What is Christian Healthcare Ministries?
How does CHM work?
What are the advantages of becoming a CHM member?
Questions about submitting medical bills
What does it mean when you say “share medical bills” or “meet needs”?
What kinds of bills are eligible to be submitted for sharing?
Are maternity bills eligible for sharing?
What is a pre-existing condition? How does this process work?
What is the maximum amount that CHM will share for any given need?
How long does it take for CHM to share my medical costs?
How do I submit a medical need to CHM?
What is Personal Responsibility? How do I know the amount for which I’m responsible?
Can I choose my own health care provider?
Questions about participation & cost
How much does it cost to participate in CHM? Does CHM have different plans from which I can choose?
How frequently are monthly gift amounts raised?
Are my gifts tax deductible?
Where do I send my monthly gift?
Questions about becoming a member
Do I qualify? How can I join?
Can I talk to a CHM member before I decide whether to join?
Will my application be turned down for health reasons?
I have Medicare. Can I still be a member?
I don’t live in the United States. Can I still be a member?
How long is my waiting period?
What are units and how do they work?
Questions about telling others about CHM
What is Bring-a-Friend?
What is Share the Message?
Where can I find advice on sharing CHM with my Christian friends and family members?
Miscellaneous questions
How does CHM help support its members spiritually?
Do you have a prescription program? How does it work?
Why do you have legal notices?
What kinds of controls are in place to make sure that CHM operates with integrity and accountability?
Do you have a privacy policy?
What is the Prayer Page?
What is the Brother’s Keeper program?
Still have questions?
1. What is Christian Healthcare Ministries?
Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM) is a nonprofit, voluntary cost-sharing organization through which participating Christians meet each other’s medical bills. CHM is based on Galatians 6:2 and Acts 2 and 4. In the last 15 years, CHM members have shared more than $450 million in medical bills.
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2. How does CHM work?
Please see How it works/how to join for information.
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3. What are the advantages of becoming a CHM member?
• No application fee
• No annual fee
• No waiting period for accidents
• Maternity included
• Choose your own health care providers
• No physical required
• One free month for each new membership you bring to CHM
• No one is dropped because of medical conditions
• The most important advantage is the great joy that comes from giving, knowing that each gift goes to help a fellow Christian in need and knowing that other Christians are faithfully standing by to help you! (Luke 6:38)
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Questions about submitting medical bills
4. What does it mean when you say “share medical bills” or “meet needs”?
Christian Healthcare Ministries is not an insurance company. As a voluntary cost-sharing program, we do not assume responsibility or the legal obligation for your medical bills. Members share your qualifying medical bills through their monthly gift amounts. In the past 15 years, Christian Healthcare Ministries members have shared more than $450 million in medical costs!
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5. What kinds of bills are eligible to be submitted for sharing?
The eligibility of any bill is ultimately determined by Christian Healthcare Ministries Guidelines. To obtain a copy of the Guidelines, click here or contact CHM at 1-800-791-6225 and ask for the Ministry Information department.
You can submit bills for conditions or incidents involving signs or symptoms that began after your 45-day waiting period (medical records will be obtained for verification). Members in each participation level (Gold, Silver, Bronze) may submit bills for inpatient or outpatient hospital visits or surgery, provided all other criteria are met. Gold level members also may submit bills for medical tests, office visits, and prescriptions if all other criteria are met.
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6. Are maternity bills eligible for sharing?
Christian Healthcare Ministries offers a comprehensive maternity program at no extra cost to members. CHM participants share qualifying bills up to $125,000 per pregnancy for pre-natal care, delivery, home births, midwives, postnatal care and birth complications. Click here for more information.
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7. What is a pre-existing condition? How does this process work?
A pre-existing condition is defined as a past or present condition (treated or untreated) that has not been declared cured and for which you have experienced signs, symptoms, or treatment. CHM Guidelines state that for a need to be considered for sharing, you must remain sign-, symptom- and treatment-free of the condition for one year and be declared cured. Our consulting staff physician will confirm this decision based on your medical records. For the opportunity to receive help with certain pre-existing conditions, see the Prayer Page section.
