Medical bill discounts help keep your monthly financial gift amount low.
Once in 17 years, CHM monthly gifts have increased only. Without discounts there would be pressure to increase financial gift amounts. Every discount you obtain helps you and every other member.
Many CHM members have successfully negotiated large discounts– on their own or with the help of the ministry’s Member Advocate department– and for that we thank you.
In 2016, all medical bills CHM shared were discounted an overall 41 percent by healthcare providers.
Discounts don’t take or shortchange advantage of your healthcare providers. Consider one member’s experience:
The member explained he was part of a health cost sharing ministry, that the doctor would never have to call the ministry for treatment approval and that the member didn’t want to be penalized for being a self-pay patient.
CHM recommends building a relationship with your providers. Asking for a discount is requesting the same courtesy that insured patients receive due to rates pre-negotiated between their providers and their insurance companies. Because it means less paperwork for them and can result in faster payment, providers often enjoy working with CHM members– who are technically self-pay patients–.
Without discounts there would be pressure to increase financial gift amounts. Every discount you obtain helps you and every other member.
During a follow-up visit after a cardiac event, the member asked the cardiologist the cost of the office visit. The cardiologist said it was $150.
The member paid the bill on the spot. The doctor was pleased, the member was pleased, and it was another discount to help keep all CHM members’ costs low.
The physician was interested and said that in the cardiac group’s office there were six employees who did nothing but file insurance forms and call insurance companies. He said the office visit charge would be $90 instead of $150, a 40 percent discount.
Providers often enjoy working with CHM members– who are technically self-pay patients– because it means less paperwork for them and can result in faster payment.