HealthShare -- Questions & Answers

Questions and Answers about HealthShare Q: What kind of organization is HealthShare?
A: HealthShare is a local, member-owned, 501 C3 not-for-profit corporation. Unlike most other medical and insurance organizations, HealthShare is member/patient centered -- we focus on the entire healthcare field from the perspective of the people receiving care. HealthShare's office is located in Bloomington.
Q: Who can become a member of HealthShare?
A: HealthShare membership is open to everyone.
Q: What are HealthShare's goals?
A: To integrate traditional medicine with alternative medical therapies. To build a volunteer network so community members can help each other. To work to make healthcare more affordable through member discounts. And to focus on staying healthy through prevention.
Q: What is integrative medicine?
A: Integrative medicine is a bridge between traditional medicine and alternative therapies. Integrative medicine brings the best of traditional medicine, such as diagnostics and acute care, together with alternative practices which place a greater emphasis on wellness, prevention and chronic health issues. This provides you with a wider range of choices to improve your health. HealthShare helps you make educated choices about which therapy is best for you and gives you resources necessary to make those choices.
Q: What does HealthShare mean to my healthcare?
A: Many people seek healthcare only in response to illness or injury. HealthShare focuses on staying healthy through prevention and wellness. HealthShare members also have a wider spectrum of healthcare options through the use of alternative medical therapies. HealthShare provides information and programs to help you lead a healthier life.
Q: Is HealthShare owned by or affiliated with any insurance company or physician group such as Unity or Precision?
A: No. HealthShare is a local, not-for-profit organization (501 C3) owned by HealthShare members.
Q: What sort of information does HealthShare provide to its members about alternative therapies and practitioners?
A: Guidelines on how to choose an alternative therapy and local alternative practitioner are supplied to all HealthShare members. We publish, and regularly update, a listing of local alternative practitioners including information about their education, training, licenses, insurance coverage, background, references, qualifications, and certifications -- both unconventional and conventional. This information is available in a printed form and on our website at www.healthshare.net.
Q: Does HealthShare's listing of an alternative practitioner guarantee or certify their work?
A: The guidelines we use are based on findings of the National Institutes of Health, Office of Alternative Medicine and a variety of other sources. Each listed alternative health practitioner has responded to a questionnaire and submitted the information that we publish. No organization can guarantee that every treatment will work. A HealthShare listing cannot guarantee a practitioner or an alternative medical technique.
Q: How will HealthShare help me save money on healthcare?
A: HealthShare members receive discounts on traditional and alternative medical products and services. These include prescription medicines, health foods, counseling, vitamins, supplements and alternative medical therapies. The list of organizations and companies providing discounts to HealthShare members continues to expand. Some members have found they have saved the cost of their basic membership within a couple of months of joining.
Q: Are MDs and traditional physicians involved?
A: Yes. MDs and medical professionals are involved in every part of HealthShare's integrative medicine programs and hold seats on our board of directors.
Q: What do I get for my Basic HealthShare Membership?
A: As part of the membership kit you will receive a HealthShare membership card which can be used to obtain discounts at participating merchants and providers. You will receive a copy of the "Healthwise Handbook -- A self-care manual for you". You will be offered a Health Risk Appraisal which includes personal health recommendations and discounted screening tests. You also will have access to information about local alternative medical providers and will receive the HealthShare "Healthier Life" newsletter with information and features about locally available healthcare options. You will have the option of flexible volunteer participation in HealthShare’s volunteer network.
Membership in HealthShare helps the whole area in a wide range of important ways.
Q: What additional benefits do I receive if I’m over 55?
A: You receive a membership in Bloomington Hospital’s Plus Card program which provides free parking in the Hospital garage and discounts on gift shop purchases and meals at the Cafeteria. You also receive Well Check health screenings, a variety of Creative Retirement Programs, and assistance with Medicare supplemental insurance and medical claims.
Q: Why was HealthShare founded?
A: Research conducted by the Evergreen Institute, a local research organization, indicated that there was a significant need for an organization to provide coordination in a variety of healthcare areas such as alternative/traditional medicine, healthcare affordability options, volunteer work and access to healthcare. HealthShare was designed from the ground up to find ways of addressing these needs.
Q: How does HealthShare coordinate volunteers to help people in my area?
A: HealthShare serves as the hub of a variety of volunteer efforts. HealthShare matches individuals who would like to receive services with individuals who are interested in volunteering. In addition, HealthShare works with faith organizations to help them coordinate their own volunteer efforts. Services include transportation to and from medical appointments, grocery shopping, light domestic chores, respite care, lawn and home maintenance, patient advocacy, phone reassurance, and bill paying.
Q: Who runs HealthShare?
A: HealthShare is a member-owned, not-for-profit organization which answers to its members. HealthShare has a board of directors made up of local community leaders, MDs and people concerned about prevention, wellness and alternative therapies.
Q: Who funds HealthShare?
A: HealthShare is funded by a number of grants from local and national organizations including the Evergreen Institute, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Retirement Research Foundation and Bloomington Hospital. These grants cover some of the start-up costs of HealthShare, but not its continuing requirements. HealthShare is funded by membership dues and the generosity of donors throughout the community.


