All those caveats about the "healthcare sharing ministry" are eerily reminiscent of what it’s like to be a military veteran with non-service-connected non-emergency medical needs.
If
you’re a military veteran – and enrolled in the VA healthcare system (which
does meet the minimum essential coverage standard) – you’re disqualified from
obtaining subsidized medical coverage through the Obamacare marketplace. (If
you’re married, the marketplace will give your non-veteran spouse coverage with
a subsidy, but you – being enrolled in the VA healthcare system – would have to
pay the full [unsubsidized] amount for ACA health insurance coverage.)
Now,
one might ask why is that a bad thing? If the veteran already is enrolled in VA
coverage that provides care that meets the minimum essential standard for
health care coverage, why would the veteran be concerned about obtaining health
insurance outside of the VA?
The
reason is that (1) VA health coverage is not considered to be “health
insurance” and (2) because of the healthcare eligibility “Priority Group” that
the VA assigns a veteran when that veteran enrolls.
Years
ago, when the VA realized that budgets were tight, they began a system of
rationing health care, so that the veterans who needed health care assistance
the most – and the ones who had made the greatest military sacrifice – obtained
priority in coverage (and were assigned to higher “priority groups”). I think
that was an appropriate and reasonable decision.
Here’s
a link to a pamphlet that is produced by the VA that describes those priority
groups.
But,
what that means is that those veterans who do not qualify to a higher priority
group based on their (lesser) military sacrifice are assigned to lower priority
groups and are enrolled (and obtain coverage) determined by the amount of money
Congress gives the VA each year, which then determines the amount of co-pay the
veteran has to pay, and affects the healthcare services and benefits made
available to the veterans in those lower priority groups. (If you’re assigned
to Priority Group #7, you’re near the bottom of the list.)
The
VA clearly states that “VA health care is NOT considered a health insurance plan.”
I
think there's a disconnect between what the ACA considers to be minimum
coverage in the VA healthcare system and what healthcare benefits a veteran
enrolled in one of the lower Priority Groups might actually be entitled to and
paying for. (Basically, if you have a non-service-connected
non-life-threatening injury – say, you get the sniffles or stub your toe and go
to your primary care physician down the street -- the VA is not likely to pay
for that treatment.)
The
VA warns (advises) veterans to keep their private health insurance – if they
have it – due to the risks of being in one of the lower priority groups. See
the section titled “Risks of Giving Up Your Private Insurance” in this VA pamphlet.
Many
low-income military veterans with non-service-connected medical needs are
dis-enrolling from the VA Healthcare System in order to be eligible for
enrollment in the ACA (Obamacare) and obtain subsidized coverage for themselves
and their spouses. (At least until they become Medicare-eligible -- then,
they're re-enrolling into the VA Healthcare system.)
Thanks again, Brian!
Thanks again, Brian!