▶Any Christian aged 64 or younger can enroll, regardless of immigration status
▶Medical services available anywhere in the world
Founded in 1996 as an affiliate of the nonprofit organization Logos Mission (led by Pastor Park Do-won), the CMM Christian Medical Mutual Aid Society is a “medical expense sharing ministry” that helps alleviate the financial burden of medical bills for Korean Christians and pastors by having members share the costs through small contributions.
When Obamacare took effect in 2014 and health insurance became mandatory, CMM’s membership began to surge rapidly; its cumulative membership has now surpassed 70,000.
According to CMM, the total medical expenses covered to date amount to a staggering $100 million, and the organization provides $10 million in medical expense support each year.
Eligibility requirements include: ▲ applicants must be Christians aged 64 or younger, and ▲ they must not consume alcohol, tobacco, or drugs. Additionally, applicants must have a residential address in the United States, but their immigration status is irrelevant.
Although CMM’s medical expense-sharing program operates differently from for-profit commercial health insurance, it has become a popular medical expense solution among Christians because it covers a wide range of medical costs for a much lower monthly fee.
Its most distinctive feature is that, unlike general health insurance, it does not involve individual contracts with members or an obligation to provide benefits; instead, members voluntarily enroll to share the cost of medical expenses.
Furthermore, membership levels and dues are the same regardless of income, age, or immigration status, and enrollment is available at any time of the year.
In addition, because there is no network of medical institutions, there is the advantage of being able to receive treatment quickly anywhere when needed.
A CMM official explained that medical services are available not only in the United States and South Korea but also anywhere in the world.
Furthermore, signing up for the Gold Plus level provides benefits such as coverage for pregnancy, childbirth, and health screenings, as well as the advantage of being exempt from penalties in New Jersey, California, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island—states that impose fines on the uninsured.
@Hankook Ilbo/Los Angeles
