The co-op membership classifications are “Patient”, “Physician” and “Member Representative“, but all of us at some point in time are “patients.” Because we form a single entity and we are many in number we are able to get health care services more affordably and more comprehensively than we can get individually.

Our benefits begin with an Association in which the members govern democratically, like in many clubs and churches in which many of us are also members. We have an Assocation application and agreement that each head of household must complete and sign. It is an annual agreement, but dues can be paid monthly. If a member fails to pay their monthly dues they will lose the benefits of membership and they will still be financially responsible for up to $15 per month for the next twelve months. This penalty is to make sure that a member understands that we are not a “Product Shop,” but an Association through which we mutally support each other to get benefits each of us need. Dropping out in a untimely way is not part of the agreement.

The second benefit for each member is a payment plan for “Primary Care Medical Services” from a member Medical Clinic. This is a formal payment agreement between the patient and the clinic chosen by that patient for medical services. Patients do not simple go to any “Member Clinic,” but must choose one particular Clinic and its physicians. The agreement with the clinic is for one year but can be paid for monthly. The penalty built into the Assocation membership is there to guarantee this agreement term with the participating Clinic. As a matter of honor between the Assocation and the physicians who support us by their membership we do not want a patient member to pay for one month, see a physician several times for comprehensive care and then drop out having only paid twenty-six dollars for hundreds of dollars of services. If the association did not uphold the agreements made by its patient members then the Clinics would be unwilling to serve as providers.

The third benefit is Diagnostic Imaging Services from member diagnostic clinics. It is an optional benefit and it has a payment plan just like the secong benefit described in the previous paragraph. Members must choose one of these member clinics, must sign an annual agreement and must receive their diagnostic services from the location they have chosen in their agreement.

The Cooperative has purchased a group health policy that covers specialty medical servcies and an indemnity for hospital services. The coverage does not exclude pre-existing conditions and all Co-op members are accepted. There is a sixty day waiting period for sickness in the group agreement for new enrollees and a 270 day waitng period for pregnancy, however the medical conditions are fully covered after the waiting period and it is not related to Primary Medical Care services which are contracted for directly with the Primary Care Clinics. Participation in the group plan is optional, however if a member joins the plan and then drops his or her Co-op membership and/or payment plan for primary medical care services he or she will be dropped from the group plan as well. If you lose group coverage because of a default in Co-op membership and you want to reinstate your insurance benefits the insurer has the right to underwrite your coverage on the basis of your health conditions.