East Wind members share a pool of community cars, they don’t have to cover expenses like car repairs out of pocket.
East Wind’s food businesses, particularly nut butters, are of course inspected and licensed by the health department. Most of the photos you’re seeing are of food production for community consumption.
FEC communities have a self-insurance fund to cover catastrophic health costs, and seek state subsidies when available, which they often are for low-income people who live on communes.
But you’re right that chronic illnesses that need continuous expensive medical care can be a strain on community finances. The community agrees to cover those expenses.
I think a lot of people don't really grasp what that commitment really means. My twins were born three months early, and each cost about a million dollars in NICU services - and they had minimal complications. My family alone would've cost this commune 40 years worth of their current medical care spending just for the first year.
Insurer knocked down about 2/3 of that, leaving about $600k for two kids. I doubt there's any insurance company offering coverage at the $686.82/year rate cited in the article, so it seems likely they're just pooling money and paying costs out-of-pocket, which'll probably mean they're paying full rate. (There are a few religious organizations doing this formally - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/1-million-americans-pool...)
East Wind pays $180/year per person into a fund held by communities that is much like the funds cited in that article, although relatively small. It's not insurance. It's a catastrophic health savings plan. It will pay (for people fully invested 2 years in the program) their costs beyond the first $5,000 for an illness or injury.
East Wind’s food businesses, particularly nut butters, are of course inspected and licensed by the health department. Most of the photos you’re seeing are of food production for community consumption.
FEC communities have a self-insurance fund to cover catastrophic health costs, and seek state subsidies when available, which they often are for low-income people who live on communes.
But you’re right that chronic illnesses that need continuous expensive medical care can be a strain on community finances. The community agrees to cover those expenses.