Solidarity HealthShare President Chris Faddis visits The BS Show to discuss the shocking ACA health insurance price hikes on the horizon and affordable healthcare options that exist for American families. Reach the transcript below or listen to the interview.

Bob Sansevere (00:00):

We are joined by Christopher Faddis, co-founder and president of the nonprofit Healthcare Sharing Ministry, Solidarity HealthShare, which is an ethical, affordable alternative to traditional health insurance and is faithful to the moral teachings of the Catholic Church. Chris, I got to ask you, we just talked about this off the air. Here’s the headline, ‘ACA Health insurance that’s Affordable Care Act health insurance will cost the average person 75% more next year. Research shows.’ How the heck does that happen? This is supposed to be affordable to go up almost double. This is incredible and it is going to hurt people and many, many people, 24 million people, because in January, that’s what the enrollment hit, 24 million people last year, and it’s probably going up or actually could go down. And this is a good opportunity for people to be thinking about Solidarity HealthShare a great alternative to traditional healthcare. But how does this happen and why?

Chris Faddis (01:01):

Yeah. Well first of all, Bob, remember what the Affordable Care Act process was. If you go all the way back, the idea was that they would have, everyone has to have insurance, you’re forced to have insurance, and they have these exchanges available. And in order to deal with people who couldn’t afford set premiums, what they said was, okay, we’ll offer subsidies to some folks who can’t afford the regular premium and the subsidy will help offset the cost. Well, we did that without any sort of barometer or barrier to how we set those subsidies. So if you tell me I can charge anything I want, and if people can’t afford it, the federal government’s just going to come in and write a blank check to cover that. Well, what am I going to do every year? I’m going to go up and the federal government subsidy is going to go up and it’s going to go back and forth like that.

(01:50):

And that’s ultimately what started that process. So what was supposed to make insurance more affordable, inherently inflated, the cost of insurance. And then on top of that, and by the way, it’s not just the Affordable Care Act because then the insurance companies inflate the cost of every program to get to that same rate. And so then on top of that, you have this increased subsidy, which happened under some of the COVID relief laws. And then ultimately the Biden administration took advantage of that to continue to increase the subsidy. So the subsidy that people were getting and the people who qualified for a subsidy drastically. So you had people that were making very good income. We’re not talking about people in a poverty class. We’re talking about people who are making over a hundred thousand dollars a year who are getting a very large subsidy to cover part of the cost of their insurance. And that was expanded, or that was extended I think two times. And then the requirements to qualify for the subsidy was widened as well. And what’s happening this year is that those subsidies finally expiring.

(02:55):

So these enhanced subsidy, this increase in the subsidy plus the enhancement of who can qualify for the subsidies going away, well, what happens? The insurance companies got used to that money, so now they’re going to be in a pitch because they’ve been of course bloated and enjoying the profits off of the federal government, and now they’re going to lose that money. Who are they going to make pay for it, the consumer? That’s how we’re here. And ultimately it’s a good thing we’re here, to be honest with you, because we do not have universal healthcare in this country, none of us have voted for that. We taxpayers should not be paying the bill of people who could adequately afford insurance, and we should not be writing blank checks to insurance companies so they can continue to raise their prices. And then you and I get to pay for it. It’s, it’s a completely unjust and out of hand system. And so it’s going to be painful for some, I’m very happy to know. I can say that with a smile on my face because I know that Solidarity and other healthcare sharing ministries out there are available to support those people with good quality healthcare once they come off of this subsidy.

Bob Sansevere (04:01):

Well, the one thing that people need to know about Solidarity HealthShare, you don’t go to a different doctor. You go to your doctor, you go to your, I mean, you’re getting the same. It’s not like you have to go to a specific place. And that’s a big plus. And the other thing I wanted to ask you is Solidarity preparing for a big influx of people, say 75%, no way. I’m going to absorb that, that they’ll be looking for alternatives. I’ve been a member of Solidarity for almost a decade, and you guys have been helped us through some several operations and other things that have gone on. So I mean, I certainly recommend it. I’ve recommended to people who’ve gotten it, and I haven’t heard any complaints and is people need to look into it if they want an alternative to traditional healthcare. But are you bracing for a big influx or we’re prepared to take on a number of people?

Chris Faddis (04:53):

 Yeah, absolutely. And in fact, we’re actually doing some more than that. We’re even releasing new programs to serve a broader audience. We’re releasing a couple programs that are a little stripped down from our current offering of really comprehensive care for folks that want more of a catastrophic option, as well as looking at an option for young people who typically are not going to the doctor, but they need access to telehealth and they need prescription cards. So this fall, we’re releasing new programs that I think are going to serve more people. And thank goodness, I think it’s going to, thank God, I think it’s going to really help a lot of these folks that are going to come off of the subsidized A plans,

Bob Sansevere (05:30):

No question

Chris Faddis (05:31):

To come. And honestly, I think they’re going to find Bob as you have, they’re actually going to be able to access more healthcare this way.

