Veronika Ott, Homewood, IL

Sophia Ellen Arielle and Eliana Liberty Joy were born to Derek and Veronika Ott of Homewood, Ill., on May 14, 2011 and July 5, 2014, respectively. Veronika birthed the children under CHM’s maternity program. Here’s what she had to say about her CHM experience:

Christian Healthcare Ministries: How did you hear about CHM?

Veronika Ott: My journey with CHM began about five years ago. I had moved from Europe to marry Derek, who works in full-time ministry. We started thinking about having children.

However, we didn’t have health insurance and didn’t even know where to start looking. I’m from a small eastern European country where health care is available to anyone who is legally employed, so navigating the maze of health care options in the United States left me feeling helpless. We couldn’t find an affordable maternity option or anyone to give us good advice on the matter.

Desperate for a solution, I kept praying that God would help us. About a year into our search, a family member approached us with information about CHM. It seemed too good to be true. We looked into it and were elated and relieved to find our answer.

CHM: Please tell us about your experience since you joined CHM.

VO: We’ve been members for about four years. We’ve been blessed with good health and no medical needs other than the pregnancies and births of our daughters. We are so pleased that our monthly giving goes to help others in need, rather than toward the costly overhead of running a large insurance company. Whenever we’ve had a question about anything, the CHM staff has answered graciously and helpfully.

CHM: Did you experience any complications with your pregnancies?

VO: In 2010, I found out I was pregnant with Sophia and began planning for an all-natural birth with no medical intervention. However, I ended up needing unexpected treatment and a C-section due to a serious condition I was diagnosed with 10 days before my due date. The new charges were nearly six times the original cost! Thank God for CHM. I had no worries; every penny was reimbursed and we even received a beautiful gift from the ministry for the baby.

In contrast, when Eliana arrived we had the wonderful experience of a natural birth with no medication or complications.

CHM: How much did each pregnancy and delivery cost?

VO: The total cost of my first pregnancy was over $54,000. We received about $28,000 in discounts and CHM shared nearly $26,000. The bills from the second pregnancy totaled $32,000. After nearly $18,000 in discounts, CHM members shared the remaining $14,000.

CHM: Is there anything else you want to mention to our readers?

VO: I’d like to express my heartfelt gratitude for CHM’s service to our family. I’m always telling friends and family about this amazing ministry based on biblical principles. Thank you!