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8. What is the maximum amount that CHM will share for any given need?
Christian Healthcare Ministries shares a maximum lifetime limit of $125,000 for each medical need that qualifies according to CHM Guidelines. For information about needs totaling more than $125,000, see the Brother’s Keeper section.
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9. How long does it take for CHM to share my medical costs?
In general, eligible medical needs are shared by CHM members in the order they are received at the Christian Healthcare Ministries office. The time it takes to share needs varies greatly since it depends on numerous factors, including health care costs, other forms of assistance available and the number and dollar amount of needs submitted for sharing by members.
The advantage to members in any case is that CHM is not an insurance company. Unlike insurance companies, monthly financial gifts to CHM are not increased simply because you become sick or injured. You are not priced out of participation, neither are you removed from participation. We will do everything we can to meet your medical cost need as quickly as possible.
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10. How do I submit a medical need to CHM?
When you have an eligible medical need, submit the following items to the CHM office (Christian Healthcare Ministries / Attn: Needs Processing / 127 Hazelwood Ave. / Barberton, OH 44203-0029):
- Copies of itemized medical bills
- Forms in the Needs Processing packet (Needs Processing Form, Pastor’s Form, Authorization for Release of Health Information Form)
- A brief letter giving the details of the condition
Be sure to keep copies of all submissions for your personal records. For questions, members can contact their Needs Processing representative; potential members can ask a question online.
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11. What is Personal Responsibility? How do I know the amount for which I’m responsible?
Faith requires mutual sharing of needs. According to Galatians 6:2-5, every believer should “carry his own load” in addition to bearing the burdens of others. Christian Healthcare Ministries practices this principle through the concept of Personal Responsibility. Personal Responsibility amounts for CHM members are $500, $1,000 and $5,000 per incident for the Gold, Silver and Bronze participation levels, respectively. Reductions you help obtain, insurance, Medicare, or other assistance can apply towards your Personal Responsibility amount.
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12. Can I choose my own health care provider?
You may receive treatment from any AMA (American Medical Association)
approved facility
and/or physician provided the treatment is within CHM
Guidelines. The CHM Reductions
department—an invaluable resource—exists to assist
members in obtaining bill reductions from medical providers,
to help patients qualify for assistance programs, and even to
give advice on the best places to receive treatment. For more
information, contact the Reductions department at 1-800-791-6225
and ask for the representative for your state or e-mail reductions@chministries.org.
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Questions about participation & cost
13. How much does it cost to participate in CHM? Does CHM have different plans from which I can choose?
Christian Healthcare Ministries offers three participation levels:
Gold ($150 per unit, per month), Silver ($85 per unit, per month)
and Bronze ($45 per unit, per month).
CHM is affordable compared to traditional health insurance. Comparisons
based on results from the 2007 Annual Employer Health Benefits
Survey (Kaiser Family Foundation and Health Research and Educational
Trust) show that even at the highest level (Gold), CHM
participation is 55 to 65 percent less than the average price of
HMO, PPO, and POS health insurance plans.
Although the cost of medical care routinely rises by double-digit
percentages (an increase that insurance companies pass along to
policyholders), CHM has raised monthly gift amounts only once in
the past eight years. In addition, your monthly gift amount is
not raised if you become sick or injured.
For detailed information about participation levels and costs, click here.
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14. How frequently are monthly gift amounts raised?
The gift amounts were last raised January 1, 2008. While it is
impossible to predict the future health, well-being and medical
costs of our members, it is our goal to keep gift amounts as
low as possible. Our record shows that we are meeting this goal
in spite of rising medical costs.
