Sharing the Load: Amish Healthcare Financing.

Area of Science:

• Sociology of health
• Health economics
• Amish studies

Background:

• The Old Order Amish in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, operate outside government healthcare systems like Social Security and Medicare.
• They are exempt from the Affordable Care Act of 2010.
• Traditional Amish healthcare is supported by congregational alms and mutual aid.

Purpose of the Study:

• To document and analyze Amish Hospital Aid, a private health insurance program for the Amish.
• To understand how this program supplements existing community support for medical costs.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving interviews with 11 Amish adults in Lancaster County.
• Analysis of the structure, operation, and impact of Amish Hospital Aid.

Main Results:

• Amish Hospital Aid functions as a supplementary system to congregational alms for major medical expenses.
• The program's structure encourages cost containment and reinforces community interdependence.
• It provides a unique model for managing healthcare costs within a specific cultural context.

Conclusions:

• Amish healthcare practices offer a valuable case study in community-based, self-governed health cost management.
• The Amish Hospital Aid system demonstrates an effective alternative to government-sponsored healthcare for this population.
• This model highlights the potential of mutual aid and collaboration in addressing healthcare challenges.