Members use Gold maternity program, impressed by savings, Tabitha Trudeau, Connecticut

From the October 2019 issue of Heartfelt Magazine.

Throughout the past seven years of our marriage, my husband and I considered joining Christian Healthcare Ministries. However, like many folks we were nervous to try something ‘new,’ so we stuck with what we knew.

Last year, as we looked over our options during open enrollment, CHM seemed like the right choice for our family. (Editor’s note: CHM does not have an open enrollment period. You can join whenever is best for you; however, please note that limitations apply for pre-existing conditions.)

We wanted to make sure I became a member as soon as possible so that if I became pregnant, my bills would be eligible for sharing. (Editor’s note: The CHM Guidelines state that for pregnancy bills to be eligible for sharing, a mother must join the ministry at least 300 days before the doctor’s estimated due date. This generally means members must wait at least 30 days after joining before becoming pregnant.)

In Nov. 2017 a CHM Member Assistance dept. staff member walked me through applying for Gold membership. Greg and our three daughters later joined at the Silver level. We conceived our first son, Gabriel, shortly after Jan. 1.

It was a normal pregnancy, though I underwent more frequent lab tests due to a low blood platelet count. I also experienced Rh-sensitization (when the mother’s immune system develops antibodies against the antigens in the baby’s Rh-positive blood), but we praise God that there were no complications.

When the medical bills came, we used a spreadsheet to track everything. I recorded the dates on which we submitted bills to CHM, when we paid them, and when CHM reimbursed us. There was a bit of a learning curve, but once I got the hang of it, the submission process was simple and straightforward.

CHM shared nearly $14,000 after discounts of almost $9,000. We’re so appreciative that CHM shared 100 percent of our eligible costs.

It has been fun to add a son to our family. His sisters smother him with love, and he (usually) eats it up. He is very active and keeps things interesting—especially now that he’s learning to grasp anything he can get his hands on.

We are thankful to be a part of this ministry and look forward to staying for years to come!