Medi-Share Back in Business in Kentucky

After a wasteful 10-year battle between the Kentucky Department of Insurance and Medi-Share, lawmakers from the state intervened after a judge ordered the health ministry to quit operating in the state.

Kentucky lawmakers changed the insurance code of the state to allow Medi-Share in programs like it to operate in the state.

"We appreciate that Kentucky Christians once again have the freedom to manage their medical bills by sharing them with other Christians through Medi-Share," said Christian Care Ministry President Tony Meggs. "We've already heard from a number of Kentucky families who are grateful and excited to rejoin Medi-Share."

Medi-Share was taken to court because the Department of Insurance theorized some participants may believe it was an insurance plan that guaranteed coverage.

What it is is a cost-sharing ministry which people pay into and share expenses with others as they may have need. Participants in Kentucky have had about $25 million paid in medical bills over the last decade.

Those in the health program must agree to not drink, smoke, or have sex outside of marriage.

Some of the approximate 800 residents of Kentucky who lost the coverage have already started signing back up for the service.

Medi-Share Closer to Returning to Kentucky

Even though Medi-Share isn't an insurance product, last year at the behest of the Department of Insurance, Franklin County Circuit Judge Thomas Wingate ordered Medi-Share to stop operating in the state.

The reason stated for forcing Medi-Share to quit operating in the state was that it didn't comply with state insurance regulations.

Now the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee voted 11-0 to pass a bill which would exempt Medi-Share from the regulations because it isn't an insurance product, but operates more as a charity with money pooled together to help Christians pay medical bills.

That of course has a similarity to insurance, but it differs in that participants agree they won't drink, smoke, have sex outside of marriage, or use drugs.

This bill moves Medi-Share one step closer to being able to operate in the state again.

Approximately 800 people in the state joined Medi-Share in the past.