Since Jody and I lost our insurance a few months ago we joined a medical cost sharing group. These organizations are set up so that Christians can share one another’s medical expenses rather than rely on insurance. We’ve been participating in one called “Samaritan Ministries” through which, every month, we receive the name of somebody who has incurred a medical expense. This month it was a family in Idaho whose five-year-old had been hospitalized with pneumonia and a respiratory infection. Upon receipt of the notice we send our monthly contribution directly to the family with the need.

This is a pretty cool way of dealing with health care costs without traditional insurance! It sounds a lot like what Paul says in Galatians: “bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.” It’s pretty affordable, too–240.00 a month for Jody and I.

What’s got me bothered right now is that the health care reform bills that are coming out of Washington may make it mandatory to buy government-approved health insurance. So where will that leave those of us who want to take care of each other through a cost-sharing pool? What if it becomes “buy government-approved health insurance or pay a fine.” Yikes! I hope our legislators build enough flexibility into these bills to let people be responsible for one another if they choose. I’ve already sent a note to our Representative. Now, it’s wait and see…