Well....

I just got a notice in the mail today for my second increase in health insurance premiums......IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS!!!!

It appears....they were bound and determined to raise them. In May....they sent me a notice.....so I took a lesser coverage in order to keep my premiums approximately the same. In fact, I went from a $500 to a $1,000 deductible.

Today, I get a notice that.....1) They are still going to raise my premiums $100 per month; and 2) They are decreasing the coverage.

That's it.....there's got to be a better way....and even if it ain't....I'm tired of paying for people's abortions and immoral lifestyles!!

Now I've got a serious inquiry.....do any of you have any experience with the group called...."Christian Brotherhood Newsletter"??

This IS NOT an insurance company, but a organization that publishes your medical needs (3 different plans) and individual Christians pay you so that you can pay your bills in cash.

Their web address is.....www.christianbrotherhood.org

If you have any experience.....let me know.

I'm seriously considering going with their lesser coverage ($5000 hospitalization Bronze plan).....and the money I save I will put in a medical savings account....(about $150 a month).

Oh...by the way....I had been with that company only one year....AND NEVER....filed a claim.

What a crock!!

-- Anonymous, July 29, 2000

Answers

Thanks for the info folks.

I took the plunge and sent in my first month's payment to the Christian Brotherhood Newsletter. I took their least amount of coverage (their Bronze program). On this coverage I am responsible for the first $5000. Also, it only covers hospital expenses and procedures done in a hospital.

With the money I am saving from my previous insurance premium....I have opened a savings account for medical expenses only and will invest in C.D.'s as possible.

Anyway.....I like the idea of personally helping other people out with their medical needs the way the CBN program works.

-- Anonymous, August 01, 2000

Eric....

My guess is you must be young....because you appear prone to "foot in mouth disease."

The fact is.....

1) I posted on July 30th.....and 2 fulls day later there had been very little response. My conclusion: as per my question....no one had any PERSONAL experience with CBN......therefore....they had nothing to contribute to the discussion. I have been on this forum for a full year now....and to the credit of most people on here....they don't post unless they have something meaningful to contribute to the discussion.

2) When it comes to insurance....or some type of health coverage....time is of the essence. My current insurance runs out in about two weeks.....and it takes CBN approx. two weeks to process your application and send you your cards....etc. I had to make a decision in two to three days. I have a wife and two children to think about.

And lastly.....how in the world does one tie this tread with a "biblical thread" in the first place.

Learn to listen before you speak.....or at least make your critical, uninformed inquiries via private e-mail.

-- Anonymous, August 02, 2000

I heard about them several years ago... everything I heard was good... Yes, I would also like to know if anyone out there uses their program...

-- Anonymous, July 30, 2000

Danny -

I love you conclusion: that our skyrocketing health care costs are the result of other people's immoral lifestyles. While I was living in Hawaii, the vote for legalizing homosexual marriage came up on the ballot. One of the reasons cited for why the homosexual 'unions' should not be given the same legal recognition as marriage was that when they are, the same-sex partner must be given health care benefits on the other partner's work health insurance plans just like married couples. This would put a strain on the health care system which would affect everyone. Why? Because of the 'unique' health care needs of the homosexual community.

In short, the remainder of the citizens would be paying for the lifestyle choices of the few. The referendum for same sex marriage was soundly defeated, btw.

-- Anonymous, August 01, 2000

I have read the forum for about a year now and here is my first response. My sister was with Brotherhood for the four years her husband was a minister in Indiana. She never told me any complaints and they were very generous with her maternity bills. The only reason that she switched insurances was because her family became missionaries in Taiwan and there are some good, unique plans for missionaries. There is another group similar to brotherhood that I belong too. It is called Christian Care Medi-Share. I have been with them for 1 1/2 and never filed a claim, so I can't really tell you how good they are. My senior minister has had a blood clot and many bills, and seems pretty satisfied with their service.

-- Anonymous, August 01, 2000

Eric,

Can you post their address, phone number, and any web info? Thaks!

Darrell H Combs

-- Anonymous, August 01, 2000

Darrell, Here is your address and phone # Christian Care Medi-Share P.O.Box 674 Sterling, IL 61081 (815)625-8595

Danny, I am curious as to why you ask a question that seemed curious of peoples opinions ("serious inquiry"), then had sent in your first payment within 2 or 3 days. Maybe you just thought it to be a worthy thread. My hope is that you don't have your mind made up on Biblical issues before hearing others responses. I do understand you know nothing of me and here I am questioning you. Quickly consider or dismiss these words.

