Families enduring most explosive inflation in 40 years search for affordable health care
Health Care Sharing Ministries provide community and support, said Katy Talento of the Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries
WASHINGTON D.C. — Almost 100 million Americans suffering from the current explosive inflationare skipping visits to the doctor and health care treatments because they can’t afford the medical bills. According to a new Gallup poll, “Rising healthcare costs have compelled nearly four in 10 Americans in the past six months to delay or skip healthcare treatments, trim regular household expenses or borrow money.” The poll also shows that Americans don’t want their health care threatened by the whim of politicians. The poll demonstrates significant distrust in Congress to lower the cost of health care in the coming year. The majority of Americans of all political persuasions (Democrats: 53%, Independents: 67%, and Republicans: 56%) report having no confidence that there will be help from Capitol Hill.
“Given the bipartisan commitment to inflation-inducing spending sprees, it’s understandable that Americans are no longer looking for help from Washington, D.C.,” said Katy Talento, executive director of the Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries (The Alliance, ahcsm.org). “Families don’t have to feel trapped when it comes to cost inflation in health care! They can take greater control of their health care costs with a Health Care Sharing Ministry. Since Health Care Sharing Ministries provide significant assistance to members in identifying the lowest-cost sites of care and some ministries encourage members to seek the deeply discounted cash prices for services, a Health Care Sharing Ministry could be the very best option for those who feel like inflation is threatening their family budgets and limiting their health care options.”
Health Care Sharing Ministries do more than reduce a family’s medical costs — they serve Christians throughout the United States and many foreign countries by enabling them to share health care costs. Ministry members support each other as the early Christians in the Book of Acts joined together to meet each other’s needs. These faith-based ministries provide financial, emotional, and spiritual support to members.
As for the recent assertion that the economy saw ‘zero’ inflation, the Gallup poll found a correlation between cutting costs for basic life needs and reducing spending on medical care and medicine. For instance, out of families who skipped meals, 71% also cut back on health care. When it comes to reducing the family spending on utilities, which could become its own medical problem itself this winter, 59% also cut back on care and medicine.
“Health Care Sharing Ministries are more important now than ever in this time of raging, budget-busting inflation. These ministries have worked hard for decades to educate and raise awareness about their unique solution for high health care costs,” said Talento. “As the health care landscape changes rapidly with continued pressure on family budgets, we urge everyone to consider a Health Care Sharing Ministry.”
Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries is a 501(c)(6) trade organization representing the common interests of Health Care Sharing Ministry organizations which are facilitating the sharing of health care needs (financial, emotional, and spiritual) by individuals and families, and their participants. The Alliance engages with federal and state regulators, members of the media, and the Christian community to provide accurate and timely information on medical cost sharing.
To learn more about the Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries, visit www.ahcsm.org or follow the ministry on Facebook or Twitter.
