For many decades, "in Amish and Mennonite communities across the [US], people pooled their money to lighten the burden of debt for individuals during hard times.
[6] In 2002, Kentucky obtained a restraining order to stop the sale of Medi-Share memberships because the company was selling unauthorized insurance.
In addition, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issues exemption letters to ministries that have met the criteria to operate independently of the Affordable Care Act.
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was passed, there were estimated to be about 100,000 people belonging to some type of medical bill-sharing ministry.
For instance, Samaritan Ministries requires a statement of Christian faith including belief in the true God and divinity of Jesus; Liberty HealthShare and Freedom HealthShare are more inclusive, accepting members with a wide variety of religious and ethical beliefs.
The group claims to be recognized as a healthcare sharing organization by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
[21] In 2021 comedian John Oliver set up a mock healthcare sharing ministry in Florida called Our Lady of Perpetual Health (following his earlier satire Our Lady of Perpetual Exemption), satirizing what HCSMs are allowed to do by law, essentially having no obligation to provide any care.
[22][23] In 2024 James L. McGinnis and Craig Anthony Reynolds, co-founders of Medical Cost Sharing, both pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy.