[uncbob]

Why can't the religious organizations offer some type of Health Care Insurance etc to their congrgations

They are large enough in size

It could be a non profit type deal like a co-op

I am sure there are enough business types that could set it up and administer it --Pay them salaries but no stock holders etc

[Nachum]

The reason why religious organizations cannot offer a group plan is that it would not conform to the rules that allow qualified group health plans to be sold. Membership is not enough, there must be an employer-employee relationship to establish group coverage.

Religious groups used to offer association type plans to those who joined their associations, but this always a situation where the sick and chronically ill would buy a plan with a guarantee of issuance. This would drive up claims and the insurance carriers would sever their contracts with the association. The two best examples of this in California were the California Bar Association plan and before that, the B'nai Brith plan. Claims due to easy acceptance drove the insurers out of the market place.

Anytime you see a plan offered through an association, union, or religious organization that requires no health questionaire nowadays, it usually is some sort of fraud.

[Westlander]

Agree with you on this one. Look at the Roman Catholic Church--they got a few zillion laying around. A HMO type could easily be instituted.

[Chickensoup]

Why can't the religious organizations offer some type of Health Care Insurance etc to their congrgations

They do.

Christian Medi-share and something Samaritan are two that have low llow rates for Christians.

[Proverbs 3-5]

Why can't the religious organizations offer some type of Health Care Insurance etc to their congrgations

This is a different issue but when I have gone on benevolence visits on behalf of my church I have been amazed that these people who need help have the full gamut of cable or satellite and usually have a hundred channels more than me, the latest stereo, large screen TV, the latest gizmos for their kids (computers, ipods etc). They have money for beer and ciggies, which is fine by me as long they have the money...their own money.

Even a guy at work whose daughter just graduated from college complains about having to subsidized his daughter's health insurance, yet she doesn't pack her own lunch for work and has money for dining out a half dozen times a week money for cigarettes and money for vacations and buying gifts for her friends.

I recall when I graduated from college for years I drove a used car, then a cheap new car. It was years before I bought a new the latest and greatest anything that wasn't a necessity.

I guess I'm not very sympathetic because I am handicapped and put myself through college and found my own job...