c. 2006 Religion & Ethics Newsweekly
REMINGTON, Va. _ With health care costs spiraling and some 46 million Americans without medical insurance, a number of evangelical Christian organizations have been created to promote the voluntary sharing of medical costs.
“According to the Bible,” said Dennis Reitz of Remington, “we’re to be bearing one another’s burdens. You know, sharing each other’s times of troubles in life, whatever that may be.
“And Samaritan Ministries was a way that allowed us to do that,” he told the PBS program “Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly,” “so it was the concept of the program itself that attracted us initially, but then the cost was much less than what we were paying” for traditional insurance.
For Reitz that burden is not inconsiderable. He spent 38 days in the hospital being treated for leukemia _ costs that were covered by his participation in Samaritan Ministries.
Samaritan Ministries is one of several evangelical health sharing plans gaining a toehold on what was once the exclusive territory of insurance companies. But these are not insurance companies, and there are no guarantees that subscribers’ medical bills will be paid.
Still, the nonprofit ministries have gathered tens of thousands of subscribers _ and some critics. But not in the Reitz household.
He said that “up to this point, in the medical incidents that we had, we have basically had nothing out of pocket to pay.”
The Mennonite family gave up their Blue Cross and Blue Shield coverage nine years ago for the Samaritan Ministries program. They pay about a third as much _ $225 a month. The plan has covered two births, maternity care and a cast for their daughter’s broken leg.
A similar program, Christian Brotherhood Newsletter Ministry, is typical of the way many of the health care sharing organizations operate.
It collects monthly dues from its members, and then sends money directly to subscribers who then pay their medical providers. Only contributions above and beyond the monthly dues and administration costs are tax-deductible.
“Our purpose is to address the medical needs of the people who are members of this ministry and to do it in a way that brings a glory to God’s name,” said the Rev. Howard Russell, executive director of the ministry.
To become member, people must sign a statement saying they are Christian and live a biblical lifestyle. That includes no homosexual activity, no illicit drugs and no extramarital affairs.
Reitz said the pledge also includes a commitment to a healthy lifestyle such as “no tobacco use” and “some use of alcohol but just at a very controlled level.”
“Also,” Reitz’s wife, Carna, adds, “they do ask that you go to church _ I believe it is three Sundays out of four. And the pastor needs to sign that we do attend.”
There are other restrictions, as well.
Most plans do not cover abortions unless the life of the mother is at risk. There is no HIV coverage if it is acquired in a way contrary to Christian principles. Alternative treatments are not covered. Nor, in plans like Christian Brotherhood, are many pre-existing medical conditions, routine doctor visits and routine prescriptions. Basically they cover only emergency treatments, hospital stays and surgery. And there is a $125,000 maximum per-illness benefit.
Mila Kofman, an associate professor at the Health Policy Institute at Georgetown University, said the plans can keep their monthly dues low because they cover only healthy people.
“They have a very stringent screening process,” Kofman said. “I also think they cost less because they don’t pay for everything you may need medically. There are very high deductibles.”
But Reitz said he has found it’s been more complete coverage.
“We have more of our financial needs met as a result of being part of Samaritan Ministries than we did when we were part of Blue Cross Blue Shield,” he said.
Many participants say prayer is a factor. Reitz said he believes his leukemia is in remission more because of the prayers he’s received in the mail than because of the money.
“My doctors even said so in the hospital,” he said. “There were times that my progress happened in such a way that they could not explain in any other way.
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At Christian Brotherhood the staff meets regularly to pray for the health of subscribers.
“We aren’t looking at the bottom line,” Russell said. “We are not looking at dividends to stockholders. We are not looking to buy a corporate jet. We are not building a steel and glass skyscraper. Our purpose is to pay medical bills for our members.”
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Critics worry that because the health sharing plans are not regulated as insurance companies and because there is little or no oversight, people who join run the risk of becoming victims of fraud and abuse.
“My concern with these programs is that they are not regulated, they are not accountable to anyone,” Kofman said. “No one knows how much money they are collecting. No one knows how much of that money they are spending on people’s medical bills.
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And it has happened.
Christian Brotherhood’s Russell was brought in to replace the Rev. Bruce Hawthorne, the founder of the ministry, after it was discovered that Hawthorne misused millions of dollars to maintain an extravagant lifestyle.
“I was appalled. I was disappointed,” said Russell. “I knew him, he was a friend. There were thousands of people across this country who were depending on this ministry. They didn’t know what was happening.”
Russell said he has fixed the problem with internal controls, checks and balances, and an independent board. He said although Christian Brotherhood is not regulated as an insurance company, it is regulated as a charity.”
But Kofman said that just means they don’t have to pay income taxes. “It’s not really regulation,” she said.
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“As prices for real comprehensive health insurance continue to rise, everyone becomes more desperate and everyone looks for alternatives,” she said. “This is certainly an alternative. I just happen to think it’s a bad one.”
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Russell said when he took over, the Brotherhood was $27 million in debt and now it is less than $2 million in debt. Over the last 15 years, he claims, the organization has paid over $450 million in medical bills.
“That’s pretty good testimony that we can do it and it can work,” he said. “So as the news gets out I do see a lot of growth, and I think it’s important to us to be able to say as a practice of faith to the Christian community, `This is available to help you.”’
Kofman, however, calls such an attitude “blind” faith.
“There’s no reason why they shouldn’t be regulated. If they’re doing what they say they are doing, then they shouldn’t have any problem getting licensed and consumers participating actually get the protection they deserve.”
KRE/PH END SEVERSON
Editors: To obtain photos of Russell, Reitz and Kofman, go to the RNS Web site at https://religionnews.com. On the lower right, click on “photos,” then search by subject or slug.
A version of this story first appeared on the PBS program “Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly.” This article may be reprinted by RNS clients. Please use the Religion & Ethics Newsweekly credit line.
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