This Faith and Finance podcast is underwritten in part by Christian Healthcare Ministries. Are you finding it increasingly challenging to find affordable healthcare? Christian Healthcare Ministries is a budget-friendly, biblical, and compassionate healthcare cost-sharing alternative that aligns with your Christian values. And it's available in all 50 states and around the world. Learn more at chministries.org/slash/faithby.
Have you ever faced an upcoming surgery, not just anxious about the procedure itself, but also wondering how you'll cover the cost? Hi, I'm Rob West. Imagine if someone stepped in to guide you through the process, coordinating the details and helping you navigate the expenses. Good news, that kind of support is available, and Lauren Guideck is here to tell us about it. And then it's on to your phone calls at 800-525-7000.
That's 800-525-7000. This is Faith in Finance, biblical wisdom for your financial journey. Lauren Guideck is the Senior Director of External Affairs at Christian Healthcare Ministries, the nation's longest-serving faith-based health cost-sharing ministry, and a proud underwriter of this program. Lauren, great to have you back. Thank you so much for having me.
I know you've got some exciting news to share about your new program, the Complete Surgical Care Solution. But before we get to that, for listeners who may not be familiar with Christian Healthcare Ministries, can you give us just a quick overview? Yes, I absolutely can do that. Christian Healthcare Ministries has been around for over 40 years. We are a biblically based Non-profit.
health cost sharing organization.
So we help Christian believers all over the United States with their medical bills. And we have satisfied over $12 billion, that's a billion with a B, over our history. Yeah, well, and as I said a moment ago, the longest serving of all the faith-based health cost-sharing ministries, and that $12 billion speaks for itself. Lauren, I want to dig into this new service from CHM. We're excited to hear more.
Tell us how it works. Yes, I'd be glad to.
So we've introduced something called Complete Surgical Care Solution. And what it is, is a program that is at no extra cost to our members.
So if you join, you don't have to pay anything extra for it. And it helps guide our members through the process of having a surgery or procedure.
So it's really almost like a curated experience where it's designed to kind of hold your hand every step of the way as you are looking at, you know, where do I go for surgery and what am I supposed to be doing? And, you know, what information is needed? And can CHM, you know, take care of my bills? And it's just very turnkey and very easy to do. And like I said, you don't have to pay anything extra or do anything besides be a member of Christian Healthcare Ministries.
Wow. It sounds like a concierge service at no extra cost. That's amazing. And I know stories can really help bring this to life. I heard a story of a teenage girl who needed hip surgery and her family said CHM felt like family.
through the process. Can you unpack that a bit for us? Sure.
Well, there was a young lady named Chloe who was a softball player and had recurring pain in her legs and hips. And finally, they got connected with our complete surgical care.
solution and CHM was able to connect her with a very high quality surgeon.
So she could get a um hip replacement. In addition, we were able to help pay the cost of some of her travel. And so that's one of the advantages of the surgical care solution. And additionally, What happens a lot of the time is not only does CHM receive a better price, And the patient receives better care, but the member can also be eligible for a $1,250. credit against their out-of-pocket expenses.
So it's really a win-win situation for Christian healthcare ministries. for the doctor and especially for the patient.
Well, that's exactly right. And I know in that specific case, after the discounts, CHM shared over one hundred forty five thousand dollars in eligible medical bills, which is amazing.
Now, Lauren, what do members need to know to be eligible for this? All they need is to have had a diagnosis. From their healthcare provider and a recommendation to have surgery. And then, if the procedure qualifies for our program, they just contact us and CHM will take care of all the details. That is amazing.
Lauren, thanks for being with us today. We always appreciate your time. Thank you so much. Have a great day. Folks, if you're looking for a faith-based cost-sharing ministry to help cover your medical bills, CHM is the longest-serving of all of them.
You can learn more at chministries.org/slash faithfi. We'll take a quick break and then be back with your questions after this. The number 800-525-7000. I'm Rob West, and this is Faith in Finance. Stick around.
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More information is available at onascent.com and by clicking analyze my investments. You're young. You don't go to the doctor that often. Yet health insurance is still so expensive. If your health insurance costs too much, maybe you should switch to an affordable alternative.
