Liberty HealthShare Official Blog

At Liberty HealthShare, we are taking the essential steps to help us avoid any potential disruptions or inconveniences the coronavirus may cause in servicing our members.

Oh, how wonderful it is to see green grass and blooming flowers, and to feel the warmth of the sun on our skin again. Summer does not officially begin until June 21st, but all the signs of summer are here. Unfortunately, some of the signs of summer can bring big problems, such as those summer-loving, honey-producing bees (and their stinging relatives), which are already on the move.

Being part of Liberty HealthShare is like joining an extended family made up of people who are committed to helping one another. It is not health insurance, but instead, it is a system of organized medical cost sharing that is allowable under the Affordable Care Act. Liberty HealthShare is a Christian healthcare sharing ministry that exists to enable our members to assist and help one another. Members join knowing the share amount they send each month will go directly toward meeting the needs of other members.

One of the main qualities that sets Liberty HealthShare apart from traditional methods of paying for healthcare is the fact that we encourage and depend upon our members taking personal responsibility for their own health care. This distinctive feature plays a huge part in reducing costs for members of our Christian healthcare sharing ministry.

When you are looking into healthcare sharing ministries, you may be taken aback by all the state warnings you see. These legal notices usually state that the organization is not an insurance company and that it does not issue insurance policies. They also discuss the fact that you are not guaranteed payment for any medical costs you incur as a member, and that you are ultimately personally liable for any unpaid bills. Upon first glance, these warnings seem ominous, and you may wonder whether you should join the group. Rather than allowing them to make you fearful, allow us to explain why the government has instituted these warnings and what they mean.

After working for 30 years in communication electronics, the military, and freight railroading, Indiana resident Larry Jones was fed up with the high cost of traditional healthcare. Between the copays, coinsurance, deductibles, and limited provider choices, he sought something better and more affordable.

Celiac disease (also known as celiac sprue) is an autoimmune disorder in which the ingestion of gluten leads to damage of the small intestine. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley, which attacks the villi (small fingerlike projections that line the small intestine). When the villi are damaged, nutrients cannot be absorbed properly.

Spring is here and with it comes many delights: warmer weather, longer days, and blossoming trees. Unfortunately, these seasonal changes aren't welcomed by everyone. For many of us, they are eclipsed by the itchy eyes, sneezing, and congestion of hay fever and other spring allergies.

An Inspiring Little Boy Thrives In Difficult Circumstances Many of our members are familiar with Aiden Corlew and have contributed to our "Help Save Aiden" Campaign. Recent progress reports have been good, and we want to share the news with you.

The shape of healthcare is changing with the Affordable Care Act (ACA) legislation, and one of the main elements about which many Americans are excited is the inclusion of free preventative care in all health insurance under the ACA. This type of preventative care covers an annual physical and other basic tests and screenings that can help identify health problems early on potentially preventing more serious health conditions from developing.

As the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has mandated that all individuals have some sort of health plan, interest in different types of options has increased. Liberty HealthShare is not health insurance, but it is medical cost sharing. This type of healthcare is allowable under the ACA. However, there are some things you should understand about how medical cost sharing is different from traditional healthcare options.

In the medical world, it seems like costs are always rising. However, there are a few key situations in which costs have actually dropped for individuals. One of these is in the case of members of medical cost sharing ministries, which are allowable under the Affordable Care Act. Liberty HealthShare members actually saw their monthly share amount drop by $50 from 2013 to 2014.

Liberty HealthShare's predecessor and parent ministry is a faith-based group that began in 1988 as a group of Christians who shared end-of-life medical and funeral expenses. Since then, the group has expanded to include a wide range of eligible medical expenses, ultimately becoming Liberty HealthShare. We are not health insurance, but rather we make it possible for individuals to share in one another's eligible medical expenses. This is allowable under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and for that reason, it has grown rapidly in recent years.

