Christian Healthcare Sharing Ministries vs. Advocacy: What’s the Difference?

You’ve seen the ads for Christian Healthcare Sharing Ministries. They promise a community-focused way to handle medical bills without the "corporate" feel of big insurance. Many of my friends in the church use them and love the sense of brotherhood. But there is a massive, expensive gap in most sharing plans: Prescriptions.

If you are on a sharing plan and realize your "share" doesn't cover your $800 monthly insulin or your $1,200 Wegovy, you need a second layer of protection.

How Sharing Ministries Work

Health Care Sharing Ministries (HCSMs) are not insurance. They are groups of people who pool their money to pay for each other's "eligible" medical needs. They are great for catastrophic events like a car accident or a surgery.

However, because they are not bound by the Affordable Care Act, they often have strict limits on what they will "share" for chronic, ongoing medications. You are often left paying the full retail price at the pharmacy.

How Advocacy Bridges the Gap

This is where we come in. We aren't a sharing ministry, and we aren't insurance. We are advocates. While your sharing plan handles the "big stuff," we handle the "monthly stuff."

We don't ask the ministry to pay for your meds. Instead, we go directly to the drug manufacturers and enroll you in their Patient Assistance Programs.

Practical Stewardship

Being a good steward means having a complete plan. Relying on a sharing ministry for your doctor visits and using Healthy Hope for your $40/mo prescriptions is the smartest way to manage your household budget. It’s about being "wise as a serpent" with the resources God has given you.

Pair your sharing plan with our $40/mo advocacy. Check eligibility.