You Need to Know about Health Care Sharing Ministries
Humanists, we need your help to stop religious organizations from tricking families into signing up for fake health plans. Tell your elected officials in Congress to support the Health Share Transparency Act, sponsored by Representative Huffman (CA-2), which establishes transparency requirements for deceptive religious organizations masquerading as health insurance.
Health care sharing ministries are tax-exempt religious organizations that pretend to offer products better than real health insurance, with promises of low costs and caring for the “whole person.” These ministries have zero obligation to reimburse any medical expenses. The result is families surprised with steep medical debt, confusing limitations, and curt responses to their pleas for help. One enrollee in a health care sharing ministry was told “we’ll pray for you” when he called his plan about an unpaid $60,000 bill after a stroke. They target vulnerable people in search of inexpensive care – including pregnant women, even when their plans don’t cover basic maternity care.
The Health Share Transparency Act will set in place basic reporting requirements that will help us better understand how these organizations operate, and ensure consumers have the information they need to make informed decisions about their health care. This legislation will not restrict these organizations from operating. You can read the bill here.
The American Humanist Association’s advocacy arm – the Center for Freethought Equality – was beyond proud to host the first ever symposium on health care sharing ministries. During this symposium, health and consumer protection experts and advocates, congress members, and state elected officials sat on multiple panels and spoke about what policy solutions can be taken to keep track of these health care sharing ministries. You can view a recording of the symposium here.
We encourage you to learn more about health care sharing ministries by visiting the Center for Freethought Equality’s health care sharing ministry issue toolkit. Health care sharing ministries are so concerning, that John Oliver even did a segment on them! It’s worth a watch – click here to watch the segment for free.