In 2014, I signed up as a Bronze member with the Christian Medical Mutual Aid Society, which I learned about through a newspaper ad, to avoid the Obamacare penalty. I had joined to be exempt from the penalty because I no longer had health insurance while I was looking for a new job. However, two years after joining, I developed a problem with my uterus and had to undergo surgery. The total cost of the surgery came to just over $50,000, but when I told them I was a “self-payer,” they gave me a discount, so the final bill came to about $9,000. I first borrowed money from friends to pay the hospital bill and then submitted a claim for medical expenses to the Christian Medical Mutual Aid Society. It would have been difficult to do that if I hadn’t been confident that the medical expense assistance would be approved, but after consulting with a representative from the Christian Medical Mutual Aid Society, I proceeded with the claim, believing that the expenses would be covered. In the end, the amount discounted by the hospital was applied to my out-of-pocket maximum of $5,000, so I didn’t have to pay anything out of pocket, and the Christian Medical Mutual Aid Society covered the full $9,000. To be honest, when I paid the $40 monthly membership fee, I had no expectations other than being exempt from fines. And I never dreamed I’d end up needing surgery. But when I ended up having this unexpected surgery and received support for such a large medical bill, I was amazed at how this was possible. I had been enrolled in health insurance through my employer all along, but no insurance company had ever covered everything like this. That’s because, even though I paid much higher premiums, the deductibles were so high that I still had to pay a significant amount out of pocket. To be honest, I was skeptical and anxious right up until I received the check for medical expenses from the Christian Medical Mutual Aid Society.
However, now that I’ve actually received assistance, I’ve come to realize just how great the Christian Medical Mutual Aid Association’s program is—not only can you join without any financial burden thanks to the low membership fees, but it also helps you prepare for any unexpected emergencies. Since then, I’ve been actively telling people around me who are struggling with expensive health insurance or feeling anxious because they don’t have any. And for those who are hesitant because they don’t believe the Christian Medical Mutual Aid Society will actually provide medical expense support, I’d like to share my experience. I’m so grateful and relieved that there is a ministry like this—one that shares the burden of medical expenses—within the Korean Christian community. (Member Interview – Members WA and N)