Christian Health-Sharing Bill Gaining Support

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Kentucky Senate Republicans are rallying around a bill to allow a Christian health-sharing organization to continue operating in Kentucky.

Christian Care Medi-share collects dues from members, then uses those funds to pay other members' health bills. Last year, the Department of Insurance successfully argued in court that  Medi-share should be regulated like other insurance companies.  The decision effectively ended the program in Kentucky.

Since then, many GOP lawmakers have signed on to c-osponsor a bill that would grant religious exemptions and allow Medi-share back in Kentucky.

DeWayne Walker is pastor of Mount Olive Baptist Church in Lexington and a former Medi-Share member. He says Medi-share's demise in Kentucky has been difficult for him.

“Well it’s put a hardship on us, seeing that my wife had cancer in 2010," Walker says. "And though Christian Medi-Share is not an insurance company, it is coverage that for the last 12 years we’ve used and it’s just been outstanding."

Walker says for his family to get commercial insurance, their cost will double from what they paid before. Under the bill, he would be allowed back into Medi-share.

The bill is listed as Senate Bill 3, which indicates it's a priority of the chamber.