Vermont lawmaker introduces bill to require reporting from health-care sharing plans

Montpelier — Representative Connor Casey introduced H.102, a bill that would require health-care sharing plans that operate in Vermont to report enrollment numbers, financial data and marketing materials to the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation.

Casey, a representative from Montpelier, said the measure is not a ban and would not restrict religious participation but would “simply require them to report very basic information, to Vermont's Department of Financial Regulation,” so consumers can make informed decisions.

Supporters say the plans, often called health-care sharing ministries, resemble insurance in marketing but “they're not insurance,” Casey said, and are not subject to the same regulatory oversight. He told the committee that Colorado’s recent transparency law showed there are “at least 11 healthcare sharing ministries or plans in Vermont right now,” but that the true number could be…