Massachusetts Data on Health Care Sharing Ministries Reveal Finances That Put Consumers at Risk

Health coverage products that don’t adhere to the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) consumer protections continue to be marketed widely, often as a direct alternative to comprehensive coverage. This trend includes Health Care Sharing Ministries (HCSM), arrangements in which members, pledging to follow a common set of religious or ethical beliefs, make monthly contributions to help pay the qualifying medical expenses of other members.

This blog explores data on Health Care Sharing Ministries (HCSM) operating in Massachusetts, due to a state requirement to regularly report enrollment, membership fees, and other information about HCSM operations and finances. Despite indications of growing or significant enrollment in HCSMs in some states, there is a dearth of data on their operations and finances. Now a Massachusetts rule governing HCSMs has offered a glimpse behind the curtain.