Ah, health insurance. As someone who is self-employed, it’s extra fun finding good coverage that doesn’t cost a million dollars, am I right?! Over the years, I found myself frustrated with my insurance and how much I was paying each month, and I was curious to try CrowdHealth, a peer-to-peer health funding platform. Keep reading for my honest thoughts and to learn more about the process!
This post is NOT sponsored! It is my second year as a paying member of CrowdHealth, and I wanted to share my experience. Any links are simply refer-a-friend links, meaning I might earn a referral bonus if you sign up with my code or link ◡̈
Table of Contents:
- What is CrowdHealth?
- Why I Wanted to Switch from Traditional Insurance
- How Much Does It Cost?
- How Does CrowdHealth Work?
- Does CrowdHealth Cover Pregnancy?
- So…What’s the Catch? (It’s Not Perfect or For Everyone!)
- My Final Thoughts: Is It Worth It?
What is CrowdHealth? 🟠 (It’s NOT Insurance)
CrowdHealth is a peer-to-peer health care funding platform that enables members to support one another by crowdfunding medical expenses. Members pay a monthly fee and contribute to help cover the medical bills of fellow members, fostering a community-driven approach to health care costs.
It was founded in 2021 by Andy Schoonover after he was disappointed by his insurance and unexpectedly faced massive medical bills. It is neither religiously affiliated nor a health-sharing platform.
Why I Wanted to Switch from Traditional Insurance 🔀
As I mentioned, I was purchasing my own coverage from the health insurance marketplace because I am self-employed. I looked into being added to my husband’s insurance through his employer, but the cost was insanely high.
You guys know that I am a health-conscious person who prefers a more holistic, preventative approach. Truthfully, I don’t really utilize the conventional medical system often and feel like it’s mostly “sickcare” that doesn’t emphasize wellness or root causes. So a lot of the providers I see tend not to be covered by insurance anyway (such as nervous system chiropractic, biological dentistry, and functional practitioners).
It almost felt like a waste to be spending so much money on an insurance plan that didn’t align with my lifestyle and that I hardly used. In addition, you are really limited to in-network providers with most plans.
I definitely wanted some type of coverage, especially for emergency situations, but there always seemed like there had to be a better solution than old-school insurance, ya know? Of course, I was nervous and apprehensive about taking the leap, but I was intrigued by CrowdHealth and felt it was the right solution for me!
Use code BECCA to get the first 3 months of your crowdfunding request for $39 🏷️
How Much Does CrowdHealth Cost? 💵
The base price is a $60 monthly subscription, plus a cost to partially cover another member’s bill ($25-420, depending on your plan).
For what it’s worth, I have NEVER had to pay the maximum $140! My TOTAL payment usually comes to $130-148, including the $60 subscription.
Then you are responsible for $500 per health event, and CrowdHealth will cover the rest! A “health event” refers to any unique scenario that comes up, and all associated bills/doctor visits. For example, knee surgery (which might entail doctor’s visits, the surgery itself, facility fees, anesthesia, physical therapy, and pain meds) is considered one singular health event.
“But $500 is a lot for a health event!”
I hear you! You might be accustomed to insurance covering the entire cost of a health event. However, how much are you paying monthly for said insurance…probably hundreds, right? Not to mention co-pays and high deductibles. Considering how low the monthly CrowdHealth payment is, I feel like it’s totally reasonable and still ends up being cheaper in the long run, especially if you aren’t even going to the doctor that often.
How Does CrowdHealth Work? 🩺
There is a bit of a learning curve at first. Admittedly, I was a little confused when initiating my first bills and appointments (I didn’t want to do anything wrong!), but CrowdHealth was extremely helpful with guiding me. Here’s the process in a nutshell:
- Let CrowdHealth know about a new health event and/or upcoming medical visit. You can do this easily in the app!
- Go to your appointment. There is no insurance card; you simply mention that you are an uninsured self-pay patient.
- Upload your bills and receipts to the app, and CrowdHealth will start reviewing them for funding. This typically happens quickly and within a week.
- Once crowdfunding is complete, you can transfer the money to your bank account!
(BTW, you can often receive cash-pay discounts when you forgo the insurance process. Many of my bills have literally been discounted by 50%! Makes you wonder, eh?) 🙃
Other Perks & Benefits:
- User-friendly app
- Assistance in finding local doctors and negotiating bills
- 24/7 unlimited virtual care access, talk therapy, prescription discounts, and quarterly special offers
- You can get longevity discounts for up to 20% off the monthly fee by “passing” tests such as Fasting Insulin, High Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (CRP), and DEXA Scan for Visceral Fat
- A $300 credit for an annual wellness visit of your choice, such as a checkup, lab work, dental, vision, gynecological exam, or preventative care. I use mine for a skin check at the dermatologist!
