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Caring for your Caregivers, Even the Money Ones….

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Everybody is constantly complaining about their insurance companies. I’ve posted many times about Medi-share and our experience there. I thought I would share this internal employee newsletter where they featured my story with their employees.

I think it’s important to remember the team of people behind you when you get hit with something, in my case, an ugly disease which was made much less stressful without the “fiscal duress” of unstable insurance or cost containment strategies.

Here’s the article.

February 4th is World Cancer Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness and education about cancer. CCM employees serve hundreds of cancer patients each month, Charlie is just one of them. 

Charlie went in for surgery in July of 2019 believing his tumor was benign. It wasn’t and he learned he would need extensive radiation treatment.

In Charlie’s words, “So this cancer journey isn’t cheap. Radiation, I understand costs roughly $3500-$4000 PER SESSION. I will be having thirty. That’s an estimated cost of $180,000-$200,000. Needless to say, I was feeling a bit anxious about the fiscal part of this journey.”

“I was literally sitting in my car waiting to go in for my first radiation treatment when I get a call from Medi-Share’s VP of Cost Management. He tells me not only are my bills fully shareable but he asks my permission to pre-pay all 30 treatments. I was speechless and incredibly thankful. For all the people who criticize Med-Share, I can’t say enough. These people are amazing! I am a member for life or as long as they’ll have me.”

Cancer is a scary diagnosis not only the physical hardship but add to that the economic ramifications. Never forget that your service to these families is priceless. Your prayers, your interventions on their behalf, your service to make sharing a reality are making a huge difference in their lives. 

Thank you to all of you who directly serviced Charlie and his family.

You are the story…

Fiscal Anxiety and Medical Care

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So this cancer journey isn’t cheap. As it stands, UTSW has roughly $60,000 in outstanding medical bills which I am sure are being “negotiated”.     Radiation, I understand costs roughly $3500-$4000 PER SESSION. I will be having thirty. That’s an estimated cost of $180,000-$200,,000 SO FAR.    

Needless to say, I have been feeling a bit anxious about the fiscal part of this journey. 

We don’t carry regular insurance, we use a “medical sharing” program called “Christian Medishare” which is pretty much off the grid when it comes to regular insurance.  In fact, they make a point of saying it’s NOT insurance. The way it works is members’ medical bills that meet the guidelines for “sharing” are shared across the community.  With almost 300,000 members, it’s a pretty powerful sharing pool.

That said, there’s no real contract which says they MUST share, and the rules are a bit confusing and things like pre-existing conditions do come into play.   So, needless to say, until last week, it was still undetermined whether or not I would be fully “shared”.

I had received a call from a “Case Worker”, who had asked a lot of questions which really made me nervous, but all in all, they were being really supportive.   She asked if I would be OK if they “negotiated” with my providers. Of course.

A few days later, I get the call from the “VP of Cost Management” or something like that.   My first reaction is this is not good. I could not have been more wrong.

This guy proceeds to tell me that not only have I been 100% covered/shared but asked my permission to “Pre-pay” all 30 treatments.   This I am assuming is a way they help control costs and a strong negotiation card to play. I’m speechless and thankful.

For all the people who criticize Medishare, I can’t say enough.  These people are amazing. I’m a member for life or as long as they’ll have me.

Here’s a link to sign up for Medi-share.   Full disclosure, if you sign up, I get $100, which I will promptly donate.  If you have a request, just let me know.  This is a very real and very effective alternative to traditional insurance.

All I can say is one word.

Gratitude.