As you explore different health share options, you’ll notice that each company operates differently, but they all share a common goal: helping people pay for their medical expenses by fostering a community to share those expenses. However, the specifics of how this sharing is accomplished can vary significantly from one company to another. In this article, we’ll explore how the process of sharing a need with Samaritan Ministries works and the key elements that set them apart from the others.

The sharing process with Samaritan Ministries

Under a membership with Samaritan Ministries, you directly contribute funds to fellow members who have medical needs, following a reimbursement model. Similar to many other major health share memberships, when you engage with healthcare providers, you present yourself as a cash-pay patient. This approach allows you to negotiate substantial discounts and simplifies the billing process for the provider.

After receiving the treatment or procedure, you then ask the provider for an itemized bill, so that all the costs are listed on an individual basis. You submit a needs request to Samaritan Ministries and include these itemized bills, which they use to determine the eligibility of the bill for sharing. When they have approved the bill as eligible for member sharing, Samaritan sends the share notification containing your request to those members whose monthly share payments are allocated for your need that month.

The members send their monthly share payments (or a designated amount if their share payment will be used for needs of multiple members) directly to you in response to the share notification they received, and Samaritan Ministries encourages members to include a note of encouragement with their payment and pray for your needs.

Eligibility of medical bills

In reviewing your itemized medical bills, Samaritan will consider the following (among others) to determine if the bill is eligible for sharing:

  • Is your membership current?
  • Is the bill related to conduct inconsistent with membership requirements?
  • Is the bill above your Initial Unshareable Amount?
  • Is the bill related to any pre-existing conditions that may not be included?

Member-to-member sharing with Samaritan Ministries

Eleven months per year, Samaritan facilitates direct sharing between its members, but the company does not collect any funds itself. One month per year, Samaritan Ministries does direct members to send their shares to their office. This month’s share payments are used to cover the administrative costs of the health share company.

A unique aspect of sharing with Samaritan Ministries is the feeling of direct support from fellow members. Because Samaritan encourages you to include notes of encouragement, those receiving assistance with their medical bills not only feel financial relief, but emotional support from fellow members. Many of Samaritan’s member stories and testimonials speak to the letters of supports and prayers they received being a source of relief while in the middle of a stressful situation.

Getting started with Samaritan Ministries

You can begin the process of joining Samaritan Ministries by filling out the form here. Keep in mind that among the leading health shares, Samaritan has some of the most strict membership requirements, so you’ll definitely want to familiarize yourself with their requirements and guidelines before signing up.

Samaritan Ministries sets itself apart by building a strong sense of community and shared responsibility among its members. The process of sharing a need with Samaritan involves direct contributions to one another, allowing members to share financial support. However, what truly makes Samaritan Ministries unique is the emotional support provided by fellow members through heartfelt letters and prayers shared on their behalf. This compassionate approach creates a sense of solidarity within the membership and makes the act of sharing one made between friends.