-- Anonymous, August 01, 2000

Sick em, Danny!

I will use this opportunity to let you all know that I have resigned as minister here... I will be considering ministries in June of 2001 if any of you can wait that long... :)

Meanwhile, as we are discussing "Health Insurance", I must mention that I now represent the nations largest and fastest growing Dental Benefits Plan. It is not insurance. It is like a "Sams Club" for Dental. I first learned about it from my neighbor who cut his kid's braces bill in half... from $4000 to $2000.

I became a member, and next week I am taking both of my kids to the dentist. Aaron will need braces. My wife has dental insurance, which pays 25% of braces. I am using MY DENTAL PLAN as the "PRIMARY" and bringing it from $4000 to $2000. Then my wife's plan will kick in and pay 25% of that.... making braces for Aaron cost $1500.

Skeptics are welcome. But I can assure you it is all for real. Here is a list of SOME of the savings you will realize. For more inquiries, visit MY website at dentaclub.com

Sample Dental Procedures:

The below list of services are only a sample of over two hundred (200) dental procedures available to all DENTACLUB members.

Average Fee**/ DENTACLUB Fee/ Savings

Periodic Oral Exam $ 30/ $5/ 83%

X-Rays - Complete $ 75/ $15/ 80%

Teeth Cleaning $ 40/ $10/ 75%

Amalgam (Silver Filling)

1 Surface $ 85/ $20/ 77%

2 Surfaces $ 104/ $35/ 66%

Composite (Tooth Colored)

1 Surface $ 110/ $35/ 68%

2 Surfaces $ 104/ $30/ 60%

Sedative Filling (Temporary)

$ 75/ $20/ 73%

Simple Extraction $ 100/ $35/ 65%

Root Canals

1 Canal $ 450/ $ 195/ 57%

2 Canals $ 525/ $ 250/ 52%

Porcelain w/Metal

Crown $ 800/ $ 395/ 51%

Complete Upper/Lower Denture

$ 1100/ $ 395/ 51%

Orthodontic Treatment (braces)

by General Dentists

Children (under Age 19)

$ 3700/ $ 1850/ 50%

Adults (19 and Over)

$ 3900/ $1950/ 50%

Fees above apply to the following States, Arizona, Colorado,Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri and Kansas. Other state fees on request. -- Anonymous, August 02, 2000 Oh yeah.... Club membership is only $11.95 a month for individuals, or just $19.95 for the entire household. (anyone who lives under your roof) You can sign up just for some major dental expense, save a bundle, and then quit if you want.... But most don't. The company has a customer retention rate of over 90%.... -- Anonymous, August 02, 2000 Hi Danny, as you know I have been in the insurance and retirement business for 35 years. I almost feel like a crook quoting insurance premiums today. They are high. However, I quit one company because they only made one million dollor profit in 97. That is not enough for an insurance company. That year they paid a quarter of a million dollors on one of our preaching buddies. A few more of those and they would be hurting so I started selling for another company. I have seen one life insurance company after another quit health insurance because it is not profitable. Life of Indiana went out of business all together because of their lossess. Do not blame the companies. Blame the medical world. They are the thieves. Blame the states for making companies accept those who are sick from their lifestyles. It is not right to make them pay for those who fornicated, smoked and drank themselves sick. In Ky. it is law they have to accept every body. All three of my companies pulled out and had to cancel the polices of everyone. I lost a three hundred dollor a month renewal due to such laws. Now due to larger premiums caused by having to accept everyone, less people are insured in Ky. than before the stupid law was passed. It is true that not all those sick caused their own problem with health, however it is immoral to force a business to take some one as a client that can only cost them money and to make everyone else pay for that person. Insurance is a business not a charity. Incidently I am one of those who can not get it, so I am not biased in this regard. As for the letter type arrangements I have seen one of them go out of business and write letters to those not in it to help those who have not been paid. I referred a lot of folk to that plan and heard no complaints for years. Then it folded and people were left with big bills. Their rates ended up being higher with much less benefits than my commercial companies that were making a profit!! I have enjoyed helping people for all these years financially in addition to my ministry. I just consider it another ministry. However it almost makes me cry to see young families having to spend hundreds a month on insurance when that money could be going into the fine retirement vehicles that I market. There is no easy answer. If you send the ages of your family I will send you a quote. Sincerly, George at Summit -- Anonymous, August 15, 2000 Moderation questions? read the FAQ