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Great to have you with us today on Faith and Finance. I'm Rob West. This is the program where we help you live as a faithful steward as it relates to God's money. That's right, everything belongs to Him. It's a good gift created for our delight.
Remember, God is the author, the creator of joy. And so money should bring us joy when we use it to provide and when we use it to enjoy maybe a feast with friends and family, or perhaps a vacation where we can deepen relationships. Also, when we give it away to support those needs and causes on the heart of God, when we invest it and deploy it in a way that supplies capital to businesses that are creating human flourishing, I mean, these are all joyful uses of God's great gift.
Now, we have to be careful because there is a seduction of wealth at the same time. The creation can be something that we worship. And when it rivals our hearts for devotion. To God, well, that's when it becomes a problem. And money has a way of doing that, like very few other things can.
You know, it's often said that money is the most common counterfeit God out there. And we see that. Remember, Jesus said you can't serve God and money in Matthew. You remember in the parable of the sower, what choked out the word from bearing fruit was, among other things, the deceitfulness of riches.
So we need to be on our guard. Remember, it's harder for a rich man to go through the eye of the needle than to enter heaven.
So we have to understand that, especially in the most prosperous nation in the history of the world, we will find ourselves trying to find satisfaction and fulfillment and enjoyment in money rather than in God. And we know that God is the only one that can ultimately satisfy our longing for abundance and fulfillment and identity. But when God is our ultimate treasure, then money is a tool to accomplish his purposes.
Well, it's at that point that money can be used in a Joyful way. We want to help you do that on this program each day.
Now, we realize that kind of underneath that big worldview around how we should view our money are the practical decisions that you're making every day in your financial life as you think about your credit score and as you try to get out of debt, you try to save for the future and invest for retirement. Work out your budget and your spending plan, living within your means, and as you give generously, and all of these things generate lots of questions.
So, our goal each day is not only to encourage you and to provide some helpful counsel and take you back into God's word, but to also address those very specific questions.
So, this is the time where we turn the program over to you and we say, What's on your mind? You can call right now with your financial questions of any kind, and that number to call is 800-525-7,000. We've got some lines open, they will start filling up.
So, now's the time to call. You'll get right through financial questions: 800-525-7,000. Again, that's 800-525-7,000. Let's go to Nashville. Hi, Ken.
How can I help? I got a um myself in a vest. we're about to lose our house, I think, with a a big mortgage company and we're and they've been giving me advice on what to do and they did me a forbearance and then they g did a modification, which we couldn't afford.
So now they're telling me just to wait till it's denied. And apply for another modification, but I get letters saying I missed this program or that program because we waited too long.
So, I don't know if they're trying to get me to hold off until they can foreclose because we got a lot of equity. Is there organizations that you can get to help you work with these mortgage companies? Yeah.
Well, man, I'm sorry to hear about this situation. Yeah, I mean, it sounds like you're doing all the right things. I'm sorry to hear that the modification isn't something that works with your budget. Ideally, you would try to avoid it and get back into a modification that does, in fact, allow you to get current and make good on it. I think at this point, I mean, do you have any kind of counsel, legal counsel, somebody walking with you and helping you with the negotiations?
No, just the just the mortgage company and you can't hardly understand half of them. Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Well, I don't think it would hurt to reach out to an attorney who kind of specializes in these types of matters, who could, you know, maybe a bankruptcy attorney, not that I'm suggesting you go that route, but somebody who could advise you on trying to protect it. I mean, the bottom line is the mortgage company doesn't want to foreclose on you. And, you know, I think the key would be getting into a modification that would allow you to get current on it. Is your situation improving or has it changed at all such that you could get back on to a reasonable payment if they were to give you something lower than what you have today? Not really, we're self-employed, and you know how this economy is.
And it just dropped out. We were doing good before all of this, and everything just our business just went to nothing. Yeah.
Yeah.
No, I certainly understand that. And are you out seeking other employment at this point? Or are you just full time, still trying to run the business? Or what's the next step for you? Still trying to run the business just because of my medical conditions.
No one else will hire me. Of course, I can hire myself and that's what I do. But uh no one else will hire me with my uh Yeah. And like I said, I'm at an age where Yeah. I'm going to be an old man without a home.
Yeah.
Yeah, I understand.
So, a couple of things. I mean, one would be you could reach out to HUD, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. They have, you know, housing counseling available nationwide.
So you could go to hudhud.gov and just search for avoiding foreclosure. What you're going to see there is a phone number that you can call to get a HUD-approved housing counselor who could help you understand what your rights are and just, you know, that would give you some free advice. Then, obviously, you know, I would avoid any kind of foreclosure prevention companies because there are a lot of scams out there. But I think, you know, and then the next biggest thing is just to lean into your lender and just make sure that you are communicating with them, which it sounds like you have been. You all, you know, are both aligned in that they don't want this to go through the foreclosure process because of the costs involved.
You don't want to lose your home and the equity you have in it.
So, I think trying to work with the housing, the HUD-approved counseling agency, in combined with you just having really good, you know, open communication with your lender, opening and responding to all the mail for your lender. They'll send you good information on foreclosure prevention options that they have to legally. Make sure you know your mortgage rights. Those will be outlined in all the documentation that you're receiving. And then use the foreclosure prevention options that are found online.
Again, these are all provided by HUD. They have some great articles there that you're going to want to look at and read up on and take full advantage of the resources they have available. And then, if it comes to it, reaching out to an attorney who could represent you. But I think those are your next steps. I think doing everything you can to get your finances in a situation where you have the ability to do something.
Even if that means one of you going out and getting kind of a side job, something with some regular, steady income that would allow you to save the home. You know, certainly you could do a short sale, but I think the key right now is for you guys to just do everything possible to get back on track with at least some version of the mortgage modified to something you can afford. I realize if the income is gone, that's not an option. And that's why we may need to look at what other income options do you have while you're maintaining some semblance of the business.
So I'd reach out to HUD. I'd lean into your lender and continue to work with them despite the fact that you think maybe they've led you astray. At the end of the day, you have aligned interests, and that's making sure that this gets paid back in any way possible, even if it's not the way you originally agreed to. All the best to you, Ken. We'll certainly be praying for you, and we appreciate your call today.
Well, folks, we're just getting started here today on Faith and Finance. We've got some calls coming in, but we also have lines open.
So If you have a financial question today, we'd certainly love to get you in the mix. Call right now, 800-525-7000. Helping you see God as your ultimate treasure. This is Faith and Finance. We'll be back with much more just around the corner.
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That's goodinvestor.com. Hey, thanks for joining us today on Faith and Finance. We've got some lines open. If you want to talk, living within your means, perhaps you're thinking about a financial finish line or giving generously. Maybe you're wondering how to pay off that debt once and for all.
Whatever it is that's going on in your financial life, call right now. 800-525-7000. Let's go back to the phones. Kathy is in Texas. Hi, Kathy.
How can I help? I was wondering, I'm executor for a parent's estate. And I'm cleaning out things, and I was wondering how long should we keep the supporting documents and the taxes that we filed? Yes.
Okay.
So, what is the stage of that estate right now? How long ago did your parent pass away? About three years.
Okay.
So we have a look we have a trust that we've put together, and I'm the executor of that trust.
Okay, got it. Yeah, so in terms of your role as executor, the IRS recommends keeping estate tax returns and supporting documents for at least three years. But I will say many estate attorneys suggest keeping them for seven years just to be safe in case of an audit or a question about the estate. In terms of other important documents like a will or a trust, final accountings and property records, I would say you keep those permanently. But I would say for most tax and financial paperwork, if you hit that seven-year mark, again, the IRS is saying three, but I think seven is wise.
But hang on to those core estate documents indefinitely. Does that make sense? Yes, sir. Thank you.
Okay, you are very welcome. Thanks for your call today. All right, let's head to Northern Illinois. Hi, Helen. Thanks for your call.
Go ahead. I had a couple of garage sales on our block this weekend, and both neighbors are selling their homes. And my daughter and her husband loves, loves, loves my neighbor's home. It's a very modest home.
So they got married in June last year and they got their condo and they're all in their fine seal delivered.
Now, they want to buy this cute little home and jump from the condo and maybe get this first home. Both are fortunate to be college educated, and they're doing okay. One of the couple was late on a couple car payments, so the credit score wouldn't be too good. and they need a cosigner.
So my daughter just let me know that they could probably go forward if they had a cosigner and she's asking me. And I'm calling you to see it just as like red flags. But on the flip side of the coin, I would love to be able to help my daughter get into a home, but I need to pray about it. And I'm just kind of wondering what you think about a parent co signing for a married couple's Hmm. Yeah.
Yeah, I'm going to discourage you from doing it, Helen. And here's why. I mean, God's word is very clear on this one. Proverbs 22, it says, Be not one of those who gives pledges, who puts up security for debts. And then it goes on to talk about how it can be really detrimental.
And we see that other places in scripture. And let me just say, I completely understand why you would want to do this. I mean, obviously, we want what's best for our kids. We know they probably have a sincere desire to be able to get into this. They can demonstrate potentially to you, despite some of the challenges they've had in the past, how they have a reasonable plan to be able to continue to make those payments every month.
And yet, I think the reason the Bible is so clear on this one is the data will tell us 50% of the time when you co-sign for someone, you will have to step in and make the payments. And the collateral damage is more than just the financial, it ends up being relational. And that's why, you know, when we put ourselves in this position, we're obligating ourselves. And what will often happen is because there's, you know, there's a reason that they don't qualify on their own, they either just don't have the financial stability to take on a loan of this size, they don't, you know, have the longevity, you know, maybe they don't have the income history, or maybe the ratios aren't right. All of those are telling with regard to, you know, that denial or that high interest rate, which is more consistent with the level of risk that's being taken.
And, you know, it just puts you in a position where if a situation outside of your daughter and son-in-law's control, she or they're unable to make these payments. And again, this may be something that is completely unforeseen, not of their doing, but let's say there was a loss of a job that was unexpected.
Now you're having, you're being put in a position. Where either you're going to step in and pay it, or it's going to result in damage to both of your credit reports. And in the case of a house, it's pretty significant because the worst case scenario is that it results in foreclosure that ends up leaving a huge deficiency balance because the home is sold for less potentially than it was purchased or a lot less. And now there's a balance that you and she are both obligated to step in for.
So I think that's the reason why we need to look for another option here rather than you co-signing. And I realize that may mean she has to pass on a house that is perfect in every other criteria. And I realize that's difficult. Yeah, well, I'll be honest, my layers beneath all of this, as I was dialing you, I concur everything you're saying. And I just feel one thing one of the takeaways is, you know, in the conversation I'm going to have with her is that what you mentioned, it could be something completely out of their control.
And it's like spinning the wheel, you know, and I just think, and they've done so much wonderful things with the place that they're at. You have answered my question, sir, and I feel very good about your answer. And I felt that way before I talked to you. I just feel very solid about the situation I'm in and what I need to do.
Well, I'm glad to hear that. And I think the key is to go into that conversation really prayed up. And I think you clearly want to communicate your desire. Listen, I love you and I want to help you and I want to be there for you, but I also need to do it in a way that's God honoring and, you know, is setting us up for success in the future in terms of our relationship. And so I'm going to be there to walk alongside you every step of the way.
This is just not the way to do it. And, you know, maybe there's an opportunity for you, you know, at some point in the future to make a gift to her, or maybe there's another way that you can help support her. But I think this particular one, it's clear that you already had a check in your spirit. And I'm delighted to hear that we could help you just confirm that. And this is one of those where there is a pretty good amount of clarity in God's word.
So thanks for your call today, Helen. I appreciate you being on the program. If we can help with anything else, let us know.
Well, we covered a lot of ground today. Hey, before I let you go, let me remind you, if you're looking for an advisor that shares your values. We recommend the Certified Kingdom Advisor designation. 1,500 men and women across the country have met the high standards in character and competence, but they've also been trained to bring a biblical worldview of financial decision-making to their professional advice. They've also had pastor and client references.
You can find a CKA in your city when you head to faithphi.com and click find a professional. That's faithfi.com and click find a professional. I hope you'll come back and join us next time on Faith and Finance when we go back to God's word and look for biblical wisdom for your financial decisions. Faith in Finance is provided by FaithFi and listeners like you.
