More Iowans opting for ‘health sharing ministries’ as alternative to increasingly pricey insurance
An increasing number of Iowans who face steep health insurance bills are looking at an alternative: faith-based “health sharing ministries,” in which religious Americans help each other pay medical bills.
The arrangements aren’t exactly insurance, but they count as coverage under the federal Affordable Care Act. That means people who join the cost-sharing ministries don’t have to pay a federal penalty for going uninsured.
The sharing ministries are national Christian organizations whose members help each other pay medical bills. Anthony Hopp, a vice president of Samaritan Ministries, said the plans are “for people looking to live out their faith in a practical way. … We realize this is not a silver bullet, and it’s not for everyone.”