Transparency & Legal
Transparency
Best practices for health care sharing ministries
As a community of Christians helping other Christians with their health care needs, for 30 years members have supported one another through the direct sharing of financial, emotional, and spiritual support. In our commitment to uphold our Biblical ethics, honor our members, and maintain the highest standards for sustainable governance and practice, we have established and abide by the Health Care Sharing Best Practices listed below.
We believe it is in your best interest to consider the commitments and practices of any membership organization, including a health care sharing ministry, prior to joining. As a part of our ongoing desire for transparency and consumer education, as well as promoting a healthy environment for health care sharing ministries around the world, we publicly provide our ministry’s Health Care Sharing Best Practices for consideration.
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Religious Mission
A health care sharing ministry posts a clearly understandable mission statement, communicating that health care sharing should be an outward expression of an inward Christian faith that serves as a witness to a watching world of how the Body of Christ can bear one another’s burdens in service to one another.
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Legal Structure and Governance
- A health care sharing ministry conforms with the Federal Government's statutory definition of a qualifying Health Care Sharing Ministry (HCSM) as written in 26 USC § 5000A(d)(2)(B)(ii) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
- A health care sharing ministry organizes and operates in accordance with the Internal Revenue Code's definition of a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. As a 501(c)(3), the ministry shall annually file a 990 form with the IRS.
- A health care sharing ministry should be governed by an independent Board of Directors, the majority of whom are selected by the membership. The Board shall meet regularly to assist the executive team in the execution of the health care sharing ministry’s mission in service to its members.
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Financial Management
- A health care sharing ministry should produce financial statements annually using generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and should be annually audited by an independent, certified public accountant.
- A health care sharing ministry should make these audited financial statements available to the public upon request.
- A health care sharing ministry should establish and follow a conflict of interest policy in which any transaction between the ministry and
- any member of the ministry’s Board of Directors
- any member of its management
- or any person or organization related to a member of the Board or management
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Health Care Sharing Ministry Practices
- A health care sharing ministry primarily acts as a facilitator for the bearing of medical burdens by strengthening the member-to-member connection that occurs through the voluntary medical burden-sharing process.
- A health care sharing ministry should ensure that member dollars go primarily to meet medical needs. It is recommended that for every dollar of monthly shares contributed by members, a minimum of 80 cents will be used for medical needs, maintaining a total administrative and program cost of less than 20%.
- A health care sharing ministry should not require their members to apply for government assistance or state aid as part of the ministry’s sharing process.
- A health care sharing ministry should not use health insurance agents, health insurance agencies, health insurance brokers, health insurance producers, or health insurance representatives.
- A health care sharing ministry should maintain regular monthly share amounts for its members and communicates to members the process for any change in the share amounts.
- A health care sharing ministry does not assume any transfer of medical risk from its members or make any guarantee of payment for any expenses.
- A health care sharing ministry should maintain a clearly orthodox Christian statement of faith and will only accept families and individuals who can voluntarily agree with the statement of faith as well as its guidelines for health care sharing.
- A health care sharing ministry should communicate to its members every month the total dollar amount of medical needs that were shared among the membership in the prior month.
- A health care sharing ministry should clearly communicate the following information to those who are interested in joining the ministry:
- The health care sharing ministry is not an insurance company, nor does it offer any insurance product.
- The sharing of medical costs is completely voluntary, and neither member nor the health care sharing ministry is compelled by law to pay the costs for medical bills submitted for sharing, although failure to do so may lead to that member’s removal from the ministry.
- All members will maintain their legal responsibility to pay for the medical bills they incur irrespective of whether they receive payment from the voluntary actions of other members or the ministry through the sharing process.
Accreditation
Why accreditation matters!
The Healthcare Sharing Accreditation Board examines dozens of critical organizational characteristics to determine if a healthcare sharing ministry meets the highest standards of quality and ethical business practices, and established demanding standards against which applicant organizations are evaluated. These include, but are not limited to, standards in the following categories:
- Legal structure and governance
- Organizational management and compensation
- Conflicts of interest and related party transactions
- External communications and marketing
- Enrollment processes
- Written acknowledgments from members
- Published sharing guidelines
- Financial sharing processes, including processing time, dispute resolution and appeals
- Total amounts shared and not shared among members
- Ratio of administrative overhead expenses to programmatic expenses
- Membership contribution guidelines and management processes
- Audited financial statements and IRS Form 990
The professional achievements of the Healthcare Sharing Accreditation Board board members conducting evaluations make accreditation that much more consequential. Samaritan Ministries International received accreditation in 2023 and again in 2024.
