Changes

==Differences==

==Differences==

===Insurance===

===Insurance===

For-profit [[Insurance]] companies agree to cover certain medical costs of specific people, in exchange for them paying a certain fee each month.  This fee is paid to the insurance company (at which time they loose control over it), where it is presumably used to pay for the medical expenses of others.  Some of this money also is used to pay employee salaries, overhead costs, and facility improvements.  The remainder is paid out to various hospitals, doctors, and other medical companies for anything from a heart transplant to an [[abortion]].

For-profit [[Insurance]] companies agree to cover certain medical costs of specific people, in exchange for them paying a certain fee each month.  This fee is paid to the insurance company (at which time they loose control over it), where it is presumably used to pay for the medical expenses of others.  Some of this money also is used to pay employee salaries, overhead costs, and facility improvements.  The remainder is paid out to various hospitals, doctors, and other medical companies for anything from a heart transplant to an [[abortion]].<ref>https://thehealthcoop.com/products-services/health-care-sharing</ref><br />

Members can officially choose their own doctors and treatments, but insurance companies often dictate what can and cannot be done by paying for some services and refusing to pay for others, but also threatening to refuse service if members do not do certain things, such as getting immunizations.

===Heath care sharing===

===Heath care sharing===

Non-profit health care sharing ministries agree to coordinate the exchange of funds, sometimes for a slight sign-up fee, but often for no cost other than each member paying their share.  When medical care is needed, members of such a network will usually pay out of pocket initially.  Then, they will notify he organization, which will arrange for other members to send their monthly shares to the people who have paid medical bills.  Each member who receives covered medical care will be reimbursed by other members of the network directly.<br />

Non-profit health care sharing ministries agree to coordinate the exchange of funds, sometimes for a slight sign-up fee, but often for no cost other than each member paying their share.  When medical care is needed, members of such a network will usually pay out of pocket initially.  Then, they will notify he organization, which will arrange for other members to send their monthly shares to the people who have paid medical bills.  Each member who receives covered medical care will be reimbursed by other members of the network directly.<ref name="thehealthcoop.com">https://thehealthcoop.com/products-services/health-care-sharing</ref><br />

Each member is assigned a "share" (amount of money) they are to send each month, and when it is due, they are instructed on who to send it to and what it is needed for.  These payments never pass through the organization, but pass directly between members.

Each member is assigned a "share" (amount of money) they are to send each month, and when it is due, they are instructed on who to send it to and what it is needed for.  These payments never pass through the organization, but pass directly between members.<ref name="thehealthcoop.com">https://thehealthcoop.com/products-services/health-care-sharing</ref><br />

Members of this system usually have more flexibility in what treatments they accept or refuse, and they can always choose their own care providers.  Most organizations also cover some preventive treatments, often more so than insurance companies.

==ObamaCare==

==ObamaCare==

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ("ObamaCare") has impacted health care sharing ministries, but probably not in the way the [[liberal]] [[Obama administration|administration]] wanted.  Surprisingly, an exception was inserted into this bill before it was passed which exempted health care sharing ministry members from punishment for not subscribing.  The direct result of the passing of this law was the increase in health sharing ministry members.<ref>http://www.mercurynews.com/health/ci_26222771/obamacare-health-care-sharing-ministries-increase-membership-wake</ref>  However, there are still restrictions on these organizations to qualify for the exemption.  They include:

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ("ObamaCare") has impacted health care sharing ministries, but probably not in the way the [[liberal]] [[Obama administration|administration]] wanted.  Surprisingly, an exception was inserted into this bill before it was passed which exempted health care sharing ministry members from punishment for not subscribing.  The direct result of the passing of this law was the increase in health sharing ministry members.<ref>http://www.mercurynews.com/health/ci_26222771/obamacare-health-care-sharing-ministries-increase-membership-wake</ref><ref>http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2016-02-23/membership-for-health-sharing-ministries-soars-under-obamacare</ref>  However, there are still restrictions on these organizations to qualify for the exemption.  They include:

*Must be grandfathered in, having been continuous operation since December 31, 1999<ref name="gpo.gov">https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-111publ148/html/PLAW-111publ148.htm</ref>

*Must be grandfathered in, having been continuous operation since December 31, 1999<ref name="gpo.gov">https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-111publ148/html/PLAW-111publ148.htm</ref>

*Must be a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization<ref name="gpo.gov">https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-111publ148/html/PLAW-111publ148.htm</ref>

*Must be a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization<ref name="gpo.gov">https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-111publ148/html/PLAW-111publ148.htm</ref>