- You’re assigned to an advocate who can assist you with anything (sup, Taryn!). It’s sooo nice to have access to someone you know by name (and who knows you!), and to be able to text, email, or call with questions. No more speaking with robots or being put on hold by customer service for hours *cue the elevator music*
Related post: “My Function Health Review (Yearly Membership with 100+ Lab Tests)”
Does CrowdHealth Cover Pregnancy? 🤰
YES, and it’s actually been awesome for my pregnancy so far. Members are responsible for $3,000 and CrowdHealth will take care of the remainder. This includes ALL stages: prenatal visits, labor/delivery, and postpartum.
I am going to a birthing center, and all my care is eligible there. PLUS, my doula, pelvic floor therapy, lactation consultant, and breast pump are covered too!! 👏 Seriously, so great. My baby will be added to my plan when he’s born as well.
Note: Your estimated due date must be at least 300 days after your membership begins to be eligible.
Related post: “Clean Prenatal Vitamin Guide: What to Look For, What to Avoid, & My Fave Brands”
So…What’s the Catch? (It’s Not Perfect or For Everyone!) 🏥
The whole basis of CrowdHealth is that it’s FAIR, transparent, members need to be generous and accountable, and we need to be proactive about our health. If you don’t contribute to the group, you cannot expect to receive funding on your end. And it’s not like you can be willy-nilly and just go rack up bills or go to the most expensive providers for free. There are still limitations!
While there is no limit to the number of bills you can submit, CrowdHealth wants you to see providers who have fair market pricing, and your bill probably won’t be entirely covered if you visit one that’s outrageously expensive. You always have the freedom to go to your provider of choice, of course, just know that you might have to pay extra out of pocket if the price is inflated.
For example, I had to see a high-risk maternal-fetal specialist for my anatomy ultrasound, and the price was more than at nearby ultrasound locations, so I just paid the difference between what CrowdHealth didn’t cover (it wasn’t much).
Next, in order to keep prices low for all members, they do not accept certain applicants, such as tobacco users or men over 260 lbs/women over 220 lbs.
There are also certain treatments and types of care that aren’t covered (such as cosmetic procedures, rehab facilities, and contraceptives), and some pre-existing conditions (like asthma and diabetes) may have funding restrictions—I suggest browsing their Member Guide for more info to make sure it works for you!
An Incident I Had…
Since I promised to give you my HONEST review, I have to mention a little hiccup that I experienced 👀
Essentially, one of my bills wasn’t reviewed/crowdfunded for about two months (it was a significant amount, too). In CrowdHealth’s defense, this was during the insurance “open enrollment” season, and they had a HUGE spike in new members, so I think my bill slipped through the cracks while they were onboarding new employees.
Thankfully, CrowdHealth was SUPER apologetic once it was brought to their attention: my bill was paid immediately, my advocate and the CEO both emailed me personally, AND they sent me flowers with a $100 cash gift card. Big insurance would never!
My Final Thoughts About CrowdHealth: Is It Worth It? 🤔
Overall, I am genuinely happy with CrowdHealth and will continue to be a member! It takes some getting used to, and there are restrictions, but they will guide you along the way. It’s way less of a headache than insurance IMO!
Also, I would much rather support a smaller business than a large conglomerate, and I love CrowdHealth’s mission. It feels so much more personal, and I like that you’re directly helping other people with their expenses vs. just giving money to some giant corporate machine. You can literally see where your money goes each month (ex. a member from Wisconsin needs help paying for a bike accident).
I recommend looking into it if you’re interested!
Use coupon code BECCA to get the first 3 months of your crowdfunding request discounted to $39 🏷️
If you’re self-employed, health-conscious, or frustrated with the conventional insurance model, CrowdHealth can be a refreshing and empowering alternative. While it’s not without drawbacks or for everyone, my experience has been overwhelmingly positive, and I appreciate the transparency, community aspect, and cost savings. If you’re curious, it’s definitely worth exploring to see if it aligns with your lifestyle and values! Thanks a bunch for reading, and drop any comments below 💚
Becca, this blog is simply amazing! Thank you for sharing your experience. Highs and lows.
It’s so wonderful having you apart of the CrowdHealth community. 🩷