A major aspect of the modern insurance industry basically developed out of this kind of thing, often called "mutual aid societies" and organized around trade groups, ethnic groups, etc. (They were also a known phenomenon in ancient times; the Romans had mutual aid burial societies, for example.)

It's basically the concept of the mutual insurance company.

Yeah, I found it weird (and odd and sadly telling) that they're so insistent that it's NOT insurance, dammit, when that's exactly what insurance is.

It's also a really strange transmogrification of the kind of aid societies that congregations in all kinds of religions have always had - part of your dues/collections/whatever goes to the fund that pays out to members in need. Except that in that situation, it's your community that gets the deets and the prayer request, which I find a lot more comfortable, somehow. (And it's also true for non-religious communities: I can't count the number of Buffista fundraisers we've thrown over the years!) I think it's the blurring of lines that weirds me out about it: if all it takes is to sign up and pay a monthly fee, it ain't a community, it's insurance however much you disclaim the word; if it's insurance, it shouldn't also come attached with doctrinal requirements and disclosures of my own damn business.

Group medical options would be a nice practical service for religious organizations to offer.

I've seen similar risk pool methods in small business where employees have catastrophic plans and a 'joint' savings pool covers routine medical care. Monthly contributions are made to the savings account and bills submitted are paid. Cuts out the fat middle man insurance company.

Larger companies sometimes have clinics in house to cut down on costs, particularly with wellness programs which reduce medical premiums and sick days.

It seems like more of this kind of thing could happen. I'd be willing to consider many options that don't involve giving tons of money to the Evil insurance company. Gotta be a better way.

In other news, off to watch basketball. Go Heat!

Yeah. Sorry, I didn't articulate my initial statement well - it's not that the concept is new to me; I just hadn't seen any particularly organized Christian approach.

ha! aid society x-post; only here.

(And the NOT insurance stuff I saw was in the blog comments, not on the official site, to be clear.)

Yeah, I found it weird (and odd and sadly telling) that they're so insistent that it's NOT insurance, dammit, when that's exactly what insurance is.

I think the insistence is at least partly a matter of legal definition, to avoid regulatory requirements.

I'm pretty confident Blue Cross isn't going to say a prayer for you while they cut the check to your doctor. They might say a prayer they can find a way to deny coverage though.

I really wish my chinese delivery restaurant would also deliver cat food.

(I also wish many things- like that I was able to get delivery other than pizza or chinese, that I was not so chicken about using the telephone that I could order without a problem, and that the fact I would need to get dressed to answer the door was not such a barrier. I am hungry.)

So not zombies? But we can't rule out ritual sacrifice.

But without pie.

Though there is a newish place in my neighborhood called Republic of Pie. They opened on 3/14, I think. And man, their quiche is amazing. Apple Pie was good. Blackberry was very good. Pot pie was meh.

Also, I think the person taking my grandparents 1940 census was not very good. All the birthdates are "about" and my grandmother Marjorie looks like Maryne and my aunt Gail is Gale (less weird.)