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Updated: May 13, 2025

What Are Health Share Ministries? with Louis Brown

Is there a Catholic alternative to health insurance? In this episode of The Catholic Money Show, Jonathan Teixeira sits down with Louis Brown, Executive Director of the Christ Medicus Foundation, to talk about health share ministries—how they work, who they’re for, and why thousands of Catholic families are choosing them.

You’ll learn:

  • What a health share ministry actually is (and how it’s not insurance)
  • How costs are shared among members, prayerfully and communally
  • How the Christ Medicus Foundation partners with Samaritan Ministries International
  • Additional benefits like spiritual direction, Catholic health coaching, and whole-person wellness

If you’re exploring healthcare options that align with your faith and values, this episode is a must-listen.

🩺 Learn more: ⁠https://cmfcuro.com⁠

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🎶 Music in this episode is by Dylan Gardner – check out his album Almost Real on ⁠iTunes⁠, ⁠Spotify⁠, or wherever you listen to great music.

Is there a Catholic alternative to health insurance?

In this episode of The Catholic Money Show, Jonathan Teixeira sits down with Louis Brown, Executive Director of the Christ Medicus Foundation, to unpack a healthcare model that’s growing fast among Catholic families: health share ministries.

Instead of paying monthly premiums to a large insurance company, members of a health share ministry share medical costs directly with one another, grounded in faith, prayer, and solidarity. In many ways, it’s healthcare that reflects Catholic values—focused on community, stewardship, and the dignity of the human person.

🎙️ What You’ll Hear in the Episode:

  • What a health share ministry is—and what it’s not
  • How Christ Medicus Foundation (CMF CURO) partners with Samaritan Ministries International to offer Christ-centered care
  • What it looks like to pray for the people you’re financially supporting
  • The difference between traditional insurance and health sharing models
  • Why this model works well for Catholic families who want to align their healthcare choices with their faith
  • How CURO offers Catholic health coaching, spiritual support, and whole-person wellness

💡 Key Takeaways:

  • You’re not alone in your healthcare journey. A health share ministry connects you to a community that supports you both financially and spiritually.
  • It’s not insurance—but it works. Through monthly contributions and direct sharing, members cover each other’s medical needs without the complexity of traditional insurance.
  • Catholic values matter in healthcare. From fertility awareness to end-of-life care, Louis explains how Christ Medicus Foundation helps ensure your values are respected.

👤 About Louis Brown

Louis Brown serves as the Executive Director of the Christ Medicus Foundation, a Catholic health care nonprofit whose mission is to share the healing love of Jesus Christ in health care.

Brown received a Juris Doctorate from Howard University School of Law in Washington, D.C. After law school, he worked in private practice where he focused on labor law and commercial litigation. He later served as associate director of social concerns for a state Catholic conference, advocating for life-affirming health care policy, housing non-discrimination, and in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants.

He then became a legislative counsel and Judiciary Committee liaison for a U.S. Congressman on Capitol Hill. In 2014, he joined the Christ Medicus Foundation, and in 2017 served at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights, defending the civil rights of patients and human service recipients across the country.

He returned to CMF in 2019 and now leads its mission through medical conscience advocacy, CURO’s Catholic health ministry for individuals and families, and strategic guidance for Catholic health care—especially focused on care for the materially impoverished and vulnerable.

Louis also serves on the boards of two Catholic health care entities, the University of Dallas, and the Religious Liberty Initiative at Notre Dame Law School. In 2021, he began teaching as a lecturer at Catholic University Columbus School of Law.

🔗 Resources Mentioned: