OSWALD: Why Crosshaven doesn't charge
This means that for 99 percent of my young family's health care needs, I am paying out of pocket. When one of us gets sick, we walk the line between taking care of the problem at home and saving money or going to the doctor and spending hundreds of dollars on routine care.
The policy has its blessings and its challenges and I'm thankful to have coverage at all. Yet without question, the worst part of the policy is the stress associated with seeking care.People go through the same struggle, but with much greater stress, when trying to decide if they should see someone about emotional problems. The embarrassment of seeking advice about a highly personal problem is compounded by the concerns related to finances.
Many people are reluctant to pay to talk with someone they aren't sure will actually help with their problem. They may also shorten or suspend visits to a professional because, in weighing the cost to benefits like my family does with health coverage, they decide their problem is mostly self-treatable.
Of course, common colds and problems of the soul are not the same. Self-treatment is preferred for most minor medical issues but issues of the heart should never be self-treated. Others should be brought into every issue, no matter how big or small, for expert advice, support and encouragement. These are things a person should not have to pay for and putting a price tag on them is a dangerous thing to do.
The mental health industry has created additional stress. The psychological establishment has simultaneously self-ordained its priestly role of caring for our emotional well-being and decided we should pay for the privilege by the hour. The consequence is compromised care at best and the complete absence of care at worst.
Care is compromised on the provider's end by a "find a problem get a paycheck" connection that inevitably occurs no matter how good the intentions. If you doubt this statement, try walking into a psychologist's office and suggest the following payment plan: When the doctor fixes your problem, you will pay him. You won't pay for him to find the problem, only fix it. Just be careful, you'll probably be diagnosed manic-delusional right on the spot.
We've made the commitment to offer Biblical Counseling free of charge to the people of Monroe County. This commitment costs us quite a bit of money actually. Since this article has always been a sincere effort to lay out truth in the public domain, I'm taking this space to humbly encourage those who share a vision for this counseling center to support our efforts.
We are holding a trivia night and would encourage people who enjoy those to participate. I'd also encourage you to send us a letter or an e-mail to inquire how you could further support our efforts.
Chris Oswald is director of CrossHaven Biblical Counseling and the lead pastor at CrossHaven Church in Monroe County. He can be reached at 411@heroicchurch.org or on the Web at heroicchurch.org.
