Health care is one of those issues that sparks a lot of stress and anxiety in people. Insurance is costly. Medical care is costly. When you have a need, how do you afford it? Where can you turn for help? Insurance may not be the best option, so what do you do?

Several years ago, my wife and I were becoming more and more frustrated with the rising costs of insurance. In order to keep our payments in a reasonable financial range — which was becoming more and more unreasonable — we had to keep increasing the amount of our deductible. We eventually got to the point where our deductible was so high, I was beginning to wonder if the costs of insurance were even worth it.

So we started doing some research. A good friend of our had just joined a ministry oriented, medical share program. I was a bit skeptical, but we sat down with them and discussed their experience with a medical need not long after they joined. It sounded too good to be true, but the more we talked, the more I realized this might be just what we needed to look into.

Not long after this conversation, we discovered that many of the mainstream insurance companies used the premiums that came in — my premiums — in ways that we didn’t approve of. Many of these companies used this money to pay for abortions and to provide for various other medical procedures that we were uncomfortable with. So we decided to step out on faith and give this new option a try.

The ministry we chose to work with was Samaritan Ministries, although there were a few other options we considered. We talked with several people who had had very positive experiences with Samaritan Ministries, so we submitted our application, and in 2010, we jumped into the world of Christian medical sharing.

In a brief overview, allow me to explain how this works. Each month, we receive a newsletter from Samaritan Ministries with a payment slip for our share for the month. We don’t pay premiums, we send shares. This share goes directly to the person with the need, and is not routed through Samaritan Ministries or any other organization. I write my check, or send my share through PayPal, directly to the person or family in need. It’s that simple.

Let me explain it from the other point of view, of submitting my own need. Last spring, I broke my elbow and had to visit the Emergency Room, see an orthopedic doctor, and even a neurological specialist. That racked up quite a bit of bills. Once I had received all my bills, I submitted them to Samaritan Ministries. They reviewed them, and then published them to several other members.

Those member then sent their monthly shares directly to me. I then paid off my medical bills. I also kept track of the shares sent to me, and reported back to Samaritan Ministries that the shares assigned to me had indeed been sent and received. If someone fails to send their share, they are unable to submit a need until they are caught up. In the meantime, that share can be assigned to someone else so that I’m not left hanging onto a bill that can’t quite be paid off. It’s really super simple.

But the most incredible part of it all is this: When people send me their shares, I usually receive them with a card or a note, indicating that the sender is not only helping me cover my medical needs, but that they are also praying for me throughout the whole process. This kind of medical share program is really an example of the church being the church and helping others bear their medical burdens.

Each month, as I send my share off, I pray for the recipient of that share. Sometimes, it’s a serious medical issue. Other times, I help cover the cost of a new birth, and a new life added to a family. Every time, it’s rewarding to know that I am helping them cover a need, not just in a financial way, but in a spiritual way as well.

And, as an added benefit, the cost for my family to be involved in this ministry share program is far less than the monthly premiums I was paying to an insurance company. We are involved as a family, but they offer membership options for couples and families of every size and shape, such as single parent situations, or single individuals, too. There are other options as well, which you can read about on their website in more detail.

I encourage you to look into Samaritan Ministries, to become part of a community of faith that is encouraging one another, praying for one another, and helping bear the burden of medical costs for one another. Aside form the financial burdens lifted, the encouragement we receive from people we have never met is the best part of this whole thing. It really is the church being the church, as it was meant to be.

Plus, if you give Samaritan Ministries my name when you sign up, I receive a credit of $100 on my account. That’s a plus for me, and as you share your experiences with Samaritan Ministries, you can encourage new members to sign up for the same benefit. It’s well worth the effort.

Again, I encourage you to think this over, pray about it, and consider making the switch to Samaritan Ministries. We love this ministry, and I think you will too.

Question: Have you ever considered a medical share type of ministry as opposed to traditional insurance? What are your thoughts on programs like Samaritan Ministries? You can leave a comment by clicking here.