Due to the large increase in the cost of medical care and in order
to keep bill sharing time to a minimum, CHM
gift amounts increased for the first time in eight years on
January 1. The change affects all current and future
CHM members. The new amounts are: Bronze: $45 per unit, per
month; Silver: $85 per unit, per month; and Gold: $150 per unit,
per month.
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15. Are my gifts tax deductible?
Your normal monthly gift amount is not tax deductible; however, all “extra giving” over and above your minimum monthly gift to Christian Healthcare Ministries qualifies as a charitable contribution for tax purposes. Christian Healthcare Ministries, Inc. is exempt from Federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
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16. Where do I send my monthly gift?
Monthly gifts (and any extra giving) should be sent to Christian Healthcare Ministries at the following address:
Christian Healthcare Ministries
Attn: Gift Processing
127 Hazelwood Ave.
PO Box 29
Barberton, OH 44203-0029
Gifts are placed into a Member Escrow Account, which undergoes an annual, independent audit.
Members from the states of Maryland or Delaware are asked to contact the Member Assistance department at 1-800-791-6225 to find out where to send their monthly gifts.
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Questions about becoming a member
17. Do I qualify? / How can I join?
Please see How it works/how to join for information.
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18. Can I talk to a CHM member before I decide whether to join?
You can communicate with current CHM members through our e-mail based Personal Reference Network (PRN). CHM members are not compensated for their participation in the network. Your communication with them is private and not monitored by Christian Healthcare Ministries. Their communication with you is not scripted; it is their genuine testimony about their participation in CHM. If you do not have e-mail access, you can be put in contact with PRN participants by calling the CHM office at 1-800-791-6225 and asking for the Personal Reference Network.
If you are a CHM member and would like to be involved in the Personal Reference Network, please contact us at prn@chministries.org or call 1-800-791-6225 and ask for PRN.
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19. Will my application be turned down for health reasons?
No. No one is excluded from participating in sharing. However, Christian Healthcare Ministries cannot share bills for treatment of ineligible medical conditions such as pre-existing conditions (exceptions are hypertension and diabetes). Bills for pre-existing conditions incurred after joining may be considered for listing on the newsletter Prayer Page only.
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20. I have Medicare. Can I still be a member?
Yes. However, you must have Medicare parts A and B to submit medical needs. Your fellow members will help meet the costs of what Medicare will not pay (according to your participation level).
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21. I don’t live in the United States. Can I still be a member?
CHM members must have access to a U.S. mailing address. All bills submitted must be translated into English and converted to U.S. dollars.
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22. How long is my waiting period?
The 45-day wait begins: (1) on the postmark date of the envelope in which you submit your completed Member Application, (2) the date you submit your completed application online or (3) the future date you specify on your paper application or online application. Bills for signs, symptoms or treatment of a condition during the waiting period cannot be shared by Christian Healthcare Ministries (exceptions are accidents and emergency appendectomies).
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23. What are units and how do they work?
A unit is typically defined as one qualifying individual. Monthly gifts are given based on the number of units, whether individual or family. Any family with three or more qualifying immediate family members would be considered three units total. (For example, a father, mother and their four children would be considered three units.)
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Questions about telling others about CHM
24. What is Bring-a-Friend?
Bring-a-Friend is a program in which members encourage Christian friends, neighbors and extended family to join CHM and benefit from the joy of knowing that their monthly gifts will go to help other Christians in need.
A member will receive a free month for every new membership he or she brings into CHM. The free month is applied after the friend submits his or her third monthly gift. Those who bring a friend each month can be part of Christian Healthcare Ministries gift-free! Please see Bring-a-Friend for more information.
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25. What is Share the Message?
Share the Message is a personal, loving outreach to people across the country who want and need what Christian Healthcare Ministries offers. To bolster and expand the Bring-a-Friend program, CHM staff and members work together to spread the news about CHM to members’ local churches.
Share the Message can be completely customized to fit an individual church’s specific preferences, schedule, needs and capabilities. It offers incentives for CHM members and their churches. Please see Share the Message for more information.