Legal Information
Serving our members with integrity
We are a health care sharing ministry, not an insurance company
We facilitate member to member connections that honor Jesus as we navigate the reality that we all get sick and need care. We do not offer any insurance product but are rather trying to exemplify Christian community as encouraged through Scripture.
The sharing of medical costs is completely voluntary
Neither members nor the health care sharing ministry is legally obligated to pay the costs for medical bills submitted for sharing, although failure to do so may lead to suspension of the membership privileges.
All members will maintain their legal responsibility to pay for the medical bills they incur irrespective of whether they receive payment from the voluntary actions of other members or the ministry through the sharing process.
State Disclosures
The following states require a notice to be available for potential members of health care sharing ministries:
Alabama
Code Title 22-6A-2
Notice: The organization facilitating the sharing of medical expenses is not an insurance company, and neither its guidelines nor plan of operation is an insurance policy. Whether anyone chooses to assist you with your medical bills will be totally voluntary because no other participant will be compelled by law to contribute toward your medical bills. As such, participation in the organization or a subscription to any of its documents should never be considered to be insurance. Regardless of whether you receive any payment for medical expenses or whether this organization continues to operate, you are always personally responsible for the payment of your own medical bills.
Alaska
Statute 21.03.021(k)
Notice: The organization coordinating the sharing of medical expenses is not an insurance company, and neither its guidelines nor plan of operation is an insurance policy. Whether anyone chooses to assist you with your medical bills will be totally voluntary because no other participant will be compelled by law to contribute toward your medical bills. Participation in the organization or a subscription to any of its documents should never be considered to be insurance. Regardless of whether you receive a payment for medical expenses or whether this organization continues to operate, you are always personally responsible for the payment of your own medical bills.
Arizona
Statute 20-122
Notice: The organization facilitating the sharing of medical expenses is not an insurance company and the ministry’s guidelines and plan of operation are not an insurance policy. Whether anyone chooses to assist you with your medical bills will be completely voluntary because participants are not compelled by law to contribute toward your medical bills. Therefore, participation in the ministry or a subscription to any of its documents should not be considered to be insurance. Regardless of whether you receive any payment for medical expenses or whether this ministry continues to operate, you are always personally responsible for the payment of your own medical bills.
Arkansas
Code 23-60-104.2
Notice: The organization facilitating the sharing of medical expenses is not an insurance company and neither its guidelines nor plan of operation is an insurance policy. If anyone chooses to assist you with your medical bills, it will be totally voluntary because participants are not compelled by law to contribute toward your medical bills. Participation in the organization or a subscription to any of its documents should never be considered to be insurance. Regardless of whether you receive a payment for medical expenses or if this organization continues to operate, you are always personally responsible for the payment of your own medical bills.
Florida
Statute 624.1265
Samaritan Ministries International is not an insurance company, and membership is not offered through an insurance company. Samaritan Ministries International is not subject to the regulatory requirements or consumer protections of the Florida Insurance Code.
Georgia
Statute 33-1-20
Notice: The organization facilitating the sharing of medical expenses is not an insurance company, and neither its guidelines nor plan of operation is an insurance policy. Whether anyone chooses to assist you with your medical bills will be totally voluntary because no other participant will be compelled by law to contribute toward your medical bills. As such, participation in the organization or a subscription to any of its documents should never be considered to be insurance. Regardless of whether you receive any payment for medical expenses or whether this organization continues to operate, you are always personally responsible for the payment of your own medical bills.
Idaho
Statute 41-121
Notice: The organization facilitating the sharing of medical expenses is not an insurance company, and neither its guidelines nor plan of operation is an insurance policy. Whether anyone chooses to assist you with your medical bills will be totally voluntary because no other participant will be compelled by law to contribute toward your medical bills. As such, participation in the organization or a subscription to any of its documents should never be considered to be insurance. Regardless of whether you receive any payment for medical expenses or whether this organization continues to operate, you are always personally responsible for the payment of your own medical bills.
Illinois
Statute 215-5/4-Class 1-b
Notice: The organization facilitating the sharing of medical expenses is not an insurance company, and neither its guidelines nor plan of operation constitute or create an insurance policy. Any assistance you receive with your medical bills will be totally voluntary. As such, participation in the organization or a subscription to any of its documents should never be considered to be insurance. Whether or not you receive any payments for medical expenses and whether or not this organization continues to operate, you are always personally responsible for the payment of your own medical bills.
