Judge Shuts Down Christian Health Care Ministry

A Kentucky judge has shut down a Christians-only health care ministry, saying it could not operate until it got approval from the state Department of Insurance.  Franklin County Circuit Judge Thomas Wingate made the ruling against Medi-Share, a Florida-based cost-sharing ministry that helps pay medical bills for churchgoers who pledge not to smoke, drink, use drugs or have sex outside of marriage. 

Medi-Share continued to operate for a year after the state Supreme Court ruled it was subject to the same regulations as other health care plans.  Medi-Share claims its participants aren’t buying insurance, instead they’re involved in a charitable endeavor to pay each others’ medical bills.