Americans are ditching traditional health care for something cheaper

Fed up by unaffordable costs and insurance denials, more Americans are fleeing the conventional health care system. Many are seeking to cut out the government and insurers entirely by pooling their money together to cover their own bills, turning to what are called health cost-sharing ministries. Originally a faith-based alternative for those with religious objections to traditional insurance, this uniquely American way to pay for medical care has been secularizing and surging in popularity over the last decade, alongside growing distrust in our health system.

These plans superficially resemble health insurance and often sell themselves as a more affordable way to cover medical costs. Members pledge to cover each other’s health care expenses, typically making monthly payments to the organ