A health-sharing ministry serving the Kansas City, Mo., area is under fire from members for allegedly taking their money but not helping pay any medical bills, according to a report from The Kansas City Star.
At least eight members have filed complaints against St. Joseph, Mo.-based Medical Cost Sharing after paying thousands of dollars in monthly fees and receiving no help on medical bills in return. Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley is now investigating the health-sharing ministry to decide if it should pay its members damages, according to the report.
A health-sharing ministry is a group of people united by similar religious beliefs who agree to pay monthly into a fund with the idea the money will be used toward their medical bills if needed. Health-sharing ministries do not offer health insurance, but are exempt from ACA coverage requirements and members are exempt from insurance mandates, according to the report. However, they must operate as charitable nonprofit organizations.
Medical Cost Sharing is a national health-sharing ministry with a local chapter in the Kansas City area founded in 2013. Medical Cost Sharing had its nonprofit status revoked in 2016 for failing to turn in required paperwork for three years, according to the report.
Read the full story here.
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