The Kentucky Insurance Commissioner has obtained a restraining order against John Reinhold, CEO of Florida-based Christian Care Medi-Share. It is the first state action against Medi-Share since the ministry began a decade ago.
Medi-Share is a healthcare cost-sharing program consisting of about 13,000 households, including over 45,000 individuals, nationwide (CT, Oct. 2, 2000, p. 24). Members, who must be Christians, pay monthly fees to cover the health bills of members.
The June 21 order by Judge William L. Graham of the Franklin Circuit Court directs Reinhold and Medi-Share to stop what Commissioner Janie Miller called "unauthorized insurance programs." Medi-Share has filed a motion to quash the order and dismiss the case. Proceedings began in September.
Some programs providing religious alternatives to insurance have sparked government action, such as the Christian Brotherhood Newsletter of Barberton, Ohio. In April 2001 an Ohio court put the nonprofit into receivership. That group is operating again under a new board (CT, Nov. 12, 2001, p. 25).
Miller told Christianity Today that she is "not going after a ministry," but simply trying to protect consumers. The Department of Insurance said that Kentuckians who are part of the plan "should immediately seek other health coverage." It moved against Medi-Share after learning that the organization markets itself to Kentucky citizens via its website.
Medi-Share's Reinhold told CT that the company had successfully answered queries from other states. "But we haven't heard from Kentucky before," he said. "We feel sure when we explain things, it will be worked out."
Miller did not cite any complaints about the ministry from Kentucky citizens, but based her ruling on information from Medi-Share's website.
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