Finances & Advance Directives
. . . a certain Samaritan . . . had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him . . . .
(Luke 10:33–35)
The story of the Good Samaritan highlights two individuals: one giving care and one receiving care. As we journey, we may sometimes find ourselves in one role; sometimes in the other. In both situations, our needs — including financial — are met by divine Love.
Christian Scientists choose prayer-based healing — and of course they seek to be law-abiding. However, navigating the best path for health choices, retaining the right to choose the care they trust, and paying for that care can sometimes seem challenging. Simply figuring out which sources might help cover the cost of help from a Christian Science practitioner or Christian Science nurse can be a feat in itself.
The information in this section is provided to help you understand different types of health insurance plans and whether they might or might not be used to pay for Christian Science care. In addition, there is information on foundations that support the costs of Christian Science practitioner treatment and Christian Science nursing care. And, finally, there is a section on how and why to create an Advance Directive — a legal document that spells out your specific care wishes should you not be able to communicate what you do and do not want.