			Q: What kind of organization is HealthShare? A: HealthShare is a local, member-owned, 501 C3 not-for-profit corporation. Unlike most other medical and insurance organizations, HealthShare is member/patient centered -- we focus on the entire healthcare field from the perspective of the people receiving care. HealthShare's office is located in Bloomington. Q: Who can become a member of HealthShare? A: HealthShare membership is open to everyone. Q: What are HealthShare's goals? A: To integrate traditional medicine with alternative medical therapies. To build a volunteer network so community members can help each other. To work to make healthcare more affordable through member discounts. And to focus on staying healthy through prevention. Q: What is integrative medicine? A: Integrative medicine is a bridge between traditional medicine and alternative therapies. Integrative medicine brings the best of traditional medicine, such as diagnostics and acute care, together with alternative practices which place a greater emphasis on wellness, prevention and chronic health issues. This provides you with a wider range of choices to improve your health. HealthShare helps you make educated choices about which therapy is best for you and gives you resources necessary to make those choices. Q: What does HealthShare mean to my healthcare? A: Many people seek healthcare only in response to illness or injury. HealthShare focuses on staying healthy through prevention and wellness. HealthShare members also have a wider spectrum of healthcare options through the use of alternative medical therapies. HealthShare provides information and programs to help you lead a healthier life. Q: Is HealthShare owned by or affiliated with any insurance company or physician group such as Unity or Precision? A: No. HealthShare is a local, not-for-profit organization (501 C3) owned by HealthShare members. Q: What sort of information does HealthShare provide to its members about alternative therapies and practitioners? A: Guidelines on how to choose an alternative therapy and local alternative practitioner are supplied to all HealthShare members. We publish, and regularly update, a listing of local alternative practitioners including information about their education, training, licenses, insurance coverage, background, references, qualifications, and certifications -- both unconventional and conventional. This information is available in a printed form and on our website at www.healthshare.net. Q: Does HealthShare's listing of an alternative practitioner guarantee or certify their work? A: The guidelines we use are based on findings of the National Institutes of Health, Office of Alternative Medicine and a variety of other sources. Each listed alternative health practitioner has responded to a questionnaire and submitted the information that we publish. No organization can guarantee that every treatment will work. A HealthShare listing cannot guarantee a practitioner or an alternative medical technique. Q: How will HealthShare help me save money on healthcare? A: HealthShare members receive discounts on traditional and alternative medical products and services. These include prescription medicines, health foods, counseling, vitamins, supplements and alternative medical therapies. The list of organizations and companies providing discounts to HealthShare members continues to expand. Some members have found they have saved the cost of their basic membership within a couple of months of joining. Q: Are MDs and traditional physicians involved? A: Yes. MDs and medical professionals are involved in every part of HealthShare's integrative medicine programs and hold seats on our board of directors. Q: What do I get for my Basic HealthShare Membership? A: As part of the membership kit you will receive a HealthShare membership card which can be used to obtain discounts at participating merchants and providers. You will receive a copy of the "Healthwise Handbook -- A self-care manual for you". You will be offered a Health Risk Appraisal which includes personal health recommendations and discounted screening tests. You also will have access to information about local alternative medical providers and will receive the HealthShare "Healthier Life" newsletter with information and features about locally available healthcare options. You will have the option of flexible volunteer participation in HealthShare’s volunteer network. Membership in HealthShare helps the whole area in a wide range of important ways. Q: What additional benefits do I receive if I’m over 55? A: You receive a membership in Bloomington Hospital’s Plus Card program which provides free parking in the Hospital garage and discounts on gift shop purchases and meals at the Cafeteria. You also receive Well Check health screenings, a variety of Creative Retirement Programs, and assistance with Medicare supplemental insurance and medical claims. Q: Why was HealthShare founded? A: Research conducted by the Evergreen Institute, a local research organization, indicated that there was a significant need for an organization to provide coordination in a variety of healthcare areas such as alternative/traditional medicine, healthcare affordability options, volunteer work and access to healthcare. HealthShare was designed from the ground up to find ways of addressing these needs. Q: How does HealthShare coordinate volunteers to help people in my area? A: HealthShare serves as the hub of a variety of volunteer efforts. HealthShare matches individuals who would like to receive services with individuals who are interested in volunteering. In addition, HealthShare works with faith organizations to help them coordinate their own volunteer efforts. Services include transportation to and from medical appointments, grocery shopping, light domestic chores, respite care, lawn and home maintenance, patient advocacy, phone reassurance, and bill paying. Q: Who runs HealthShare? A: HealthShare is a member-owned, not-for-profit organization which answers to its members. HealthShare has a board of directors made up of local community leaders, MDs and people concerned about prevention, wellness and alternative therapies. Q: Who funds HealthShare? A: HealthShare is funded by a number of grants from local and national organizations including the Evergreen Institute, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Retirement Research Foundation and Bloomington Hospital. These grants cover some of the start-up costs of HealthShare, but not its continuing requirements. HealthShare is funded by membership dues and the generosity of donors throughout the community.