So many people I talk to explain to me that they must keep their job because health insurance is too high.

Well, that's not exactly true.

Yes, traditional health insurance is high, but there are others that many people are not aware of.

There are programs that have been in existence for many years that serve the purpose of insuring families that are not maintained by insurance companies.

Brotherhood Programs

They are called Brotherhood programs.

Through the years, my family has belonged to a few of them and always found them to be just as accommodating as regular insurance.

In fact, when my husband worked for Amoco Chemical Company in Decatur, Alabama years ago, he didn't take the company insurance because ours was cheaper.

And they are good about paying on things conservative parents believe in, like midwives.

From their website:

"Simply put, health care sharing is a Biblical approach to paying for health care, based on passages such as Galatians 6. Verse two says, 'Bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.' That law is the royal law of loving one another."

Here's How They Work

From their website:

"Each member commits to sending a set 'Share' amount each month. These 'Shares' are sent directly through the mail from one household to another, to the members with 'Needs.' Samaritan Ministries uses a database that randomly matches Shares to Needs, so that the Sharing is coordinated and Shares go to the appropriate members with Needs."

For the past few years, our share for a two-parent family has usually been around $368 per month.

For Needs Over $250,000

From their website: "Save to Share™ is a ministry of Samaritan Ministries for those who wish to share in the medical needs of other members that exceed the $250,000 publishable amount. Save to Share™ members are asked to set aside a designated amount for their household size. (They do not send the amount set aside to Samaritan Ministries.)

"When a Save to Share™ participant has a need that exceeds the $250,000 maximum publishable amount of a regular need, the other Save to Share™ participants will be asked to share from their set aside funds for the amount over $250,000."

Extra Giving for Items Not Covered

From their site: "In some cases, giving to Samaritan Ministries will allow the gifts to be directed more effectively to remaining needs (especially in the case of negotiations on bills, which can take place over many months due to problems in our health care system.)

Extra Gifts Are Tax Deductable

From Website: "Receipts for tax deduction purposes are issued for gifts to Special Prayer Needs, Prorata Fund, or the Sponsorship program. (The option of giving directly to members for Special Prayer Needs, Prorated Needs, and Sponsorship is still available for those who wish to do so.)"

Committed to Being Debt-free

Samaritan Ministries, the program we are currently with, is committed to remaining debt free as a ministry.

They have built three different administrative buildings debt free through gifts to the More Room to Share program.

Not Subject to ObamaCare

Because organizations like Samaritan Ministries is a tax exempt charity under the internal revenue code (501c3), they are exempt from the health care requirements of ObamaCare.

Membership Requirements

Edited from their Website:

We believe the following membership requirements benefit all members by being Scriptural, and also by minimizing medical risks and costs, ensuring proper accountability, and encouraging good health practices:

• Be a professing Christian according to Biblical principles. Romans 10:9-10, John 3:3
• Be in agreement with the following member statement of faith:

* I believe in the triune God of the Bible. He is one God Who is revealed in three distinct Persons - God, the Father; God, the Son; and God the Holy Spirit.

* I believe Jesus Christ was God in the flesh - fully God and fully man. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins, was bodily resurrected on the third day, and now is seated in the heavens at the right hand of God, the Father.

* I believe that all people are born with a sinful nature and can be saved from eternal death only by trusting in Christ's atoning death and resurrection to save us from our sins and give us eternal life.

• Attend church regularly (at least three out of four weeks per month that your health or weather permits). Hebrews 10:25
  
  If it is not possible for you to attend church, please submit a letter giving the details. If you disagree with the determination made, we will present the situation to 13 members chosen at random, and they will determine your eligibility for Samaritan Ministries.

• Believe that you are to bear one another's burdens as taught in the Bible. Galatians 6:2; Philippians 2:4

• Abstain totally from the use of tobacco and illegal drugs, and agree not to abuse any legal or prescribed substance. Romans 13:1; I Corinthians 6:12

• Choose option one or two regarding the use of alcohol. Ephesians 5:18

* Option 1. Abstain totally from all beverages containing alcohol (wine used for communion only is an approved exception).

* Option 2. Limit consumption of alcohol to moderate amounts so as to never drink to drunkenness.

• Abstain from any sexual activity outside of traditional Biblical marriage. I Corinthians 6:18

• Agree to practice good health measures in accordance with the principle that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. I Corinthians 6:19-20

• Keep your membership active and current by promptly paying the yearly membership fee and sending your monthly share to all regular needs suggested to you in the newsletter. Luke 16:10
  
  Members who are not current in sending their annual membership fee or monthly share, will not be eligible to have needs published, and will be choosing not to continue their membership if the failure is not corrected after notice has been given. If financial need is the cause of these problems, assistance may be available through the Sponsorship Program (Section V.C).

• Be in agreement that when you have a dispute with a fellow Christian, and your fellow Christian is willing to submit that dispute to fellow believers for resolution, you are not to sue each other in the civil courts or other government agency I Corinthians 6:1-8, (Section XII). A person initiating a governmental proceeding against SMI to become a member would disqualify himself from membership.

• Sign and send to us your Membership Continuation Form each year confirming that you are meeting the above requirements. Proverbs 10:9

• Have your pastor or church leader sign a statement confirming that you meet the above requirements. Hebrews 13:17