Support WBUR
The downside to some cheaper health care alternatives
As insurance premiums rise, many Americans are opting for cheaper health care sharing programs. These member-based plans are typically faith-based and require members to sign a declaration affirming their adherence to specific lifestyle values.
Shefali Luthra, reproductive health reporter at The 19th, tells Here & Now's Scott Tong how these plans sometimes leave patients footing the bill because a medical procedure doesn't align with the religious values of the health care sharing ministry.
This segment aired on January 28, 2026.