Since 2007, the Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries (AHCSM) has worked to establish the legitimacy of HealthShares and health care sharing in the United States, but many members are unaware that they even exist.
Who makes up the AHCSM?
The alliance is made up of seven major Health Care Sharing Ministries (HCSM), some of which have the AHCSM stamp on their websites. The AHCSM was established by two long-standing, well-known HealthShares: Samaritan Ministries and Christian Care Ministry (Medi-Share). All current members of the alliance are faith-based ministries.
Is the AHCSM affiliated with a political party?
While the AHCSM is politically active, they represent a variety of organizations and individuals and therefore, do not support a specific political party. Rather, the AHCSM is solely focused on promoting the common interests of HCSMs and public policy on “issues of importance to health care sharing ministries and its participants.”
What does the AHCSM do?
The AHCSM, as a nonprofit organization, works to support legitimate HCSMs across the country. It keeps track of how many organizations meet the federal HCSM definition and are certified by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and they track how much is cumulatively shared by all HCSMs each year. By doing so, the AHCSM is working to improve transparency in the HealthShare industry. Collecting and publishing this data serves their primary goal of “protecting and preserving the rights of their members, and Christians in general, to engage in healthcare cost sharing as a viable alternative for their medical needs.”
The AHCSM has put itself on the frontline of what they are calling a “revolution” happening in health care. They advocate specifically for Christian HCSMs, but they also are very active in representing the political interests of all faith-based ministries, both at the state and federal level. They even recognize certain individuals with their “Religious Liberty Legislative Hero of the Year” for their support of AHCSM’s cause.
Combating deceptive practices
The AHCSM takes a firm stand against organizations misrepresenting themselves as legitimate HealthShares or health insurance for the sole purpose of profiteering. It has not shied away from calling out insincere organizations, with their goal being to firmly establish the rightful place of the HealthShare industry in the United States. Part of their mission in legitimizing HCSMs is ensuring the industry’s integrity remains untarnished.
AHCSM on secular HealthShares
The AHCSM is equally interested in serving both members and their medical cost sharing communities, while also working to protect their rights. Its persistent efforts to promote transparency and counter-deceptive practices are commendable. However, AHCSM’s stance on secular HealthShares and their role in the growing industry has yet to be addressed.
The Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries has played a vital role in advocating for the legitimacy of HealthShares and promoting health care sharing as a viable alternative to health insurance. As the industry continues to evolve, AHCSM’s ongoing efforts will prove invaluable to shaping the future of health care sharing and ensuring that people have access to affordable and sustainable medical cost management solutions.
