MediShare is a faith-based health cost sharing ministry, not an insurance company. Members contribute monthly to a pool of funds that is then used to pay for eligible medical expenses of other members. While it operates differently than traditional health insurance, understanding the potential costs involved is crucial for making an informed decision.
Key Components of MediShare Costs:
Monthly Share (Dues): This is a fixed monthly amount you contribute, similar to an insurance premium. The amount varies based on the plan you choose, your household size, and your annual income. Higher incomes generally lead to higher monthly shares.
Annual Deductible Amount (Per Person): Before MediShare begins to share in your eligible medical expenses, you'll be responsible for paying this amount out-of-pocket for each eligible member in your household.
Annual Out-of-Pocket Maximum (Per Person): This is the maximum amount you would pay in a year for eligible medical expenses, after meeting your deductible. Once you reach this limit, MediShare typically covers 100% of eligible costs for the remainder of the year.
How the Calculator Works:
This calculator helps you estimate your potential annual financial responsibility with MediShare. It considers the main out-of-pocket components:
Total Monthly Shares: It multiplies the monthly dues per person by the number of eligible members in your household. This is then multiplied by 12 to get the total annual share contribution.
Total Annual Deductible Responsibility: This is calculated by multiplying the annual deductible amount per person by the household size. This represents the sum of deductibles you'd aim to meet across your family.
Total Annual Out-of-Pocket Maximum Responsibility: Similarly, this is calculated by multiplying the out-of-pocket maximum per person by the household size.
The calculator sums these three components to give you an estimated total annual financial responsibility. Please note that this is a simplified model. Actual costs can vary based on your specific medical needs, the number of medical events, prescription costs, and other factors not captured in this basic calculation.
Factors Influencing Your MediShare Contribution:
Household Size: Larger families will have higher monthly shares and potentially higher total deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums to meet.
Annual Household Income: MediShare uses income to help members afford their monthly shares, often with adjustments based on AGI (Adjusted Gross Income). Higher incomes typically correlate with higher monthly share amounts.
Plan Choice: Different plans (like Bronze, Silver, Gold) offer varying levels of monthly contributions and associated deductibles/out-of-pocket maximums. Higher contribution plans usually have lower deductibles and out-of-pocket limits.
Disclaimer:
This calculator provides an estimation only. It is not a guarantee of costs. For precise figures and to understand the full scope of MediShare's terms, please consult their official documentation and speak directly with a MediShare representative. The actual amount you pay will depend on your medical utilization throughout the year.
function calculateMediShareCost() {
var householdIncome = parseFloat(document.getElementById("householdIncome").value);
var householdSize = parseInt(document.getElementById("householdSize").value);
var selectedPlan = document.getElementById("selectedPlan").value;
var monthlyDuesPerPerson = parseFloat(document.getElementById("monthlyDuesPerPerson").value);
var annualDeductibleAmount = parseFloat(document.getElementById("annualDeductibleAmount").value);
var outOfPocketMaxPerPerson = parseFloat(document.getElementById("outOfPocketMaxPerPerson").value);
var totalAnnualCost = 0;
var errorMessage = "";
if (isNaN(householdIncome) || householdIncome < 0) {
errorMessage += "Please enter a valid annual household income.\n";
}
if (isNaN(householdSize) || householdSize < 1) {
errorMessage += "Please enter a valid household size (at least 1).\n";
}
if (isNaN(monthlyDuesPerPerson) || monthlyDuesPerPerson < 0) {
errorMessage += "Please enter valid monthly dues per person.\n";
}
if (isNaN(annualDeductibleAmount) || annualDeductibleAmount < 0) {
errorMessage += "Please enter a valid annual deductible amount.\n";
}
if (isNaN(outOfPocketMaxPerPerson) || outOfPocketMaxPerPerson < 0) {
errorMessage += "Please enter a valid annual out-of-pocket maximum.\n";
}
if (errorMessage !== "") {
alert(errorMessage);
document.getElementById("result-value").innerText = "Invalid Input";
return;
}
// Calculation Logic
// Total Annual Shares = (Monthly Dues Per Person * Household Size) * 12 months
var totalAnnualShares = (monthlyDuesPerPerson * householdSize) * 12;
// Total Annual Deductible Responsibility = Annual Deductible Amount Per Person * Household Size
var totalAnnualDeductible = annualDeductibleAmount * householdSize;
// Total Annual Out-of-Pocket Maximum Responsibility = Out-of-Pocket Max Per Person * Household Size
var totalAnnualOutOfPocketMax = outOfPocketMaxPerPerson * householdSize;
// The "cost" is generally considered the sum of shares, plus the maximum one might have to pay out of pocket
// (which includes deductibles up to the max). For simplicity in estimation, we sum shares and the total deductible.
// A more complex model might consider that deductibles are part of the out-of-pocket max.
// For this calculator, we present the components as distinct responsibilities and then sum them for a total potential outlay.
// A common interpretation is total shares + total deductible *per family*.
totalAnnualCost = totalAnnualShares + totalAnnualDeductible;
// Format the result as currency
var formattedCost = "$" + totalAnnualCost.toFixed(2).replace(/\d(?=(\d{3})+\.)/g, '$&,');
document.getElementById("result-value").innerText = formattedCost;
}