Your Healthcare Journey in 2024 and Planning Ahead for 2025

For many Americans, this is the time of year where the phrase ‘open enrollment’ makes its yearly appearance. Open enrollment is the period of time, usually from November 1st until the end of the year, when business owners, entrepreneurs, individuals, and employees make decisions about their healthcare financial options. Here are some things to consider as you are looking back over your healthcare needs from 2024 and are looking at your options for 2025.

Altrua HealthShare is Always Open!
If you’re currently a Member of Altrua HealthShare or if you are considering becoming a Member, Altrua HealthShare is unique. You can enroll with Altrua HealthShare at any time during the year. Not only that, but you can make changes to your Altrua HealthShare membership whenever you need to, meaning that you don’t have to wait until the traditional open enrollment season to adjust your membership. As you consider your choices for 2025, it’s important to ask yourself if flexibility and enrollment any time is important. If so Altrua HealthShare could be the right option for you.

The End of Covid-Era Relief Programs
You may have already seen this in your state, and, if not, be aware that it’s coming. Federal funds that were extended to states during the height of Covid to help people with medical and child care costs are fully ending at the end of 2024.1 This also means that there are many people who will no longer qualify to be on Medicaid rolls. If you’ve been relying on facets of the Covid relief programs, be sure to review what your upcoming health care options are for 2025.

Your Work Environment
Maybe you’re dreaming of opening your own shop, going free-lance full time, or exploring going into ministry in your community. But what’s holding you back may be a concern about how you would take care of your healthcare needs. That’s where considering options other than expensive traditional health insurance might just be the answer.

The Health Share Difference
A health share is a non-profit organization, a community of like-minded people who share in each other’s eligible medical needs. A health share is not insurance. That’s an important thing to note; a health share works in a different way than traditional health insurance. You may need to be somewhat more involved in communicating with your doctor’s office and with the health share for medical expenses. Altrua HealthShare has a Member Services team that helps with the administrative side of interacting with your doctor’s office and your involvement in that process is important. This also means that monthly contributions you make as a Member of Altrua HealthShare are generally more affordable than traditional medical insurance. Perhaps one of the biggest misconceptions about a health share is that it ‘works just like traditional insurance.’ Health shares do not and it’s important to educate yourself about those differences. that if you choose to use a health share for your medical expenses,

Customizing What You Need for Your Healthcare
As you consider what might be the best fit for you for 2025, be sure to take a look at your season of life and what features you may or may not need. You might find that you have things included that you don’t need. With Altrua HealthShare, you can customize what types of eligible medical needs you would like to have shared in, and what types of situations you don’t need. For example, if you don’t need maternity sharing, you can create a membership for yourself that does not include sharing in maternity costs. This allows you to create options that could better fit your budget.

If you would like to consider all your options when it comes to your medical expenses for the coming year, call 1.877.978.6239 to speak with a Member Services Representative with Altrua HealthShare. You can also go to altruahealthshare.org to explore more about the Altrua HealthShare family, along with helpful articles and information for you and your family’s health.

1 https://www.governing.com/finance/the-end-of-federal-covid-money-means-shortfalls-for-states-and-schools