After reading through many Health Share reviews, I have found a few common reasons as to why people were either happy or unhappy with their Health Share experience.

What you need to know BEFORE you join a Health Share

There are a few important things to know if you want to (almost) guarantee a great experience with any Health Share that you decide to join.

• Read through the Member Guidelines. Before you join any Health Share, it’s important to review their Member Guidelines. This will let you know what is and isn’t shareable within the Health Share community. Here’s why: I’ve read too many negative reviews where members are upset that a medical procedure isn’t being paid for by the community…but it clearly states that it is not shareable in that Health Share’s Member Guidelines! If those members knew this information in advance, they wouldn’t have expected it to be shared and wouldn’t have had a negative experience when the Health Share didn’t pay. Read the Member Guidelines before you join a Health Share so that you have appropriate expectations from the start.

• Know How Long It Takes to Have Medical Bills Paid. Every Health Share has different standards for how long it will take to have medical bills paid for or reimbursed. Talk to your Health Share and just ask them what is a reasonable time to expect for the entire process to take. Here’s why: I’ve seen people complain that it took two months to have their bills paid for, but when you call the Health Share, they say from the beginning that it can take up to 90 days for bills or reimbursements to be taken care. So this person was complaining about something that was well within the expected time frame for that Health Share.

• Understand what a Pre-Existing Condition is, and what is considered shareable. For most Health Shares, a pre-existing condition is defined as “Any diagnosed illness or injury for which a person has been examined, taken medication, had symptoms, or received medical treatment within 24 months prior to the effective date of membership is considered a pre-existing condition.” It’s important to know and understand that any recent symptoms – even if you haven’t been seen by a doctor – are considered pre-existing if they started before your Health Share membership. Here’s why: All Health Shares have at least a one year waiting period before they will share any medical needs related to a pre-existing condition. So if you are experiencing any aches and pains that could be something more (or require medical attention in the future), the Health Insurance route may be a better option for you while you take care of yourself or rule out any serious conditions. Once you are healthy and not having any issues, then you may want to consider the Health Share route again.

Bad Health Share Experiences

For some, they have done all of the research (and then some!), and they still have a negative experience. It could be because the Health Share is not paying for eligible medical bills – either at all or within a reasonable time frame. With a Health Share, you have options. You can contact the Health Share with a formal complaint, write a review, and since Health Shares typically don’t require contracts – you can switch to a different Health Share that is better suited for you.

Looking for a Better Health Share Experience?