Indiana
Code 27-1-2.1
Notice: The organization facilitating the sharing of medical expenses is not an insurance company, and neither its guidelines nor its plan of operation is an insurance policy. Any assistance you receive with your medical bills will be totally voluntary. Neither the organization nor any other participant can be compelled by law to contribute toward your medical bills. As such, participation in the organization or a subscription to any of its documents should never be considered to be insurance. Whether or not you receive any payments for medical expenses and whether or not this organization continues to operate, you are always personally responsible for the payment of your own medical bills.
Kentucky
Revised Statute 304.1-120 (7)
Notice: Under Kentucky law, the religious organization facilitating the sharing of medical expenses is not an insurance company, and its guidelines, plan of operation, or any other document of the religious organization do not constitute or create an insurance policy. Participation in the religious organization or a subscription to any of its documents shall not be considered insurance. Any assistance you receive with your medical bills will be totally voluntary. Neither the organization or any participant shall be compelled by law to contribute toward your medical bills. Whether or not you receive any payments for medical expenses, and whether or not this organization continues to operate, you shall be personally responsible for the payment of your medical bills.
Louisiana
Revised Statute Title 22-318, 319
Notice: The ministry facilitating the sharing of medical expenses is not an insurance company. Neither the guidelines nor the plan of operation of the ministry constitutes an insurance policy. Financial assistance for the payment of medical expenses is strictly voluntary. Participation in the ministry or a subscription to any publication issued by the ministry shall not be considered as enrollment in any health insurance plan or as a waiver of your responsibility to pay your medical expenses.
Maine
Revised Statute Title 24-A, §704, sub-§3
Notice: The organization facilitating the sharing of medical expenses is not an insurance company and neither its guidelines nor plan of operation is an insurance policy. Whether anyone chooses to assist you with your medical bills will be totally voluntary because no other participant will be compelled by law to contribute toward your medical bills. Participation in the organization or a subscription to any of its documents should never be considered to be insurance. Regardless of whether you receive payment for medical expenses or whether this organization continues to operate, you are always personally responsible for the payment of your own medical bills.
Maryland
Article 48, Section 1-202(4)
Notice: This publication is not issued by an insurance company nor is it offered through an insurance company. It does not guarantee or promise that your medical bills will be published or assigned to others for payment. No other subscriber will be compelled to contribute toward the cost of your medical bills. Therefore, this publication should never be considered a substitute for an insurance policy. This activity is not regulated by the State Insurance Administration, and your liabilities are not covered by the Life and Health Guaranty Fund. Whether or not you receive any payments for medical expenses and whether or not this entity continues to operate, you are always liable for any unpaid bills.
Massachusetts
The organization coordinating the sharing of medical expenses is not an insurance company, and neither its guidelines nor plan of operation is an insurance policy. Whether anyone chooses to assist you with your medical bills will be totally voluntary because no other participant will be compelled by law to contribute toward your medical bills. Due to the public policy implications of Massachusetts’ mandatory insurance requirement (which operates independent of the Affordable Care Act), all Massachusetts members of SMI must be participants in the Save to Share™ program for sharing medical expenses above $250,000.
Michigan
550.1867
Notice: Samaritan Ministries International that operates this health care sharing ministry is not an insurance company and the financial assistance provided through the ministry is not insurance and is not provided through an insurance company. Whether any participant in the ministry chooses to assist another participant who has financial or medical needs is totally voluntary. A participant will not be compelled by law to contribute toward the financial or medical needs of another participant. This document is not a contract of insurance or a promise to pay for the financial or medical needs of a participant by the ministry. A participant who receives assistance from the ministry for his or her financial or medical needs remains personally responsible for the payment of all of his or her medical bills and other obligations incurred in meeting his or her financial or medical needs.
Mississippi
Title 83-77-1
Notice: The organization facilitating the sharing of medical expenses is not an insurance company, and neither its guidelines nor plan of operation is an insurance policy. Whether anyone chooses to assist you with your medical bills will be totally voluntary because no other participant will be compelled by law to contribute toward your medical bills. As such, participation in the organization or a subscription to any of its documents should never be considered to be insurance. Regardless of whether you receive any payment of medical expenses or whether this organization continues to operate, you are always personally responsible for the payment of your own medical bills.
