We’re going to take a break from the pregnancy chronicles and talk about the leap of faith we took last summer – leaving traditional health insurance behind. That’s right - we are UNINSURED!!!! (insert gasping, horrified Home Alone-looking blue and yellow faced emoji.) The very word strikes fear in the hearts of most people, and it certainly did scare me when we initially started talking about making a change.

My husband and I own a real estate brokerage, and as anyone who is self-employed can probably attest, one of the biggest challenges is finding good private health insurance. In our experience, there were very few options and our monthly premiums were turning into a second mortgage. A second mortgage is great when someone else is paying it for you, ie an investment property with cash flow, but this was not like that. We needed a better option! And what is that better option? Samaritan Ministries.

Samaritan Ministries is a faith-based, health care sharing ministry. Christians helping Christians with health care. Instead of paying ridiculous monthly premiums to an insurance company, we pay a reasonable share each month directly to a member in need. It is incredible. Was I on board right away? No way! We started talking about this last January, and didn’t sign up until July. I am so grateful to my husband for having an open mind and trusting heart, because this girl was skeptical. We have two young kids (who lived in the pediatrician's office last year due to ear infections), and wanted to have a third baby soon, so why not cancel our insurance and start PAYING CASH for everything right before we get pregnant again? Great idea! Turns out it WAS a great idea. After research and a lot of prayer, as well as hearing testimony after testimony from different members, it was clear that Samaritan was the way to go.

We did end up getting pregnant shortly after we joined, and have already had my doctor and lab bills reimbursed to us. I will be able to submit my hospital bills for reimbursement once I deliver the baby as well. Not only that, both my girls had ear tube surgery last spring. (Remember all the trips to the pediatrician I mentioned?) We were insured at the time and still paid nearly $10,000 for both surgeries. Although these surgeries took place before we were members of Samaritan, we were able to submit those bills as a Special Prayer Need this past March. We have been receiving shares from believers all over the country for expenses that I never thought we would recoup! And members don’t just send funds – they send notes of encouragement, prayers & love along with their shares and make my 3 year old ask why mommy cries every time she opens the mail.

I am completely awestruck by how God works through this ministry. If you feel called to make a change, whether it be to leave traditional employment or traditional health insurance, discern in prayer and then step out boldly! God is a God of provision. Do not be afraid.

*I was not compensated to write this post, but I will receive a credit on my monthly share if you join and use my name as a reference.*