Thank you all for the many suggestions I received for upcoming articles of interest. For March, I chose to address heart disease and cold weather. It is very important to know how cold weather affects your heart, especially if you have cardiovascular disease. People with heart conditions should avoid outdoor exertion, like shoveling snow and walking through heavy wet snow.

Presenting your Liberty HealthShare card to your doctor or hospital. One of the best things about being a member of Liberty HealthShare is that you can visit any doctor and any hospital you choose! With Liberty HealthShare, if you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor! Our call center often gets questions from new and potential members about how to discuss Liberty HealthShare when seeing the doctor. We're here to help you through that process.

"Filing my taxes was simple and easy to do" by Dale Bellis, Executive Director April 15th is just around the corner. The urgency to get your taxes done is building! The 2014 tax year is the first year in which being uninsured will cause individuals and families to be penalized. Taxpayers without health insurance will have to pay a "Shared Responsibility Payment." However, members of Liberty HealthShare are exempt from this additional tax during the months in which their membership is active.

The American Conservative Union (ACU) puts on its Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in our nation’s capital each year. Liberty HealthShare representatives attended this year’s CPAC convention February 25-28, 2015 as exhibitors. While CPAC is a highly charged political event, Liberty HealthShare wants to help influence policy makers and public figures about the needs of healthcare sharing members in a non-partisan, non-political way. Liberty HealthShare especially made inroads with legislators requesting that they give equal status under the law to healthcare sharing for employee benefits, health savings accounts, and self-employed deductions.

For thirteen years, former South Carolina police officer Barbara Pulicicchio had been paying out-of-pocket for her healthcare costs. As a self-pay patient with some medical issues, she was finding it difficult to manage the cost of her care. One day Barbara began reading a book entitled The Self-Pay Patient by Sean Parnell and began learning about the cost-sharing concept. This idea intrigued her, so she began searching the internet for offering medical cost sharing.

Get over the hump and use these 3 easy steps to achieve your goals. A new year signals hope, opportunity, and for many, the opportunity for significant changes. Some people resolve to lose weight. Others decide it's time to enhance their education. Others vow to quit an addictive habit.

How personal values can lead to better healthcare economics. by Dale Bellis, Liberty HealthShare Executive Director Recently the New York Times posted an article entitled, "Onward Christian, Healthcare" by Molly Worthen. We are so happy to see that the media is taking notice of healthcare sharing ministries, and we are encouraged by the impact it is having on the American healthcare landscape. I was quoted in the article as saying, "success comes 'when the marketplace is given the opportunity to produce solutions on its own.'" However, given the way in which the quote was presented, it seemed as though I believe the reason we share medical bills together is because of the economic advantage; because it is cheaper. This quote was accurate; however, I would like to add context, because it is important to know the driving force behind what we do.

Executive Director Dale Bellis explains the Affordable Care Act (ACA) exemption Liberty HealthShare members enjoy.

Could the healthcare sharing mentality change our nation? HealthShare Radio host John Daly asked Executive Director Dale Bellis that question, and his answer might surprise you.

Executive Director Dale Bellis explains how Liberty HealthShare members are able to provide emotional and spiritual encouragement and support to one another through the member ShareBox.

HealthShare Radio host John Daly and Executive Director Dale Bellis discuss members who go above and beyond by giving funds outside their monthly share amounts to assist in charitable efforts.

As entrepreneurs, Kim and her husband needed to find a way to responsibly approach the costs of healthcare. They determined Liberty HealthShare was a good option for them, and they are glad they did.

Executive Director Dale Bellis discusses the range of discounts available to Liberty HealthShare members.

Liberty HealthShare members are a health-conscious group who believe our bodies are temples to be stewarded and cared for. Watch Executive Director Dale Bellis explain some of the ways in which Liberty encourages greater health for our members.

HealthShare Radio host John Daly and Liberty Executive Director Dale Bellis discuss the state warnings about healthcare sharing ministries and why we are proud that we are NOT insurance.