Missouri
Section 376.1750
Notice: This publication is not an insurance company nor is it offered through an insurance company. Whether anyone chooses to assist you with your medical bills will be totally voluntary, as no other subscriber or member will be compelled to contribute toward your medical bills. As such, this publication should never be considered to be insurance. Whether you receive any payments for medical expenses and whether or not this publication continues to operate, you are always personally responsible for the payment of your own medical bills.
Montana
Revised Statute Chapter SECTIONS 33-1-102 AND 33-1-201
NOTICE: The health care sharing ministry facilitating the sharing of medical expenses is not an insurance company and does not use insurance agents or pay commissions to insurance agents. The health care sharing ministry's guidelines and plan of operation are not an insurance policy. Without health care insurance, there is no guarantee that you, a fellow member, or any other person who is a party to the health care sharing ministry agreement will be protected in the event of illness or emergency. Regardless of whether you receive any payment for medical expenses or whether the health care sharing ministry terminates, withdraws from the faith-based agreement, or continues to operate, you are always personally responsible for the payment of your own medical bills. If your participation in the health care sharing ministry ends, state law may subject you to a waiting period before you are able to apply for health insurance coverage.
Nebraska
Revised Statute Chapter 44-311
IMPORTANT NOTICE: This organization is not an insurance company, and its product should never be considered insurance. If you join this organization instead of purchasing health insurance, you will be considered uninsured. By the terms of this agreement, whether anyone chooses to assist you with your medical bills as a participant of this organization will be totally voluntary, and neither the organization nor any participant can be compelled by law to contribute toward your medical bills. Regardless of whether you receive payment for medical expenses or whether this organization continues to operate, you are always personally responsible for the payment of your own medical bills. This organization is not regulated by the Nebraska Department of Insurance. You should review this organization’s guidelines carefully to be sure you understand any limitations that may affect your personal medical and financial needs.
New Hampshire
Section 126-V:1
IMPORTANT NOTICE: This organization is not an insurance company, and its product should never be considered insurance. If you join this organization instead of purchasing health insurance, you will be considered uninsured. By the terms of this agreement, whether anyone chooses to assist you with your medical bills as a participant of this organization will be totally voluntary, and neither the organization nor any participant can be compelled by law to contribute toward your medical bills. Regardless of whether you receive payment for medical expenses or whether this organization continues to operate, you are always personally responsible for the payment of your own medical bills. This organization is not regulated by the New Hampshire Insurance Department. You should review this organization’s guidelines carefully to be sure you understand any limitations that may affect your personal medical and financial needs.
North Carolina
Statute 58-49-12
Notice: The organization facilitating the sharing of medical expenses is not an insurance company and neither its guidelines nor its plan of operation is an insurance policy. Whether anyone chooses to assist you with your medical bills will be voluntary. No other participant will be compelled by law to contribute toward your medical bills. As such, participation in the organization or a subscription to any of its documents should never be considered to be insurance. Regardless of whether you receive any payment for medical expenses or whether this organization continues to operate, you are always personally liable for the payment of your own medical bills.
Pennsylvania
40 Penn. Statute Section 23(b)
Notice: This publication is not an insurance company nor is it offered through an insurance company. This publication does not guarantee or promise that your medical bills will be published or assigned to others for payment. Whether anyone chooses to pay your medical bills will be totally voluntary. As such, this publication should never be considered a substitute for insurance. Whether you receive any payments for medical expenses and whether or not this publication continues to operate, you are always liable for any unpaid bills.
South Dakota
Statute Title 58-1-3.3
Notice: The organization facilitating the sharing of medical expenses is not an insurance company, and neither its guidelines nor plan of operation is an insurance policy. Whether anyone chooses to assist you with your medical bills will be totally voluntary because no other participant will be compelled by law to contribute toward your medical bills. As such, participation in the organization or a subscription to any of its documents should never be considered to be insurance. Regardless of whether you receive any payments for medical expenses or whether this organization continues to operate, you are always personally responsible for the payment of your own medical bills.
Tennessee
Code Annotated, Section 48-51-201
Notice: The organization facilitating the sharing of medical expenses is not an insurance company, and neither its guidelines nor plan of operation is an insurance policy. Whether anyone chooses to assist you with your medical bills will be totally voluntary because no other participant will be compelled by law to contribute toward your medical bills. As such, participation in the organization or a subscription to any of its documents should never be considered to be insurance. Regardless of whether you receive any payments for medical expenses or whether this organization continues to operate, you are always personally responsible for the payment of your own medical bills.
