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Faith-Based Health Insurance In South Carolina
Consumers are choosing faith based health plans over traditional insurance in growing numbers. South Carolina is no exception. South Carolina has seen more exponential growth in the volume of health care sharing plans than
any other state in the country.
Charleston, South Carolina
Faith-based health insurance refers to a method consumers from all walks of life are utilizing to handle the risk of unexpected medical bills. And it's actually a misnomer. in actuality, faith-based health insurance is not insurance at all - at least not in the legal sense of the word. Faith-based health plans, (also known as healthcare sharing plans, alternative health plans, or healthcare sharing ministries), are actually health plans that are designed to meet the same needs as traditional health insurance. The difference is, these plans are not governed by the ACA (Affordable Care Act) rules and regulations. This distinction makes it possible for faith-based health plans to be structured in ways that are different than a traditional ACA plan.
There are several advantages (and a few disadvantages) that are inherent within this distinction. This article will address both.
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Good to know: If you have outstanding medical bills, sometimes, phone calls just don't cut it. In those times, you may have to take a trip to meet with members of your healthcare facility's billing department one-on-one. Often, you will be able to work out a deal by meeting in person that you may not have achieved over the phone. When you go to your meeting, make sure that you give your hospital detailed information of your finances and current medical situation. Often, healthcare providers are willing to work with you to iron out an affordable alternative to traditional payment options. In some cases, you may even be eligible to discounts and other benefits to which you would otherwise not have been given access.
The advent of faith-based / health care sharing plans.Health care sharing /faith based ministries have grown exponentially beyond what anyone could have possibly invisioned, when such ministries were exempted from the Affordable Care Act health plan requirements. At the time, the exemption was a way to sooth objections from conservative leaning congressmen who had reservations on the passage of the ACA. This exempted niche, is now a fast growing segment of the health plan industry. From all appearances, this trend will continue well into the foreseeable future. What was once a fringe idea, limited to devout Evangelicals and rural churches has found acceptance with a wide swath of the American populous.
How do faith-based plans work?
To put it simply, healthcare sharing is about like-minded people voluntarily coming together to share the burden of medical expenses. Healthcare sharing plans are typically faith-based, meaning the core concepts are based upon religious beliefs. However, in most cases, consumers do not need to be affiliated with any religious group, or be religious at all, in order to purchase a faith-based health plan.
Usually, funds to pay medical bills are dispersed within the same community that the members reside. in other words, membership dues collected from plan members living in South Carolina will be used to pay for medical costs that arise within the state of South Carolina.
Good to know: Just because a hospital or office is "in-network" doesn't mean all its doctors are. Think you're covered because you took the time to make sure your hospital or doctor's office was approved as being in your network? Think again. It's just not that simple. Individual providers, labs, tests, specialists, and others that work within the facility may still be out of network. Yes, exasperating, but true. It's tedious but important to, when possible, ask everyone involved in your treatment if they are an "in network" provider.
Faith-based plans, (also known as health care sharing plans, alternative health plans, or health care sharing ministries), are designed to accomplish the same fundamental goals as traditional health insurance:- Help people maintain good health by offsetting the costs of health care access.
- Assist people with the cost of medical bills.
- Protect people from catastrophic financial loss due to major medical expenses.
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| Medical University of South Carolina 171 Ashley Ave Charleston, SC 29425 Telephone: (843) 792-1414 Plus Code: Q2MX+PP Charleston, South Carolina |
The mechanics.
In South Carolina, the workings of faith-based health plans offered by various entities are quite similar. Each month all the members pay a set contribution or "share" amount. This contribution is based on the health plan style they have purchased. Other factors that may contribute to what the contribution will be are age, gender, and health history. Contributions are placed into a pool and managed by the healthcare sharing company. The funds are shared with members who have immediate medical bills, according to their chosen plan and company guidelines.
Advantages of Faith-Based Healthcare Sharing Plans.
Because Faith based health plans do not fall under Affordable Care Act regulations, there is enormous flexibility in plan structure. This is one of the factors that contribute to a lower monthly premium, when compared to a traditional health insurance plan with similar benefits. Another contributing factor to lower premiums is the comparative lack of bureaucracy within entities that offer faith-based health plans. Insurance companies in America have had over a century to build up a virtual mountain of bureaucracy. This stifling excess is invariably passed on to the consumer, in the form of high plan premiums.
Also, the lack of bureaucracy, translates into your physician, medical facility, or hospital being paid much more quickly for services provided. Consequently, medical providers generally like health care sharing plans.
Good to know: Check medical bills for errors. Medical billing errors happen a lot more than you would think. Oddly, these errors almost always benefit the hospital or medical facility. Make sure that you receive an itemized bill in the mail. These bills delineate in detail the charges you incurred for each of your medical procedures. In this regard, they contain greater utility than the explanation of benefits (EOB) you generally receive in the mail. If your medical bill omits key information regarding charges incurred, contact your healthcare facility and ask for an itemized bill.
Once you have received this bill, review it carefully. Did you actually receive every procedure listed? If so, is the cost what you were promised beforehand? Additionally, look out for billing errors when it comes to pharmaceuticals. Often, healthcare billers make the mistake of charging individuals for name-brand drugs instead of generic drugs.
DisadvantagesOne big selling point of an ACA backed plan is you cannot be declined coverage due to health issues. Medical cost sharing plan companies can choose to decline coverage to any individual due to medical issues or history. Also, certain ACA plan benefits and protections are mandated by law. Some benefits, like maternity, for example, may be very important to you. Your faith-based plan may not offer it.
There are also lifetime maximum benefit limitations with most any faith-based health plan. ACA plans have no such limitation.
For these reasons, faith based healthcare sharing plans are not the perfect alternative healthcare plan solution for everyone. Whether or not a cost sharing plan makes good sense, depends upon your medical and financial circumstance. Be certain to understand benefits and limitations thoroughly, before purchasing any faith-based , or traditional health insurance plan.
For more information on Faith-Based / health care sharing ministries, please contact us directly.
Other articles:
Alternatives To Obamacare Health Insurance.
5 Strategies For Reducing Medical Bills.
Resources
Outside Resources:
3 Steps To Finding Affordable Health Insurance In Duncan, South Carolina
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