After you join

New members' frequently asked questions

How long will it take for my application to be processed and approved?

If your application is complete, your membership will begin as soon as you click the "submit" button on the online application or on the postmark date of your mailed application (unless you have specified a future start date). CHM has no waiting period; however, please be sure to review our preexisting conditions policy.

Will you send me proof of my membership?

Yes. If applying online, you'll receive immediate confirmation with a temporary membership number. You’ll also receive a new member Welcome Packet in the mail within a few weeks of submitting your application (if you applied in December-March, please see the notice below). The packet will contain your membership card(s), a copy of the CHM Guidelines and forms that you can fill out and submit if you have a medical need.

When will I receive my first billing statement?

Members receive the Member Gift Form billing statement from the CHM offices between the 10th and 20th of the prior month. For example, you will receive your February statement in January. Please carefully read the included message; it contains important information about CHM membership.

We also encourage you to sign up for CHM’s automatic DirectGift bank withdrawal or recurring payment on the date you select. See the next question for more info.

Maryland members: Review special instructions regarding Maryland membership here.

What's DirectGift and how does it work?

CHM's DirectGift program (bank draft) is the preferred choice for monthly giving and here's why:

• Good financial stewardship: Bank draft fees are $0.17 per transaction (compared to $9 in credit card transaction fees for families on the Gold program).
• Time savings: There’s no checks to write, envelopes to mail or expiration dates to update.
• Convenience: Bank draft takes care of your monthly gifts even when you’re on vacation or out of town—meaning you’re always on time.
• Flexibility: Enrollment and cancellation are quick and easy and can be made at any time.

How do I communicate with CHM?

You can use the free Member Portal to make changes to your membership. You can also call or email us, and connect with CHM staff and fellow members on social media! We also encourage you to opt in to our email updates. Doing so means we can communicate tips about your CHM membership, share timely news and provide other helpful information. You can also register your free Member Portal account, and explore all the features available to you.

What is the medical bill sharing process?

As a CHM member, you are considered a self-pay patient. That means providers will send you the bills directly. This gives you the ability to have a direct say in your healthcare. You have flexibility to choose your own providers and the advantage of transparent pricing. When you receive medical bills from your providers, you ask for self-pay discounts, and then submit itemized bills to CHM.

Once you submit your bills, the CHM staff have five tasks to complete the medical bill sharing process.

Why do you use different terms?

As a health cost sharing ministry—and not insurance—we use terms that reflect our passion and ministry. These terms further separate us from insurance. You can find a helpful glossary of our most commonly used terms in the back of your Guidelines and here.

What else should I know about my membership?

Though no further action is required, here are some things we highly recommend:

• Activate your Member Portal account. You can add a person to your membership, change your contact info, make one-time payments, submit medical bills for sharing and access tools to help you share CHM with friends and family. (When activating your free portal account, your portal access code can be found under your CHM member number on your monthly billing statement.)
• Read Heartfelt Magazine. You’ll receive Heartfelt at the beginning of each month. Please read it carefully; it contains helpful information about being a member, ministry news, member testimonies, advice for healthy living and more.
• Make sure you’re on the right program and part of Brother’s Keeper. The Gold level offers considerably more services than Silver or Bronze, and adding Brother’s Keeper means more sharing assistance for you when medical bills exceed $125,000 per illness.
• Engage with other members on our social channels. Be encouraged through prayer, testimonies, and other helpful content on CHM’s social media channels. Look for us @iheartchm.

*Important notice for members joining December-March: Due to the large number of new joiners during this time of the year, mailing of Welcome Packets can take longer. In the meantime, you can download a digital Welcome Packet that contains important new member information and the sharing request packet which are required if you need to submit medical bills to CHM.

The digital Welcome Packet does not contain your membership card with member number or CHMRx discount prescription card. However, a temporary membership card is included on which you can write the temporary membership number (confirmation number) you received if you applied online. If you need a CHMRx prescriptions savings card before you receive your mailed packet, you can request one from the CHMRx website.

We will send your complete Welcome Packet—along with your CHM membership card and permanent member number—by mail just as quickly as possible.

**For Maryland residents only: Maryland giving is member-to-member. Learn more about Maryland membership here.