Medical expenses for catastrophic or chronic illness can easily surpass $125,000—the standard sharing limit per illness on CHM’s main programs (CHM Bronze, CHM Silver, CHM Gold). Furthermore, medical bill expenses for both short-term and long-term medical needs are projected to keep rising. For example, annual U.S. spending for cancer treatment is expected to increase from $183 billion in 2015 to $246 billion in 2030 according to the American Cancer Society. The need for CHM Plus, CHM’s optional program for medical bills exceeding $125,000 per illness, has never been greater.
The price tag for medical care
Medical conditions that easily—and regularly—exceed $125,000 include heart disease, stroke, cancer, serious motor vehicle accidents, and even maternity events involving complications or multiple births.
Medical costs can vary widely by state, level of care needed, length of care, and other factors, making it difficult to assess the specific costs. However, we’ve compiled some general statistics that show the magnitude of today’s healthcare costs:
Cancer: On average cancer treatment is estimated to be $150,000, with chemotherapy costs ranging from $1,000 to more than $12,000 per month.
Motor vehicle accident: Medical bills for severe injuries from a car accident can easily be $50,000 or more, and may include emergency room visits, hospitalization, medical treatment, and even life-saving medical transportation.
Maternity: Maternity expenses, which are $20,416 on average, can exceed $125,000 when there are multiple births or complications. The average cost for giving birth to twins is $104,831, and for triplets—or more—is $407,199. If complications or a premature birth require a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) stay, the average cost in 2021 was $71,158, not including prenatal or delivery costs, or postpartum care for mothers.
How CHM Plus safeguards you
For a monthly cost of $42 per unit, CHM Plus, an add-on to CHM Bronze, CHM Silver, or CHM Gold*, increases the $125,000 per illness sharing limit, so you’re protected even when costs go above $125,000. With CHM Gold and CHM Plus, you get the highest level of support—unlimited sharing for eligible medical bills.
Don’t be caught unprepared. For CHM Plus sharing to be active, CHM Plus must be added before any signs, symptoms, or testing occur and prior to becoming pregnant (the due date must be at least 300 days from the CHM Plus start date). The best time to add CHM Plus is now! In 2025, CHM members shared more than $64 million through CHM Plus, which is 3.11% of the total dollars shared. This includes 956 individual members who were helped through CHM Plus sharing, relieving the burden and stress of expensive medical costs. You can have the peace of mind that comes from knowing if expensive medical bills arise, you have support from your fellow CHM members through CHM Plus.
*Editor’s note: CHM SeniorShare™ members don’t have a sharing limit, meaning the perks of CHM Plus are already included with the program.
