CHM's pre-existing condition program eases caregiver's concerns

By member Vicki Rispoli, St. Augustine, Fla.

Editor’s note: This information was published in the September 2018 issue of Heartfelt Magazine, CHM’s monthly magazine that provides CHM membership-related tips and tricks, medical advice from doctors, testimonies from CHM members, and more. Please refer to the CHM Guidelines and applicable web pages for the most up-to-date information regarding CHM membership, sharing eligibility, and ministry news.

Seven years ago life was good: my husband was a chemical engineer with a good income and health insurance policy; I was serving as a youth minister and also working for a ministry in Haiti. God blessed us with the means to put our three children through college.

Then came a dreadful diagnosis: we found out that my husband, James, had Huntington’s disease, a fatal genetic brain disorder with no cure.

Eventually he had to stop working and I was no longer able to be on his insurance policy. I’m so grateful that some friends told me about CHM. In Oct. 2015 I joined the Gold and Brother’s Keeper programs.

I’ve had a number of minor health issues for which CHM members have shared my medical bills. However, the most significant event was in Oct. 2017, the total replacement of my right knee.

I don’t know what we would have done without CHM’s support; it would have been very difficult for me to take care of James’ future needs if I hadn’t had knee surgery.

Without CHM we would have been facing over $60,000 in medical bills just for the knee replacement; but thanks be to God that the healthcare providers were so willing to work with me and the bills were reduced by over $41,000! The hospital bill discount alone was over $30,000.

Through the Gold program’s pre-existing schedule, CHM members shared the remaining amount of nearly $19,000.

I thank God that in spite of Huntington’s disease, James is doing quite well right now. God is taking care of us and has made our burden lighter by working through our family, friends and CHM members. The ministry is a great blessing to us and we enjoy giving to the Prayer Page and reading the stories of God’s people each month in Heartfelt Magazine.

We ask for your continued prayers for James, our family and all families facing Huntington’s disease. Please join us in asking God that a cure can be found.

God bless you all.

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