Texas
Code Title 8, K, 1681.001
Notice: This health care sharing ministry facilitates the sharing of medical expenses and is not an insurance company, and neither its guidelines nor its plan of operation is an insurance policy. Whether anyone chooses to assist you with your medical bills will be totally voluntary because no other participant will be compelled by law to contribute toward your medical bills. As such, participation in the ministry or a subscription to any of its documents should never be considered to be insurance. Regardless of whether you receive any payment for medical expenses or whether this ministry continues to operate, you are always personally responsible for the payment of your own medical bills. Complaints concerning this health care sharing ministry may be reported to the office of the Texas attorney general.
Utah
Section 31 A-1-103 (3) (l)
(A) the health care sharing ministry is not an insurance company;
(B) nothing the health care sharing ministry offers or provides is an insurance policy, including the health care sharing ministry's guidelines or plan of operations;
(C) participation in the health care sharing ministry is entirely voluntary and no participant is compelled by law to contribute to another participant's expenses;
(D) participation in the health care sharing ministry or subscription to any of the health care sharing ministry's services is not insurance; and
(E) each participant is always personally responsible for the participant's expenses regardless of whether the participant receives payment for the expenses through the health care sharing ministry or whether this health care sharing ministry continues to operate
Virginia
Code 38.2-6300-6301
Notice: This publication is not insurance, and is not offered through an insurance company. Whether anyone chooses to assist you with your medical bills will be totally voluntary, as no other member will be compelled by law to contribute toward your medical bills. As such, this publication should never be considered to be insurance. Whether you receive any payments for medical expenses and whether or not this publication continues to operate, you are always personally responsible for the payment of your own medical bills.
West Virginia
Statute §35-1B-1-6
Notice: The organization facilitating the sharing of medical expenses is not an insurance company, and neither its guidelines nor plan of operation is an insurance policy. Whether anyone chooses to assist you with your medical bills will be totally voluntary because no other participant will be compelled by law to contribute toward your medical bills. As such, participation in the organization or a subscription to any of its documents should never be considered to be insurance. Regardless of whether you receive any payments for medical expenses or whether this organization continues to operate, you are always personally responsible for the payment of your own medical bills. Complaints concerning this health care sharing ministry may be reported to the Attorney General of your state.
Wisconsin
Statute 600.01 (1) (b) (9)
ATTENTION: This publication is not issued by an insurance company, nor is it offered through an insurance company. This publication does not guarantee or promise that your medical bills will be published or assigned to others for payment. Whether anyone chooses to pay your medical bills is entirely voluntary. This publication should never be considered a substitute for an insurance policy. Whether or not you receive any payments for medical expenses, and whether or not this publication continues to operate, you are responsible for the payment of your own medical bills.
Wyoming
6.1.104 (a)(v)(C)
Notice: The organization facilitating the sharing of medical expenses is not an insurance company, and neither its guidelines nor plan of operation is an insurance policy. Any assistance with your medical bills is completely voluntary. No other participant is compelled by law or otherwise to contribute toward your medical bills. Participation in the organization or a subscription to any of its documents shall not be considered to be health insurance and is not subject to the regulatory requirements or consumer protections of the Wyoming insurance code. You are personally responsible for payment of your medical bills regardless of any financial sharing you may receive from the organization for medical expenses. You are also responsible for payment of your medical bills if the organization ceases to exist or ceases to facilitate the sharing of medical expenses.
REDEEMTM HealthShare, a division of Samaritan Ministries International, is a certified health care sharing ministry
REDEEM HealthShare Ministry is a division of Samaritan Ministries International, a nonprofit religious organization recognized by the IRS as tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. REDEEM members are, at the same time, members of Samaritan Ministries and are entitled to vote for the Samaritan Ministries Board of Directors.
Samaritan Ministries International received a letter of certification as a recognized health care sharing ministry by the Department of Health & Human Services (via Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services). View Samaritan Ministries' certification letter.
Samaritan Ministries also has a yearly independent audit available upon request. Samaritan Ministries files a federal form 990 annually, and it is available to the public. Samaritan Ministries also has an annual report available upon request.
Health care sharing ministries and the ACA
As a certified health care sharing ministry, members of Samaritan Ministries are exempt from the Federal health care law (Affordable Care Act) and California, the District of Columbia, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Rhode Island's Individual state mandate.
Join the REDEEM HealthShare Community
Experience health care sharing with Christian values, affordability, and freedom to choose your providers