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26. Where can I find advice on sharing CHM with my Christian friends and family members?
Please see our step-by-step guide to sharing CHM with friends in need (PDF document).
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Miscellaneous questions
27. How does CHM help support its members spiritually?
We at Christian Healthcare Ministries believe that supporting each other spiritually is as important as the financial support members receive. Through the monthly Member Gift Form, the Prayer Page and the Brother’s Keeper program, members have the opportunity to communicate with each other through prayer, cards and notes of encouragement. CHM staff also pray daily for members, especially those who have submitted prayer requests by mail, e-mail, or telephone.
CHM also offers members the services of a part-time, qualified chaplain (more details to be added soon). Other CHM staff have been designated as “prayer warriors” available to pray with you over the phone at your request.
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28. Do you have a prescription program? How does it work?
Christian Healthcare Ministries partners with companies that offer discounts on prescriptions. A free prescription card is available for any member who is interested (check box on Member Application). There is no discount guarantee or set discount amount.
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29. Why do you have legal notices?
The legal notices are the result of discussions with several state regulators and are part of an effort to ensure that members understand that Christian Healthcare Ministries is not an insurance company and that it does not guarantee payment of medical costs. Our role is to enable Christians to help fellow Christians through voluntary financial gifts. In the past 15 years alone, members have provided more than $450 million to meet participants’ medical costs.
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30. What kinds of controls are in place to make sure that CHM operates with integrity and accountability?
We at Christian Healthcare Ministries are committed to glorifying God, helping fellow Christians and doing the right thing for the right reasons. CHM abides by the following internal controls:
- Independent board of trustees
- A stringent board of trustees conflict of interest policy
- Regular review of financial statements and budgets by board of trustees and management
- Annual certified audit conducted by an outside independent public accounting firm
- Employment of a highly qualified and effective chief financial officer
- Abides by the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
- Checks and balances on the receipt and disbursement of member finances, check preparation and reconciliation of bank statements
- All disbursements reviewed by the executive director and chief financial officer
CHM financial statements are available by contacting the chief financial officer at 1-800-791-6225 or 330-798-5246. For detailed information on CHM controls, see the CHM Guidelines.
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31. Do you have a privacy policy?
General privacy statement regarding personal information
Your privacy is very important to us. Therefore, Christian Healthcare Ministries does not share, sell, or rent your personal information to third parties for their marketing purposes. We only collect personal information from you that is necessary to supply you with the service(s) you request while on our website. By supplying your personal information, you agree that we may use it to perform the service(s) you have requested or contact you in the event that we cannot perform the service(s) requested.
Disclaimer for secure online application
Christian Healthcare Ministries treats your data as an asset to be protected against loss and unauthorized access. We employ security techniques to protect such data from unauthorized access by users inside and outside the organization. However, since “perfect security” does not exist on the Internet, Christian Healthcare Ministries cannot be held liable for security infringements by unauthorized users outside the organization.
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32. What is the Prayer Page?
The Prayer Page, printed in the monthly CHM newsletter, is another way CHM members carry each other’s burdens. It communicates need amounts from pre-existing conditions (not pre-existing bills; that is, bills incurred prior to joining CHM). Members are encouraged to give to Prayer Page needs (over and above their monthly gifts) as they feel led.
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33. What is the Brother’s Keeper program?
Brother’s Keeper is a safeguard against catastrophic illness or injury. Brother’s Keeper is a successful, Bible-centered cost-sharing program enabling members to meet medical needs that exceed Christian Healthcare Ministries’ $125,000 lifetime limit per (related) diagnosis.
Brother’s Keeper is administered by the same standards as the Christian Healthcare Ministries program. Medical need eligibility is determined by CHM Guidelines. You must enroll in Brother’s Keeper to participate.
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Still have questions?
Ask a question online or contact us toll-free at 1-800-791-6225 and ask for the Ministry Information department. Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-Noon; 12:30-5pm (Eastern time)
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