CMS-recognized medical bill sharing ministry, a practical alternative for sharing anywhere in the U.S. and Korea
Premiums in the U.S. Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces are expected to increase significantly in 2026, the largest increase since 2018. According to an analysis of the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker and multiple insurer filings, the median premium increase proposed by more than 300 insurers in all 50 states and the District of Columbia is about 15 to 18 percent, with an average increase of 20 percent. Some insurers have requested increases of up to 59%, while decreases are extremely rare.
The primary driver of this premium increase is the overall increase in healthcare costs, including hospitalizations, outpatient care, doctor visits, and prescription drugs. In particular, the use of expensive weight loss and diabetes medications (GLP-1 class), biologics, and specialty drugs is contributing significantly to the healthcare cost burden. Healthcare labor shortages, rising wages, and inflationary administrative costs are also contributing to rising premiums.
In addition, the expiration of the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits at the end of 2025 is expected to increase premium costs for enrollees by more than 75% on average, exacerbating adverse selection in the insurance market. These structural changes have been cited by insurers as the basis for further increases.
Final premium increases will be determined by regulatory review in late summer, and consumers will be able to see their rates before the open enrollment period, which begins Nov. 1. Unsubsidized enrollees and new enrollees will be particularly hard hit. The insurance industry sees the extension of tax credits and federal policy changes as key variables in stabilizing premiums.
In the face of rising premiums and complex insurance policy changes, Christian Mutual Med-Aid (CMM), a Christian faith-based medical cost-sharing organization, has stepped into the spotlight. CMM is a nonprofit organization whose members pay a small monthly fee to help each other with medical expenses, and is the only minority organization recognized as a medical cost-sharing ministry by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Founded in the 1950s by American missionary children to help share the burden of their parents' medical expenses, medical cost-sharing ministries became more prominent after the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was implemented in 2014, when they were officially recognized as a way to avoid the penalty for not having health insurance. For 23 years, since its founding in 1996, CMM has followed the biblical command to "bear one another's burdens" (Galatians 6:2) by sharing members' medical expenses and supporting one another through intercessory prayer.
CMM's biggest strength is that its monthly fee is much lower than regular health insurance, yet members have the freedom to visit any doctor or hospital in the U.S. They can also cover medical expenses incurred anywhere in the world, including Korea, where they have partnered with Joy Hospital, Seran Hospital, and Incheon Baek Hospital to offer discounts.
While workplace health insurance is typically paid for 70% by the employer and 30% by the employee, with high deductibles and limited access to healthcare, CMM is seen as a viable alternative with a monthly fee of only $485 for Gold Plus, the highest level for a family of four, and a deductible as low as $500 per year, which can be met through discounts on hospital bills.
Any biblically minded Christian living in the U.S. can join, and in addition to medical assistance, the program offers spiritual support, including intercessory prayer, and a warm community of faith.
Source: The Christian Journal (https://www.kcjlogos.org)
