Member Principles & Commitments
The following beliefs guide Sedera’s Medical Cost Sharing Community and form a common ethical basis for our Community. All Sedera Members must agree with and attest to the following beliefs, principles, and commitments.
Membership in the Sedera Medical Cost Sharing Community requires agreeing to all of the requirements of this section as well as completing the online enrollment flow. As long as Members continue to meet these requirements and fulfill all membership duties as determined by the Board of Directors, their membership will continue. If at any time a Member no longer meets all these membership requirements, they must notify Sedera immediately, and their Sedera MCS Community membership and all privileges will cease, unless otherwise indicated. While Member health status has no effect on eligibility for membership, there are limitations on the sharing of Needs for some conditions that existed prior to the membership effective date. See Sections 6-7 of the Membership Guidelines for a detailed list of shareable and non-shareable Needs.
The Members of the Sedera Medical Cost Sharing Community are united by a shared faith in the following beliefs and principles. As a demonstration of these beliefs and principles we have decided to come together — from all backgrounds, nationalities, ethnicities, and races — to support each other and share in eligible medical Needs according to the member sharing Guidelines. Each Member accepts the beliefs of this community as laid out in these Ethical Beliefs and Principles:
We share a faith in each other and in the strength of our community.
We believe improving the lot of humankind, present, and future, is a virtuous goal and that it is an expression of our moral and ethical responsibility to endeavor to voluntarily support our fellow community members.
We believe that as a community we should care for one another and assist fellow members with each other’s medical burdens when the opportunity and resources allow. We strive to share with others as we would like them to share with us.
We believe in the importance of charity and benevolence as well as the social duties of voluntariness, integrity, honesty, and personal responsibility.
We believe in personal accountability for our decisions and responsible stewardship of all that is entrusted to us and share faith that all members of our community will be empowered to apply these beliefs and principles in their day-to-day lives.
We believe that the use of illegal substances or the act of performing an illegal or unlawful activity is harmful to the community and ourselves.
We believe in respecting our bodies, practicing good health measures, avoiding harmful substances and addictions, and striving for a balanced lifestyle.
We believe it is a basic right to make our own health decisions and to pursue the advice of learned physicians and advisors, spiritual or otherwise, in determining our own health decisions.
We believe that we have a fundamental right guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution to freely associate in the lawful exercise of our common beliefs to voluntarily share health care expenses with one another. We believe that a community of ethical and health-conscious people can most effectively encourage and care for one another by sharing each other’s medical needs directly.
We believe in the power of educated, informed, and empowered healthcare consumers to generate value for themselves, the community, and the American healthcare system.
I have read and understand the Sedera Membership Guidelines and am confirming that all of my answers in this application process are true and accurate and indicate my commitment to abide by the Membership Guidelines.
I understand and acknowledge that membership in the Sedera Medical Cost Sharing Community is not insurance and is not issued or offered by an insurance entity and while every effort will be made to facilitate the sharing of a Member's medical needs, the Sedera Medical Cost Sharing Community and their partners and affiliates cannot and do not guarantee payment of any medical expenses.
I agree to submit to mediation following subsequent binding arbitration, if needed, for any instance of a dispute with Sedera Medical Cost Sharing Community or their affiliates as more fully outlined in Section 12 of the Membership Guidelines. I hereby knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently waive any right to trial by jury to the fullest extent permitted by law.
I agree to refrain from using any form of illegal substances. I understand that medical needs caused by, or due to, the act of performing any illegal or unlawful activity will not be shareable with the Sedera Medical Cost Sharing Community.
As the head of household, I accept the responsibility to notify, educate and inform all persons listed on my application concerning their participation in the Sedera Medical Cost Sharing Community as well as their responsibilities, their obligation to the community and the basic constructs for sharing needs. (If applicable).
I understand that my Monthly Member Contribution includes an Administrative Fee, a Member Services Fee, the Member Share amount, the Bank Maintenance Fee and any additional services I choose to purchase along with my medical cost sharing membership. (See the Membership Guidelines for more details regarding the fee structure).
I understand that an active Medical Cost Sharing Account is a requirement for membership in the Sedera MCS Community. I also commit to keeping my Medical Cost Sharing Account open for one year after termination of my household’s membership to allow for the continued sharing of Needs among the community members. I understand that the Bank Maintenance Fee will continue to be withdrawn from my Medical Cost Sharing Account during this one year period.
I fully authorize the Sedera MCS Community and its partners banking access to the Medical Cost Sharing Account that I open at Austin Capital Bank and grant the Sedera MCS Community and its partners, full authority to debit and/or credit to my Medical Cost Sharing Account at Austin Capital Bank. I also agree to keep this authorization in effect for one year after termination of my household’s membership to allow for continued sharing of Needs among community Members.
I represent and warrant that I am legally competent to execute these commitments and that I have full authority to execute these commitments on behalf of all members of my household.
I understand that all members who have joined within a primary member’s account will have access to information for any other members within the same account. This information includes all pending and past medical needs and other personal information.
I understand that no one is denied membership based on Pre-existing Medical Conditions, but any conditions that existed prior to membership would not be shareable with the community until certain membership longevity requirements are met.
I understand that Sedera members retain complete autonomy with regard to how they spend their own money on medical care. However, Sedera members know that when they are asking for others to share their expenses, the community will decide what it will share according to Sharing Guidelines. Sedera members do not expect the community to share the costs of poorly proven therapies and testing, overly expensive practitioners or hospitals.
I commit to fully cooperating with the Sedera MCS Community and its partners to determine whether submitted Needs are shareable and/or the extent to which submitted needs are shareable by obtaining requested documents, signing necessary releases, and communicating with my Needs Coordinator.
I commit to act with honor and integrity when interacting with the Sedera MCS Community, and understand that presenting a falsified Need, using deceptive practices, or participating in another member’s misuse of trust will result in termination of my household’s membership.
I understand that there is a three-step internal appeals process outlined in the Membership Guidelines.
I understand that my contributions are made monthly in advance of the membership service month into my household’s Medical Cost Sharing Account and grant the Sedera MCS Community and its partners full authority to credit and/or debit from my household’s Medical Cost Sharing Account.
DISCLAIMER: The Sedera Medical Cost Sharing Community is not an insurance company and the Sedera Medical Cost Sharing membership is not issued or offered by an insurance company. Whether any Member chooses to send monetary assistance to you and/or your household to help with your medical expenses will be totally voluntary and neither you nor the Sedera Medical Cost Sharing Community has any right to compel payment of medical cost sharing costs from any Member or household. The Sedera membership is not and should never be considered to be or to be like a group insurance policy or an individual insurance policy. The Sedera Medical Cost Sharing Community is not an employee welfare benefit plan, an employer sponsored health plan, or multiple employer welfare association (MEWA).
Whether you receive any money for medical expenses, or whether or not this membership continues to operate, you as the Member will always remain liable for your unpaid medical expenses and do not have any legal right to seek reimbursement or indemnification for any such expenses from the Sedera Medical Cost Sharing Community or any other member or household. This is not a legally binding agreement to reimburse or indemnify you for the medical expenses you incur, but is an opportunity for you to assist other members in need, and when you are in need, to present your medical bills to other Members as outlined in these guidelines. There is no guarantee of payment of medical expenses by the Sedera Medical Cost Sharing Community or other Members. The financial assistance you may receive will come from other Members and/or households, and not from the Sedera Medical Cost Sharing Community. The sharing of medical expenses is completely dependent on and only possible through the contributions of Members and therefore the corresponding medical expense requests by Members could result in sharing being prorated or unavailable for a given month.