Bob Sansevere (05:36):

Yes.

Chris Faddis (05:37):

So our members are actually able to use the program that they’re on because it’s affordable and they can still afford to go to the doctor.

Bob Sansevere (05:43):

And Chris, one of the things I know over the last few years you’ve been expanding this people, and I may have missed it. I know you send out directives or you send out, you have blogs you send out and information a list of in your specific state, state by state, different groups. I know you have a few in Minnesota that people where you have a connection already with and the building goes right to them. The most frustrating thing I found initially when we did with Solidarity when we first started, the bill would go right from Allina, which is what we’re part of that network right to you now, and I’m not the middleman, but I call me the middleman. They get paid so much quicker if they would deal directly with you. But you have different groups where they deal directly with you, and that’s a big plus. Do you have something where people can look online or find out in each state where they can go for healthcare or where you can bill directly from that place to you? Is there something available?

Chris Faddis (06:49):

Yeah, we do. In fact, yeah, in fact, it’s more than a list. It’s actually more comprehensive. I mean, we really have a care navigation specialist, but we certainly have a list. They’ll say, okay, we’ve got these folks, but they actually will help you find a doctor. So obviously we’re not massive and in some areas we might have to work a little harder to find somebody, but we have folks that will work with the member to find the right provider, the right surgeon, the right imaging center. We have a few nationwide agreements that help us access a lot of the standard stuff like imaging and labs and all of that. So yeah, we have a whole comprehensive set of care navigation support that we do. In fact, that team is getting more and more busy. We just hired more folks for that just because people are using it and it’s working and it’s actually helping make the experience even better.

Bob Sansevere (07:35):

Well then for people who are members and those who are non-members that are thinking about it, they call Solidarity. Who do I ask? They ask for to find out the people that are available, the recommendations you would make.

Chris Faddis (07:46):

You would call and say, Hey, I need care navigation support. And they’ll help you with that. There’s also some forms online. You can do some help requests and things like that. So they’ll get you scheduled with somebody. They’ll work on the whole front. Sometimes it’s really simple, we just need to find you a pediatrician or something. And sometimes it might take a little more work, obviously, we like to say, unless it’s super urgent. For instance, we have a good friend of mine who’s going through this now, his wife has cancer, and they’re trying to figure out the right surgeon, which hospitals, where do they want to go? And our team is essentially supporting ’em through that. But ultimately for them, it’s as we’re saying, find the right surgeon. We’ll worry about and arranging and all that. Let’s get you the doctor you’re most comfortable with and you feel like is going to do the best job for your wife. And then we’ll work on the rest. So it takes time sometimes. That’s why it’s not as simple as just a list, but I think what you find is people are really able to not only save money, but also just the headache.

Bob Sansevere (08:48):

And it can be a headache. There’s no question about it. Particularly when you deal with something like Allina and they keep sending the bills to me and I have to forward ’em on. And it delays the process because they-

Chris Faddis (09:00):

Yes.

Bob Sansevere (09:02):

So having that, listen, it’s something we’ve been fortunate the last few years, we haven’t had any surgeries or issues, so that’s a plus. But when we do, it’s good to know that that care navigation available, navigation support is available because it’s a great thing to be offering to people. And for people that are interested, go to solidarityhealthshare.org because you can get all the information you need and pick up, the function won’t be routed through a bunch of AI voices. You’ll get somebody on the line, which is greatly appreciated. Doesn’t take long to get someone. So that’s something people need to know as well. Solidarityhealthshare.org and all the information needed is there. And just pick up the phone if you want to call and get more information. Chris has always greatly appreciated. 75%. My gosh. We’re going to take a quick break. Thank you. And the BS Show will be right back.

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Solidarity HealthShare is a non-profit healthcare sharing ministry rooted in the teachings of the Catholic Church. Established in 2016, we operate on the Catholic principles of solidarity and subsidiarity, in accordance with the Church’s commitment to promoting life-affirming, faith-based healthcare.

We strive to provide an ethical, community-driven alternative to traditional health insurance. Through direct Member-to-Member sharing, Members are able to access quality healthcare services while preserving their family’s financial, physical, and spiritual health, all at once. Members never need to worry about their healthcare dollars funding immoral medical procedures. We promote a holistic approach to healthcare, emphasizing the importance of physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.

At the heart of our ministry’s mission to restore and rebuild an authentically faith-based healthcare culture in America is the recognition that every single person has inherent human dignity. We seek to promote healthcare that honors the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death.

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