June 8, 2026
Rising ACA costs, dropping enrollment, show need for lower-cost health care alternatives, Alliance says
Faith-based health care sharing offers families affordability, flexibility and freedom from growing bureaucracy, organization says
WASHINGTON — The Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries said today the trend of declining enrollments in the Affordable Care Act program and rising health insurance costs highlights the need for affordable, faith-based alternatives that help families manage medical expenses while preserving financial stability and personal choice.
Recent reporting by KFF Health News found that Affordable Care Act enrollment continues to weaken as consumers struggle with rising premium costs and shrinking subsidies. Sign-ups were down by roughly 1.2 million from last year’s record enrollment. Enrollees faced average premium increases of 26 percent, while some subsidies declined or disappeared entirely.
Experts are now watching whether millions of enrollees will continue paying their monthly premiums. KFF Health News reported that internal federal marketplace data cited by NOTUS suggested that about 21 percent of marketplace participants in 30 states failed to pay January premiums. Georgia experienced a 28 percent drop in premium-paying enrollees in April compared with the same period last year, according to analysis cited by KFF Health News.
“Families are facing growing pressure from rising premiums, higher deductibles and increasing uncertainty about what they can afford,” said Randall Hultgren, executive director of the Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries (HCSMs). “Health Care Sharing Ministries offer an escape from the insurance trap. HCSMs are a faith-centered approach to health care that allows members an affordable, responsible, and caring alternative to insurance. Members share one another’s medical burdens while maintaining greater control over their health care decisions.”
Analysts warn that declining enrollment and missed premium payments may create additional market uncertainty for insurance carriers and contribute to higher rates in 2027.
“Americans should not have to choose between protecting their health and household finances while honoring their religious beliefs,” Hultgren said. “Health Care Sharing Ministries provide an affordable, biblical option for many families seeking compassionate, values-driven support outside growing layers of bureaucracy.”
The Alliance also advocates for legislation allowing Health Care Sharing Ministry members to use Health Savings Accounts. As Congress considers a third reconciliation package, supporters say expanding HSA eligibility would increase consumer choice, portability and affordability while giving families greater control over health care spending through tax-advantaged savings options.
Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries is a 501(c)(6) trade organization representing the common interests of Health Care Sharing Ministries, which facilitate the sharing of health care needs — financial, emotional, and spiritual — by individuals and families. The Alliance engages with federal and state regulators, members of the media, and the Christian community to provide accurate and timely information on health care sharing.
To learn more about the Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries, visit www.ahcsm.org or follow the ministry on Facebook or Twitter.
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To interview a representative from the Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries, contact Hamilton Strategies, Media@HamiltonStrategies.com, Beth Bogucki, 610.584.1096, ext. 105, or Richard Jefferson, rjefferson@hamiltonstrategies.com.
