We are a unique health care sharing ministry that does not require a pastor, elder or representative from a local church to sign an acknowledgement verifying church attendance or validation of medical needs being submitted to the membership for sharing. Our members do not have to wait on other members to send individual checks for medical needs. Our members do not participate in subsidizing or paying for certain lifestyles that continue to add to the rising costs associated with insurance companies. Our members are considered by the medical profession to be self-pay patients and typically enjoy lower costs than members of health insurance companies. Our membership opportunities are developed and based on Biblical principles established for living a healthy and honorable lifestyle and members must believe in our Statement of Standards to join. We would love for you to be a part of our ministry and to experience how caring for one another through the membership can be a blessing to you as it is to so many who participate. Each eligible medical need submitted to the membership is shared according to the Escrow Instructions and the Membership Guidelines.
A Health Care Sharing Ministry (HCSM) provides a health care cost sharing arrangement among members of similar and sincerely held beliefs. HCSMs are operated by not-profit religious organizations for those who have medical needs and those who desire to share the burden of those medical needs with fellow members. - HCSMs receive no funding or grants from government sources. - HCSMs's participants share more than $300 million per year for one another's health care costs. - HCSMs strive to be accessible to participants regardless of their income, because traditionally shares are a fraction of the cost of typical health care.
In our nation's past, our forefathers were quite familiar with bearing one another's burdens. Mutual aid was a foundation of social welfare in the United States. Today, our mentality has moved far from that of our ancestors. As Christians, we still have the mandate to bear one another's burdens, but we hardly know what that means anymore. If an emergency medical problem arises, the government or the insurance company takes care of it, and our friends, relatives and neighbors have little participation in restoring us to our former state. We don't think we need each other in the way we used to. HCSMs provide an opportunity where Christians can minister to the Body of Christ while being thrifty with their money, and without ignoring their own medical needs. HCSMs have grown in popularity and success ever since the Old Order Amish Church Fund began the modern-era of burden-bearing during the 1960's. Today, participants from a broad spectrum of Christian denominations support each other's medical needs across all fifty states and around the world.
A HCSM is founded on the biblical mandate of believers to share each other's needs. Our goal is to apply Galatians 6:2, "Bear one another's burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ" to the ever-rising medical costs which can be quite burdensome for anyone, single or married, young or old. It is a principle that has been around since the birth and growth of the early Church. The Book of Acts reports, "All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need," (Acts 2:44-45). These Christians are making a decision to be there for their neighbor in need and bring glory to God in the process of sharing.
The members of the ministry are committed participants who voluntarily contribute a certain amount each month. This money is shared among the participants to assist other members with medical needs. This brings Christians together to share medical needs with one another. The key is that medical needs are shared among members. The personal approach of HCSMs facilitates Christians to bear one another's burdens in a very tangible way. Biblical principles are foundational to HCSMs and the members treat each other with respect, prayer, and genuine care.
Altrua Ministries (dba Altrua HealthShare) is NOT an insurance company nor is the Membership offered through an insurance company. Members are self-pay patients. Altrua Ministries is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation.