Liberty HealthShare acknowledges that healthcare should be as individualized as the unique people it represents. Here’s why its chief executive officer agrees.
“There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to healthcare,” Dorsey Morrow explains. “We understand that. It’s why we work hard to support our members and do all of that hand-holding no matter what program they choose to participate in, whether it’s the low-cost catastrophic program or it’s the all-encompassing program at the other end.
“We are there for our members and understand that they have different situations, different circumstances than the other family, and so we want to be there for them to help fill in that gap.”
Why Liberty HealthShare Puts Members First
The healthcare sharing ministry has approximately 165 team members who serve members through personalized attention and support. “Our focus at Liberty is on our members. We are here to help facilitate sharing between our members. We are not driven by profit,” Morrow shares. “It’s frankly our goal to go broke each month. The contributions coming in should be the contributions that go out.”
In keeping with that customized approach, Liberty HealthShare remains rooted in a community mindset of faith and prayer.
“We have a list distributed internally every Friday of prayer requests from our members,” Morrow says. “Whether it’s with the member or for the member, we are about prayer. We strongly believe in that here.”
This faith-focused method extends to personal interactions between staff and members. Team members regularly pray with members over the phone during difficult times. The organization encourages building relationships between call center staff and members through ongoing communication and support.
Morrow details specific methods Liberty HealthShare uses to manage healthcare costs for members. “We don’t use just one or two vendors to help us negotiate with medical providers on behalf of our members,” he notes. “We’ve got three or four various vendors, and each of them has a very specific task and helps us identify problem areas.”
The organization studies current and historical sharing patterns monthly, as well as forecasting trends, to understand cost trajectories. This analysis helps maintain stable contribution amounts for members.
Member-Driven Program Development
Member feedback directly shapes new Liberty HealthShare programs and services. “Every six months we survey our members, asking what are their emerging needs,” said Morrow. Recent member suggestions led to the creation of a dental sharing program.
“We do what we say, and we say what we will do. Anything and everything you want to know about Liberty, you can go to our website. You’ll see we are an open book.”
Morrow believes Americans must reclaim responsibility for their healthcare decisions. “Since the ’60s and ’70s with employer insurance, America basically has turned financing healthcare and taking responsibility for their healthcare on autopilot,” he says. “They have minimal engagement.”
This passive path contributes to rising costs, according to Morrow. He encourages members to actively participate by questioning medical decisions and costs: “Doc, why are you doing that? Why do we need to do this? What’s that going to cost? Is there something else that might be better suited?”
The organization plans to expand its offerings in the coming year. “We have managed our resources well over the past three, three-and-a-half years,” Morrow points out.
Compassionate Problem-Solving
Liberty HealthShare demonstrates flexibility when addressing individual member situations. Morrow shares an example involving a member who transitioned to Medicare while maintaining a Liberty HealthShare membership. When the member encountered significant medical expenses due to confusion about program coordination, the organization stepped in.
“Liberty HealthShare staff worked with their vendors to reprice her bills,” Morrow explains. “Members shared in eligible medical expenses and dedicated team members guided her through proper program setup.”
This personalized approach reflects the organization’s commitment to supporting members through healthcare challenges. “We want to hold your hand as you get oriented and you come into this world,” Morrow says. “We have nurses on staff that understand the various medical issues that you’re dealing with and are ready to work with you.”
The ministry maintains year-round enrollment, unlike traditional insurance models with limited enrollment periods. While this creates operational complexity, Morrow credits the IT team with developing solutions that keep the process seamless for members. “We try to keep this as simple as possible for our membership,” he says. “It’s sort of that duck on the water, calm and cool on the top, underwater we’re paddling fast.”
Through member-focused programs, cost-control measures, and faith-based support, Liberty HealthShare continues providing healthcare sharing options that emphasize personal choice and responsibility.
“We believe that individuals have a fundamental right to make their own healthcare decisions,” libertyhealthshare.org states. “That’s why our vision is to build a healthcare-sharing community where our members lean on and empower one another. When members join together in the power of health sharing, that power only grows.”
