Over the last year I’ve had a big flare up of my depression and anxiety. I gave birth to my first child (a beautiful boy!), almost died, subsequently experienced PTSD and have been through hours and hours of various forms of therapy in my recovery, and resumed my role in our new family business. It’s been extremely overwhelming. I certainly don’t need any more on my plate!
As open enrollment for health insurance has a lot of my friends stressed and in a tizzy, I sit by as cool as a cucumber. Paying my medical bills (nearly $400,000 from my maternity care, to childbirth, to 3 weeks in and out of ICU, and recovery care) has been the least of my concerns over the past year. The reason? I don’t have insurance.
Rich in Christ
“What? You don’t have insurance and you aren’t worried about $400,000 worth of medical bills?!!! You must be rich!”
Nope, not rich with money; rich with the body of Christ.
And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. -Acts 2:44, 45
Through a Christian medical sharing organization, Samaritan Ministries, all of our financial needs were met in full. That’s right, in full. I have not paid a cent of our own money for any of our bills. No premium, no deductible. Just a monthly fee paid to other members of the organization – that is, other believers with medical needs of their own. With the full plan for our whole family (no matter if we have one child or eight), we pay $495 a month. If we were on the basic plan, it would much less.
I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need…Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble… Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again.Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:12, 16-20
Loved and Encouraged
Not only are my bills paid, but I’ve received dozens of notes encouraging me in my recovery process, my ability as a new mom, and prayers for continued healing. Some members even sent me gifts!
I have a family member who was recently diagnosed with a chronic disease. After the insurance deductible, they still owed more than their annual income. They set up a GoFundMe account to try to raise the remaining money.
If my husband and I had insurance instead of Samaritan Ministries, we would likely have been completely broke, forced to shut down our business and find unsatisfying jobs just to pay the bills and child care costs. That isn’t even mentioning how my anxiety, which is already something I struggle with enough to have to occasionally medicate, would be through the roof.
When I have a question about a medical bill or my coverage, Instead of navigating a complex phone system menu only to finally get a live person and arguing with the insurance company, I get to talk to a kind staff member who often encourages me and prays for me and my family.
I know this post is slightly off from my normal theme, I am just so incredibly grateful for how my medical needs have been taken care of, I couldn’t help but share. I’m almost as excited about it as I am about Jesus’ sacrifice for the forgiveness of my sins.