Frequently Asked Questions
How does CrowdCare work?
Step 1: Join
Become a member of CrowdCare by paying a low monthly subscription fee. This grants you access to a suite of healthcare tools and support from our team. There is a 60 day trial period before you can start submitting expenses to the crowd. This ensures participation in the crowdfunding
by all members.
Step 2: Visit the Doctor
When you visit the doctor, ask for the cash price and pay for the service directly. For emergencies, contact us before paying the bill. We can help negotiate your emergency expenses. For planned services such as labs, imaging, or procedures, let us know beforehand, and we can negotiate discounted rates in advance.
Step 3: Submit Your Bills
Submitting your bills is simple—just take a photo and upload it via the mobile app to submit!
Step 4: Receive Community Support
CrowdCare will facilitate the crowdfunding of your medical bills, ensuring your expenses are covered quickly and efficiently.
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What is the cost?
Individual Membership $180, Individual 55+ $265, Family $410
Member Commitment
Members are responsible for the first $500 of eligible healthcare expenses ($3,000 for maternity events) before bills are eligible for crowdfunding.
Who can join?
Almost everyone! The Crowd is currently unavailable to tobacco users (daily use for 3+ months, past or present) and individuals over 220/260 pounds (female/male). We aim to expand access soon to accommodate more people with various health histories.
How are pre-existing conditions handled?
Costs related to pre-existing conditions are not eligible for crowdfunding in the first two years of membership. After the second year, you can submit up to $25K per year for eligible treatments related to pre-existing conditions.
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How are large healthcare expenses covered?
For planned major expenses (like surgeries), we negotiate discounts of 30-60% before the procedure. For emergency situations, we will work with our partners to negotiate after the fact. There is no maximum amount of health care costs you can share with the Crowd.
What is not eligible for funding?
Examples of non-eligible procedures include cosmetic treatments, long-term prescriptions, and fertility treatments. Any treatments related to pre-existing conditions are not eligible for funding during the first two years of your membership.
How do I pay my doctor?
For regular appointments, simply request the cash price and pay the doctor. For expenses over $500, you pay the first $500 and submit the remainder for crowdfunding.For planned services like labs or surgeries, notify us beforehand so we can help negotiate rates.For emergencies, contact us before paying to allow our partners to negotiate your bill.
Why can’t you guarantee funding?
We aren't insurance and that is a good thing! We crowdfund from members to support our healthcare together, however there are no guarantees since it depends on the number of members and total contributions.
Can I see any doctor?
CrowdCare gives you the freedom to choose your healthcare provider. Stay with your current doctor or reach out to your Care Advocate for assistance in finding a quality provider.
Does CrowdCare meet the insurance requirements for states with individual mandates?
No, CrowdCare Membership does not fulfill federal or state minimum essential coverage mandates. If you live in a state with such a mandate (e.g., California, Massachusetts), you must secure other coverage separately from your CrowdCare Membership.
Do you offer vision and dental coverage?
Yes! CrowdCare covers one annual wellness event per member per year up to $300 without the $500 member commitment. Eligible wellness events include:
- Primary care exams, including naturopathy
- Pediatric well-child visits
- Direct primary care (DPC) membership fees
- Annual gynecological exams and labs
- Dental exams, including cleaning and X-rays
- Vision exams
How is maternity care handled?
Maternity care is treated as a single health event covering prenatal, labor & delivery, and postpartum care, with a $3,000 member commitment.Your baby's standard care (first six months) is a separate health event with a $500 member commitment. If your baby requires medical care beyond the standard newborn care, that would be treated as a separate event.
Can I use an HSA with CrowdCare?
Since CrowdCare is not insurance, you cannot contribute to an HSA for your Membership fee. However, you can use existing HSA funds to pay for medical bills after you’ve met your $500 member commitment. Note that HSA funds cannot be used for your monthly membership fee.
How do prescriptions work?
Prescriptions related to an eligible health event are eligible for funding within 120 days of the event. For prescriptions longer than 120 days, you can still access discounts through our pharmacy partner, which can reduce costs by 50-60%.
Still have questions?
Feel free to schedule a call with us!
A Transparent, Community-Focused Method
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Step 1: Subscribe
Become a member of the CrowdCare community by subscribing. This gives you access to a range of healthcare tools and a dedicated team of Health Advocates, ready to assist you in making informed decisions and negotiating your medical bills.
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Step 2: Contribute
Each month, you’ll support another member based on their health needs, age, or family size. Our platform distributes costs across the crowd, ensuring that helping others is easy.
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Step 3: Receive Support from the Crowd
If you face healthcare costs due to illness, injury, pregnancy, or other health events, the CrowdCare community steps in to help. Members contribute to cover your expenses, and our platform takes care of the financial transfers. Use this support to cover eligible medical costs.
