By Dave Tschantz, Vice President & General Counsel
*Editor’s note: This information was published in the January 2021 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.*
CHM was the nation’s first health cost sharing ministry. As the pioneers of this model and as its standard-bearer, our obligation is to continue setting the standard. CHM is guided by a set of 14 best-practice ministry standards.
The first standard stresses the importance of ministry to our members, and the necessity that they share common religious beliefs.
CHM’s mission statement makes it clear: We aren’t here to make money, increase assets or funds, or pay dividends. We exist to glorify God, show Christian love and experience God’s presence as we share each other's medical bills.
We don’t use third-party administrators to handle membership concerns or to process sharing requests. Membership needs are handled in-house to maximize funds available for bill sharing, and for no other purpose!
Our shared faith is indispensable to our mission. Christians know that a person can’t have a true bond with another person when they don’t also have the Holy Spirit. Some sharing organizations accept people of all faiths. While service may be provided, they can’t truly minister because there’s no common belief among participants. Our ministry model sets us apart. It’s how we can pray with you—as Christians serving Christians.
