Healthcare for Seniors

Show Notes

People over age 65 have opportunities to save on their healthcare costs with health-sharing ministries. In today's Faith and Finance, Rob West explores those options with Lauren Gajdek, Vice-President of Communications and Media at Christian Healthcare Ministries.

• Lauren -  1 in 10 adults owe some kind of medical debt. At Christian Healthcare Ministries we want to create a different reality for people, making sure they don't live with medical debt.
• Rob - It's worse for seniors, isn't it?
• Lauren Absolutely. As we age medical bills tend to go up. Medicare doesn't cover 100% of your costs.
• Rob - If you're already a member, continuing in a Christian Healthcare Ministries plan is easy, isn't it?
• Lauren -  Yes, at age 65 if you're already a member of CHM you can stay on without interruption. And others can jump on board.
• Rob - What is Senior Share?
• Lauren -  It isn't health insurance, but is instead a cost-reduction program. Our Gold program for people over 65 is only $115 a month.
• Rob - How can people get information about this?
• Lauren -  They can go to chministries.org or call us.
• Rob - This is a great option and a biblical option for anyone looking to cope with the rising costs of healthcare, isn't it?
• Lauren -  Absolutely. We are biblically based.
• Rob - For those who want to go on Senior Share, do they have to have Medicare A and B in order to do so?
• Lauren -  Correct. Medicare is considered the first payer and CHM is then available to help with the additional costs that Medicare wouldn't pay.

Next, Rob answers these questions at 800-525-7000 or via email at askrob@FaithFi.com:

• Testimony from caller: He listened to the program several years ago and previously had no idea it was biblical to be debt-free. He paid off house, has an emergency fund, and have just retired.
• What are better options for your government retirement Thrift Savings Plan which you put in the G Fund last year and it is only earning a low fixed interest rate, if you are newly retired but don't need to draw on the funds?
• Will you owe taxes on the sale of a home you inherited last year from your father if he left no will and his estate is going through probate?
• Is it the law that you can't received Social Security benefits from the records of two husbands, if you were twice widowed after having been married for 14 years both times?
• What is the best vehicle to make the most of your grandson's Social Security survivor's benefits that you are setting aside for his college or future expenses?
• If you have a payment plan with the IRS can they garnish funds out of your bank account?

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