‍GoldCare+ is a healthcare cost-sharing-ministry (HCSM) powered by Zion HealthShare. HCSM are modeled after early Christians (and all people of faith) who took care of each other. GoldCare+ is not an insurance company but provides the reassurance that there is a community of like-minded people who will share the financial burden in a time of need. An individual or family pays a flat fee based upon the age of the oldest person in the household. Most expenses that exceed the initial unshared amount (IUA) will then be shared amongst the group. The administrative costs are much lower, personal responsibility is much higher, there is complete freedom of choice, and members are able to see who their monthly fees have helped while still protecting patient confidentiality. GoldCare+ provides the framework and administrative support to enable this model.

Of course! Informal “cost-sharing" arrangements have always been in common use throughout human history. Healthcare cost-sharing ministries have been legal entities in the United States since at least 1981 when a beloved Pastor had a severe automobile accident and his congregation came together to pay his medical bills in full in just 45 days. The community then decided to continue to follow the biblical mandate to “bear one another’s burdens” by sharing healthcare costs in a practical way, and that is how “healthcare cost sharing ministries” started as a legal entity in the United States. Members enjoy complete medical freedom and the stability of community medical cost sharing.

Because there is no transfer of risk, as defined in applicable insurance rules and regulations, with respect to GoldCare+’ medical cost sharing program, no “claim” is ever owed by a GoldCare+ on behalf of any member. When members incur medical expenses, they submit medical need requests that may or may not be eligible for reimbursement from the Benevolent Fund. Members are required to submit proof of their medical expenses to GoldCare+. GoldCare+ then evaluates each submission for eligibility or ineligibility based on the Member Guidelines. Eligible medical need requests are designated for sharing using the funds accumulated through monthly member contributions. The largest ministry has satisfied $8 billion in members' eligible bills. If you have a medical need, submit it here.

If you have a health insurance, workers compensation, or liability insurance policy, you must disclose them to GoldCare+. Since your GoldCare+ membership is not insurance, when you have traditional insurance coverage your insurance company is primarily responsible for the payment of your medical expenses. GoldCare+ will only consider bills for sharing after your insurers have processed claims. The same applies for auto insurance after a car accident. Failure to disclose your relevant insurance coverage to GoldCare+ may result in sharing ineligibility. If you have a medical need arise, and you are eligible for benefits through either insurance or government assistance, please contact GoldCare+ to speak with a member advisor before you submit a medical need request.

Over 90% percent of all monthly contributions go toward sharing in medical need requests. Each month, less than 10% of contributions are retained by GoldCare+ for administrative costs. An audit of GoldCare+ finances is conducted each year by an independent firm and made available online.

Yes. For members who are traveling abroad, acute/emergent, eligible medical expenses can be shared no matter where in the world they were incurred and treated. Members interested in medical tourism need prior written approval from HealthShare before treatment.

Anyone who agrees to follow the Member Guidelines and abide by the Principles of Membership can join GoldCare+. Membership expires when an individual reaches the age of 65. Newborns who are not born under an eligible maternity need request have a seven-day waiting period before they can be added to the family’s membership.

GoldCare+ keeps funds to share member expenses if medical need requests exceed the monthly contributions received. To date, all eligible medical expenses have been shared in full without need to draw from the saved funds. However, if the rare event occurs that all medical need requests cannot be met for a given month, GoldCare+ uses a prorating method to evenly distribute the available funds among members with medical need requests. For example, if the monthly contributions received for a given month amounts to 80% of the expenses for medical need requests submitted for that month, each member would have 80% of their eligible expenses shared that month. The GoldCare+ community has not needed to prorate member expenses in the past and has prepared for the event that expenses exceed member contributions.

Yes! It is part of our freedom mission to teach business owners or decision-makers exactly how they can stop paying the extraordinarily expensive monthly insurance premiums that barely grants any benefit to their workers - and start using a payment model that really helps their workers. Please contact business@goldcare.com
‍
Here is how it works. Although GoldCare+ is an individual and family medical cost sharing program, we allow for a company contribution list. We work with your HR department to create their company contribution list and employees who participate can be added or removed from the contribution list at any time and billed directly. The employer may choose to deposit an amount in the worker’s account (including HSA). Participation in GoldCare+ program is always voluntary, both from the company’s and the employee’s perspectives.

Business owners choose to work with GoldCare+ for four reasons. First, we provide much greater value (more bang for your buck) than legacy insurance. Second, we provide a community of like-minded persons. Third we ensure much greater personal choice. Finally, we promote much greater personal responsibility. There are numerous factors that contribute to GoldCare+ improved results for both companies and employees.

GoldCare+ is not a substitute for insurance as defined by the Affordable Care Act. The ACA (Obamacare) was exceedingly unpopular as it was an attempt to force socialized medicine on the entire population. Since 2017 there is no longer a financial penalty from the IRS if a person does not comply with the ACA. There are still five states which have a policy of attempting to financially penalize person(s) without health insurance: MA, NJ, CA, DC, RI. [For example purposes only from 2023: In CA “a family of four would face a penalty of at least $2550” and in MA “the penalties shall not exceed 50% of the minimum monthly insurance premium.”]

Yes but these are not classic (common internal medical diagnoses) medical conditions. For example, costs related to excess alcohol use or illicit drug use or abortion are not shared. Fertility treatments, genetic screening, sterilization are not covered. The intent of a healthcare cost-sharing ministry is to share the unexpected and heavy financial burdens such as accidents or trauma or an expensive procedure or treatment or ongoing high expenses from a chronic condition. By not sharing expenses for those items that not everyone would classify as medically necessary, such as psychotherapy or chiropractor care, we can keep costs as low as possible. And if you should want to purchase those items - you will have money left over each month for the purchases that you deem worthwhile.

GoldCare+ is a community of like-minded persons who share their unexpected or large medical costs. We know it is better than legal insurance in every way: less expensive, more choice, more control, and a real community. In a nutshell, you choose the healthcare you want/need. You are responsible for the “Initial Unshared Amount” (IUA) which you may think of as similar to an annual deductible amount. After that, the community shares each other’s expenses.

You pay as you go (self-pay) for medical expenses and submit proof of payment to GoldCare+ as soon as practical, ideally prior to incurring the expense so we can assist you (and us) receive the best price. You can see whomever you like, buy whatever you think you needed. We don’t attempt to dissuade or persuade you on any decisions nor do you need any “authorization.” You are only required, as a member, to act responsibly towards all other members, and a big part of that is allowing us to pre-negotiate a good price and the other part is we all agree there are some unshareable expenses.

If you have a medical need, submit it here.
‍
With GoldCare™ and GoldCare+, your total healthcare expenses should be hundreds or thousands of dollars less per year as well as give you maximum freedom with your medical choices.

Click here