May
23
Medi-Share Shut Down in Kentucky
Filed Under Healthcare, Kentucky
Medi-Share is a healthcare ministry by the American Evangelistic Association and the Christian Share Ministry which allows participants to share the cost of their medical expenses. The Kentucky Supreme Court has now ruled that they cannot continue to operate in Kentucky. Dr. Alieta Eck, M.D. describes how Medi-Share works below and will be on Fox Business Network today with Judge Napolitano’s Freedom Watch at 8pm and 11pm.
But we have watched a similar scenario occur in America taking the form of the government protecting the health insurance industry. In 1985, a surgeon would be paid $2,400 to remove a diseased gallbladder, and his assistant would receive $600. The hospital would get about $4,000. Insurance premiums were quite reasonable, with a family paying about $300/month for a $500 deductible policy. Not bad— people got good care, and the price for insurance was just about right. If someone did not have insurance, a payment plan would be set up, and the bills would still be paid.
Today, for the same operation, the surgeon gets $600, the assistant gets nothing and the hospital bills come to about $25,000. Insurance is able to negotiate that hospital bill down to $5,000. To add insult to injury, the insurance premiums have skyrocketed to $1,500-2,000/month in New Jersey, arguably the most highly regulated state in the union. Insurance is unaffordable, hospitals bills are astronomical, and the physicians are considering early retirement. If someone does not have insurance, he goes through many hoops to get a lower bill. He needs protection.
ObamaCare will make things worse by further consolidating the power of the insurance/hospital cartel. It seems like a form of organized crime, where the only reason to buy insurance would be to be protected from the huge hospital bills. And the hospitals still have the nerve to conduct charity fundraisers!
The medical health sharing ministries are an oasis in the desert of high prices and poor access to care. Started in the 1980s, they are voluntary associations of people of like faith who wish to follow the Biblical mandate of “bearing one another’s burdens.” Since they do not collect “premiums,” they are not insurance, and thus are exempt from having to work under the burden of the Departments of Banking and Insurance in each state.
In one of the ministries, members deposit a given amount each month into an account in their own names. Each month the ministry receives medical bills, has many reduced to a reasonable amount, and then uses the power of attorney to remove money from one member’s account and place it into the account of the one who has the need. With another ministry, each member is notified of the member to whom he is to send his monthly allotment. There is no pooling of funds, but rather complete transparency. And the amount requested each month is not unlike the amount we gave to an insurance company in 1985. Very reasonable.
Every health sharing ministry member I know is thrilled that he has been able to avoid the huge premiums of medical insurance. Our own family, members since 1997, has saved well over $100,000, money we could use to send our children to a private Christian school. And members also take comfort in the fact that others are praying for them when they encounter catastrophic illnesses. When ObamaCare was passed in 2010, health sharing ministries were thankfully exempt and could thus continue.
But on April 29th, 2011, the members in Kentucky were struck a blow as they were told that Medi-Share has not been found to be exempt from the Kentucky insurance code and thus must cease operation there. Those members must now pay more for less. One must wonder whom the legal system of Kentucky is trying to protect— certainly not the grateful members of Medi-Share who have chosen this plan voluntarily.
It will be interesting to see how the citizens of Kentucky respond. Will they heave a sigh of relief that they are now safe? Will they now be happy to participate in the more expensive insurance industry so that they can be “protected”? Or will they rise up to exert their Constitutional freedoms—including freedom from an over-bearing government that is bankrupting us all?
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10 Responses to “Medi-Share Shut Down in Kentucky”
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This Medi-Share alternative has been discussed in great detail at this site as well. News on Health Care will be doing a heads up Comparison of all these types of programs in months to come. We have found some very interesting information that we will be sharing as well. Thanks and I hope i have helped with anyone looking for information on Medi-Share. This is the article on medi-share http://www.newsonhealthcare.com/the-ins-and-outs-of-medi-share/ they have about 4 articles on this group. Remember this is NOT Insurance
It walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, swims like a duck, flies like a duck, it likely a duck. Medishare looks like it acting like insurance in everyway except be subject to state insurance regulation and consumer protects. I don’t fault Kentucky for its actions.
