American Dental Share Membership Guidelines
The American Dental Share Plans Membership Guidelines consist of the Administrative Guidelines and the Sharing Guidelines. They are commonly referred to as the “Membership Guidelines,” the” Administrative Guidelines, or the “Sharing Guidelines,” respectively.
I. Administrative Guidelines
1. American Dental Share plans: Principles of Membership. The following requirements protect all Members by promoting honor and integrity on the part of Members and by minimizing dental risks and ensuring proper accountability while encouraging good health practices.
2. Membership in the American Dental Share plans community, a benevolence fund, requires agreeing to all the following commitments below as well as the submission of an application for membership. Once accepted for membership, if a Member continues to meet these requirements and fulfill all membership duties as determined by the Board of Directors, their membership may continue. If at any time a member ceases to meet all these membership requirements, the member must notify American Dental Share immediately. Said member’s membership in the American Dental Share plans community and all privileges of membership will cease upon ineligibility for membership without further action or intervention by American Dental Share, unless otherwise indicated.
3. American Dental Share plans Requirements for Membership.
The members of the American Dental Share plans 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 to support each other and share dental needs and financial resources according to the Membership Guidelines with all people without regard to race, ethnicity, creed, religion, or national origin, if each Member accepts the beliefs of this community as outlined in these Ethical Beliefs and Principles:
- We share a faith in each other and in the strength of our community.
- We are committed to the idea of assisting one another, believing that strengthening the well-being of all humanity, both in the present and the future, is a virtuous pursuit. Moreover, we see it as our moral and ethical duty to willingly provide voluntary support to our fellow community members for their dental needs.
- The fundamental belief within our community is that we support one another by sharing in the dental cost burdens of fellow members whenever possible and when resources are available.
- Our community is guided by principles that encourage generosity in every aspect, with the aim of producing gratitude. We are dedicated to acts of benevolence, charity, and missions, both domestically and globally, such as volunteer work and financial contributions, all supported by the integrity, honesty, and personal accountability of our community members. 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 place a strong emphasis on personal accountability, as we believe that each member of the community is responsible for being a good steward of our resources to strengthen the community. We believe in living out our beliefs and principles in our daily lives, as they guide us in the responsibility we have towards our collective well-being.
- We firmly believe that our bodies are precious, and it is our duty to honor them. This belief stems from the principle that we are entrusted with our well-being, and we strive to maintain our physical and mental health. As a result, we are committed to avoiding the consumption of illegal substances and refraining from engaging in dangerous, illegal, and unlawful activities. These actions not only have an adverse impact on us but also affect the well-being of our community as a whole.
- We are committed to the idea of maintaining good health as an essential part of our dedication. We strive for prosperity and well-being, mirroring the sentiment of valuing physical and mental health. To achieve this, we prioritize healthy practices, avoid harmful substances and addictive behaviors, and actively pursue a balanced and harmonious way of life.
- We firmly believe it is our community members’ fundamental right to make their own health choices, and we believe in seeking guidance from knowledgeable healthcare professionals and advisors. We also believe in seeking spiritual guidance in making decisions about our health.
- We fully embrace our fundamental rights, as provided by Divine Providence, and as protected by the Constitution and laws of the United States and of the various states, to exercise our faith and values by coming together as a healthcare sharing ministry to bear each other’s dental cost burdens. We achieve this commitment by directly and willingly sharing in the costs associated with our members’ healthcare, among our members. We strongly believe that our faith and values bring us together and that the shared accountability of our community, allows for everyone to be supported by the community with compassion.
- Our community believes in its collective ability to make educated, informed, and knowledgeable consumer decisions that create value for ourselves and the American healthcare system.
4. DISCLAIMER WARNING: American Dental Share is a non-profit and a tax exempt 501(c)(3) charitable organization. It is not an insurance company. No sharing plan that it offers is an insurance plan or policy of any kind. Membership in American Dental Share plans is not issued or offered by an insurance company. Whether an individual member or a household of members chooses to provide monetary assistance to you and/or your household to help with your dental expenses is entirely voluntary. Neither you nor American Dental Share has any right to compel payment of money for dental cost sharing from any American Dental Share plans or members or officers or directors thereof.
II. Sharing Guidelines
As a healthcare sharing ministry, it is important to understand that these ministries are not insurance providers. Instead, they function as communities where members voluntarily contribute funds to assist fellow members with their dental expenses. Unlike insurance policies, participation in a healthcare sharing ministry is entirely optional, and members decide whether to provide financial support to other members in need.
MEMBER COMMITMENTS
Personal Commitments on behalf of myself as a member and my included household:
1. I have read and understand the Membership Guidelines and am confirming that all my answers in my application and the application process are true and accurate and indicate my commitment to abide by the Membership Guidelines.
2. I acknowledge and understand that my participation in an American Dental Share sharing plan is not insurance and is not provided or underwritten by any insurance company. While American Dental Share will take reasonable measures to facilitate the sharing of my dental expenses as a member, it is important to note that the American Dental Share plans community, along with its partners and affiliates, cannot and do not guarantee payment for any dental bills.
3. I consent and agree to engage in mediation and, if required or requested by American Dental Share, binding arbitration in the event of any dispute arising between me and the American Dental Share community or any of its affiliates. I hereby knowingly, willingly, and with full understanding, waive my right to a trial by jury to the maximum extent allowed by applicable law.
4. I understand that as a participant in a managed benevolence fund of the American Dental Share cost sharing community, there is no guarantee of payment for any dental expenses by the community or other Members. The concept of a cost sharing community involves individuals coming together to collectively share the burden of dental costs. It operates on the premise that members contribute towards each other’s dental expenses. Consequently, the sharing of dental expenses is entirely dependent on the contributions of members, and as a result, the corresponding dental expense requests from members may lead to sharing being prorated or possibly unavailable in a particular month.
5. I pledge, in the spirit of the ethical principles and moral responsibilities of the members of the American Dental Share community, to abstain from the use of any illegal substances. I am aware that dental needs or requests arising from engaging in activities that are illegal or in violation of federal law or state law will not be eligible for sharing within the American Dental Share cost sharing community.
6. 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 American Dental Share community as well as their responsibilities and their obligations to the Community, and the basic constructs for sharing Needs Cases (If applicable).
7. I understand that my Monthly Member Contribution is composed of my dental cost sharing contribution plus any additional subscription services I elect to join alongside my Dental Cost Sharing membership.
8. I confirm and affirm that I am legally capable of agreeing to these declarations, and I possess the full authority to make such acknowledgements on behalf of all members of my household.
9. I acknowledge that American Dental Share community utilizes the contact details I have supplied (now and as they may be updated) for all forms of communication with me, and it is my responsibility to keep my email addresses, phone numbers, and mailing addresses accurate at all times. I grant American Dental Share community permission to use the provided contact information for any communication pertaining to my community membership. I am also aware that membership may not be accessible in certain states or jurisdictions, and if I move to such an area, American Dental Share reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to terminate my membership. You can find information on American Dental Share plans state availability on the website.