As parents, we all want the best for our children, and finding quality and affordable healthcare can be a huge part of that effort. Health share programs have emerged as a popular alternative to traditional  insurance, but how do they stack up when it comes to pediatric care? With this post, we hope to help you understand the role of health shares in managing your children’s medical needs.

Understanding health shares

Before getting too deep into pediatrics, let’s clarify what health shares are for any new readers. Health shares are cooperative groups wherein members share the cost of medical expenses. They’re not insurance but can be a more affordable way to manage large healthcare costs, often grounded in shared values, religious beliefs, or lifestyles.

Health shares and children

When it comes to pediatrics, health shares can offer several benefits. Some more popular organizations, like Zion HealthShare, recognize the importance of preventive care and vaccinations, which are typically administered in a child’s early years. Others, however, may not include sharing for pediatric services, so any prospective members will want to review these details closely before joining.

Key considerations for pediatric care

  1. Preventive Care. Check if the health share membership includes well-child visits for monitoring a child’s growth and development.
  2. Vaccinations. Check if the health share membership shares the cost of immunizations, a common component of pediatric health.
  3. Specialist Visits. Children sometimes need more specialized pediatric care. You should look for a health share program that assists with specialist visits.
  4. Emergency Services. Kids are prone to accidents, and a good health share should provide for emergency room or urgent care visits.
  5. Prescription Assistance. If your child requires medication, then you’ll want to understand how prescription expenses are handled by your health share.

Top health shares for pediatric healthcare

  1. Zion HealthShare. This organization’s lack of annual or lifetime sharing limits, its emphasis on preventive care, and its inclusion of vaccinations and well-child visits after six months of membership make it an ideal choice through the lens of pediatric healthcare.
  2. Samaritan Ministries. Samaritan is a top choice for pediatric needs because of it’s family-focused plans, which offer flexibility in choosing healthcare providers and support for a wide range of medical needs, including maternity and pediatric care.
  3. Altrua HealthShare. Altrua offers valuable pediatric benefits like preventive immunizations and pooled office visits, making it a surprisingly practical option for parents seeking an affordable and flexible healthcare solution for their kids. We also want to note a very unique quality of Altrua: children can have their own memberships without their parents.

Health shares can be an affordable alternative to insurance for managing your child’s healthcare costs, but they are not a cookie-cutter solution. We encourage all our readers to evaluate your options when choosing a program to make sure you find one that best suits your circumstances and specific needs.