I’m about one step away from signing my 15-year-old into a Medi-Share program. Too poor to insure the whole family, I’m looking for a policy for my daughter. NOT ONE SINGLE insurance company under the auspices of the North Dakota state insurance company will individually insure someone under 19. Thank goodness Medi-Share doesn’t fall into insurance classification. Kentucky needs to protect its citizens from bureaucratic insurance protectors. Try working for the people instead of the industry. North Dakota should follow suit and represent its residents instead of insurance big brother.
FYI: Medi-Share is still operating in Kentucky for the time being. Unless there is an order to stop Medi-Share, we will continue. For more information please call 1-800-772-5623 extension #2344. I have worked for Christian Care Ministry and the Medi-Share program for over 3 years and have watched this ministry grow by leaps and bounds! We have not had one monthly share increase in over 3 years. Can your insurance company say that? Crystal Smith
Medi-share is a truly unique health insurance option in that it is not really health insurance. According to the official Medi-share website the program does not include any contractual agreement to pay medical bills. Instead, users are matched with each other to help pay for medical expenses through community giving. Users pay a monthly premium that is then used to help pay the medical expenses of another member. When that user then has their own medical expenses to deal with, the community reaches out to help them cover their bills.http://www.newsonhealthcare.com/the-ins-and-outs-of-medi-share/
Wes, remember though that if tt walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, swims like a duck, flies like a duck, it might be a goose.
There are qualitative differences between medical bill sharing, administered by a not-for-profit, and insurance, administered by profiteers.
Medishare doesn’t pool money; insurance does.
Medishare doesn’t guarantee coverage, even for applicable cases, since it’s not their money; Insurance does.
Medishare rejects members who don’t meet certain health and behavioral standards, standards voted on by Medishare members; insurance doesn’t.
Medishare functions on a tiny portion of “administrative” fees, all 100% disclosed; insurance doesn’t.
Medishare members retain ownershipo over the money they’ve pooled with “premiums”; insurance clients don’t.
And many more.
It’s not a duck, it’s a goose, and for many Kentuckians it lays golden eggs.
Medi-Share is also a nice alternative for people who take care of themselves. They live by a standard that is higher than those they would help fund under a government run insurance company.
I don’t like that my current premiums go up because perhaps the other people want to drink, eat or smoke themselves to an early death.
Medi-Share matches like minded individuals so we can help one another out in our greatest time of need. I also am not helping pay the bills of a drunk driver who maybe ends up in the hospital because he chose to drive drunk.
It is not a duck Wes,you sound bitter, you must sell health insurance. This is a ministry with a good record it is an alternative to health insurance. It is wiser than a duck and I love that the company and members pray for each other too, and according to multiple studies people who pray are said to have better overall health, than those who do not. I wish Kentucky would allow its people to chose for themselves but looks like they are wanting more control so they can ask for more tax dollars in the future when they will have to fund Obummer care.
For the person above who thinks this really is health insurance, consider this. You are not allowed to get a tax deduction for these programs. I am a pastor and could not get private insurance because I had a light case of rheumatoid years ago. I’m with another Christian sharing program. I take the risk that I am not guaranteed reimbursement and I get no tax break. The company does not have any negotiated price with doctors and hospitals.That is up to me to do.That is hugely different than health insurance. This duck don’t quack.
I’ve been enrolled in MediShare for two years. It has been wonderful. Not only has my family saved A TON of money, but MediShare readily accepted my son who has Down Syndrome. No “insurance” company would even consider him. MediShare accepted him as if he were a normal child.
I’m getting to the point to where I don’t recognize this country. Shouldn’t MediShare be a free choice for those that wish to participate? I’m able to leave the program at any time I want, but doubt I’ll do so until I am forced to do so by the Govt.
If you’re lucky enough to live in a state where MediShare is not prevented from operating I encourage you to take a look at it.
I live in KY, can’t find BCBS insurance company wont take me for less than $1000. a month what do u suggest I do?