and equipping Christians to carry each other’s everyday burdens". The guiding principles of Medi-Share are biblical and based on teachings found in the New Testament, particularly those found in Galatians 6:2, which states: “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
Eligibility
Medi-Share allows members to help each other with medical bills, with the goal of providing a true example of Christian healthcare. However, Medi-Share is not insurance and does not guarantee that the medical costs of its members will be shared. Certain conditions are excluded, particularly those that arise from a lifestyle that does not meet the guidelines of the organization, such as drug or alcohol abuse, or extramarital sex. Many members find that Medi-Share helps them meet their family healthcare needs at a significantly lower cost than health insurance.
Legality
In 2002, Christian Care's Medi-Share bill-sharing program was challenged by some states’ insurance regulators due to its status as a Christian healthcare organization. 43 states have inquired about the legality of the program, and in some cases legal action was taken. A series of court cases in Kentucky resulted from the specific way in which Medi-Share processed members’ shares and disbursed payments. Changes have since been made to the Medi-Share system to bring it into line with state regulations and to maintain the organization's non-insurance status. As of June 25, 2013, the court ruled that Medi-Share was allowed to operate in Kentucky. Medi-Share operates legally in 50 states with state disclosures specific to Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wisconsin.
Exemption from the Affordable Care Act Mandate
Medi-Share program membership numbers have seen an increase which may be related to the Individual Mandate of the Affordable Care Act, which initially required that all individuals in the U.S. have health insurance by 2014 or face tax penalties. This mandate has been since repealed federally, although it still stands in some states that have their own state healthcare exchange. Medi-Share members, like those of other healthcare sharing organizations, are exempt from the Individual Mandate and are not required to purchase health insurance. When healthcare reform was up for debate in 2010, public interest in faith based bill sharing programs like Medi-Share grew by 150 percent. Since the passage of the Affordable Care Act Medi-Share membership rates have risen. Prior to passage of the ACA, annual membership grew at a rate of 10 percent per year. Since the bill's passage, Medi-Share membership is up 15 percent per year.
