Today's topic is the Trump tax plan and the removal of the individual mandate. This change would mean that there would no longer be a requirement to have health insurance or be a member of a healthcare sharing ministry, and those choosing to remain uninsured wouldn't have to pay an Obamacare penalty. 

Enter the election of Donald Trump. The President-Elect has stated that he will repeal Obamacare. Whether he will actually do that, and eliminate compulsory insurance, remains to be seen. While we certainly hope that happens, Mr. Trump has previously stated that he is in favor of universal healthcare, and subsequent to being elected, has begun praising aspects of ObamaCare -- such as the “prohibition against insurers denying coverage because of patients' existing conditions.”

As discussed in the Chicago Tribune article mentioned in the first paragraph, measures such as requiring insurers to grant full coverage to those with existing conditions, and limiting how much the elderly can be charged, may sound both positive and charitable. But unfortunately someone has to bear the cost, and the average person pays significantly more for insurance as a result ... often a completely unaffordable amount for hard-working middle class families.

What do we advocate instead?

The one true solution is a free market with transparent pricing where doctors and hospitals compete for our business with better service and lower prices. We should know how much we'll be paying in advance, and have control over our own healthcare. Let us also all contribute to charities we like that help provide medical care to those who can't afford it for themselves. But such contributions should be voluntary.

We will see in the coming months exactly what President Elect Trump intends to do. We hope that in addition to ending any form of compulsory health insurance, he also works toward a freer market in healthcare and lower prices.

If you do not want to pay the skyrocketing costs of conventional insurance, or potentially thousands of dollars per year in penalties to the government, consider healthcare sharing. See what you would pay with Medi-Share compared to conventional insurance. Call them up and see how easy it is to talk with an actual human who wants to answer your questions and help you.

Christians can opt out of the failed system like so many others want to do, but without paying the high and increasing Obamacare penalty. And in the process, we can have significantly more flexibility, pay much less each month, and become part of a system that genuinely cares about its members.



(Blog Image Credit to Gage Skidmore)

The term "Christian health insurance" is an interesting one because it doesn't mean what it appears to: health insurance for Christians. The reason is that it isn't traditional insurance. 

Obamacare comes with a stiff penalty for those who different have insurance.  We're going to talk about how much that penalty is, and exactly what are options are for avoiding it.  

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, was passed into law in early 2010.  An ostensible goal was to make more Americans insured, and the bill has succeeded in the goal. How did it accomplish this?

Primarily, it required that those without insurance get it or pay a significant penalty.  When you file your taxes, you now have to provide information about your health insurance.  If you or your dependents don't have health insurance in 2015, you will pay a minimum of $325 per person ($162.50 for dependents), up to a maximum penalty per family of $975.  Or if 2% of your income is higher than this per-person penalty, you must pay that amount instead.

The Obamacare penalty will increase even higher in 2016.  

There are exemptions from this penalty, which fall in three main categories.

The first main category of Obamacare exemptions is hardship.  You can get an exemption, for example, if your income is below the tax filing threshold, insurance would cost more than 8% of your household income, or other types of general hardship.

The second category is membership in certain groups.  For example, if you belong to a Native American tribe or belong to certain religious sects, you may qualify for an exemption.

The third category for exemption is membership in a healthcare sharing ministry.

Of course, the advantage to this third category of exemption is that you still get benefits and protection similar to normal health insurance through your membership in the healthcare sharing ministry.  You can pay less for these benefits, opt out of Obamacare, and win on both fronts.

This is the reason why my wife and I joined MediShare.  We wanted the benefits of health insurance, affordability, and exemption from the expensive Obamacare penalty.  

Whether you join MediShare like we did, or join a different healthcare sharing ministry, I would highly recommend exploring this alternative to conventional health insurance.  

If you belong to a healthcare sharing ministry, or have another alternative to Obamacare to suggest, please contact me or share it in the comments.  I would be very happy to hear from you.