Dr. Malone... I have always wondered why we cannot get "group policy" insurance outside of our employment. My hunch is, seeing that most Americans work for small businesses, that this locks us into small purchasing groups, limiting our negotiating power.
So, here is a REALLY SIMPLE idea. Allow banks and credit unions to broker group policies for their customers/members.
This will immediately make group policies available to all Americans, and allow us to negotiate from a place of numeric strength. When we can all get a group policy, the "individual policy" market will no longer be needed. And that will be the end of ObamaCare.
We do not need Congress to "repeal" anything. We need Congress to allow banks and credit unions to offer group policy health insurance. Instead of trying to tinker around the margins (ObamaCare) of a failed model (the individual policy market), how about we render the failed model obsolete and allow the customer to "repeal" ObamaCare by walking away?
I can appreciate the sentiment, but after seeing some of the larger banks literally debank people for their political views, I think it is naive to trust any banks to intervene in our healthcare. I understand where you are coming from though and appreciate that you are trying to think of a creative solution to a gargantuan problem.
Banks and credit unions are the low hanging fruit. The larger goal is to expand availability of group policies through various groups other than employers. Our employer does not maintain Personal Health Information (PHI) on us. That is maintained by the insurance carrier. A bank or credit union can negotiate group policy options on behalf of their customers/members without having to collect personal-level health information.
As far as us, our data, and the insurance companies nothing really changes. As far as our negotiating power vis-a-vis the insurance companies, we are put in a massively stronger position just based on numbers.
If you look at what Amazon is doing right now, they are using their scale to negotiate with Providers (this is distinct from insurance Payors) to make various health care service available at lower costs. This is great, but does not insure against things like hospital bills, Urgent Care, ER, etc. But the underlying idea is the same. Amazon brings customer volume in exchange for lower prices. Banks and credit unions can do this as well... bring insurance carriers customer volume in exchange for lower premiums. We win because you cannot be denied group policy coverage based on pre-existing conditions.
I appreciate your taking the time to write a thoughtful reply. I forgot to mention that there are group insurance plans for some groups, like people who belong in a trade association. I used to get it through my writers group years ago, before Obamacare, even with pre-existing conditions. This was in Texas at the time. Not sure how things are nowadays, but there were professional and trade association groups back then that you could get insurance with, if you didn't have an employer and were not a dependent on a spouse's plan. This was great for freelancers. I have no idea if they are still available anymore, but it does illustrate your point about forming groups not dependent on an employer.
I still do not want banks involved. Of course, since 2020, I have a problem trusting anyone anymore.
Bianca... I would be interested in knowing whether the trade association policy was a "group policy" instead of an "individual policy" where the trade association acted as something of a broker. This difference matters. Insurers are not allowed to deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions to a customer in a group who is being covered under a group policy.
I may be wrong, but I believe outside the ObamaCare exchanges, they can deny you individual policy coverage based on pre-existing conditions. ObamaCare is attempt to "fix" that "bug" in the individual policy market. Of course, that requires significant government subsidies, and has otherwise failed miserably if compared with the much more affordable group policy market.
So back to this matter of tinkering with an irreparably failed model (the individual market). Open the group policy market to organizations beyond employers (and possibly trade associations) and you render the individual market (and ObamaCare) obsolete.
You may well be right about that. It was more than 20 yrs ago, so I don't recall how it was set up, but I can see your point that it may have been individual coverage brokered by the writer's group.
On a lighter note: anything that renders the monstrosity of Obamacare obsolete works for me! ; )
Like I responded earlier, why not research MediShare? Why in God's name would you involve banking? I'm confused unless more personal info-sharing is your motive.
Mike... Let's start with the personal info sharing issue. Please understand that HIPPA and the Privacy Act (which only applies to USG) is the heart of what I do every day. I run a cybersecurity business and provide expert witness services in cybersecurity cases. This is my field.
When you sign up for insurance (or even for MediShare) you are going to provide some level of personal info. Whether your medical bill is paid for through MediShare or a for profit insurance, that payor will have access to information about what services you were provided. There will certainly be PHI (as defined in HIPPA). The question is who will have control of the information.
Under HIPPA, a "Payor" is considered a "Covered Entity" - so I am going to assume that MediShare is a Covered Entity and is subject to the cybersecurity protection standards required by HIPPA. (Their video says they "receive the bill" - this makes them a Payor.) If you sign up for a traditional insurance policy, the carrier (e.g. Blue Cross/Blue Shield) is a Covered Entity and is required to implement HIPPA protections. So as far as information sharing and HIPPA go, between MediShare and traditional insurance, there is no difference - they are both payors and thus both subject to HIPPA.
When you get a group policy from your employer, there is a broker who is involved in putting together policy options for the employees. That broker is NOT a Payor and as such by default is not subject to HIPPA - UNLESS they collect and store/manage personal health information for some reason related to the work of the Payor. In that case they would be considered a Business Associate of a Covered Entity and be subject to HIPPA. For this reason, brokers do not usually collect your PHI. Why assume that risk if you do not have to?
If we were to expand access to the "group policy" market outside of employers (who rely on brokers) and include banks and credit unions, they take the place of the broker. Just like the current group policy market, there is no reason for a bank/credit union acting as a broker to collect any personal info beyond what they already have on their banking service customers. They are there to offer the insurance companies customers at volume in exchange for lower premiums for a group policy - very different from an individual policy.
But back to MediShare. Have you looked at the disclaimer on the bottom of their website. I'll paste it here:
"Medi-Share is a nonprofit health care sharing ministry of Christian Care Ministry, Inc ("CCM"). Medi-Share members voluntarily share each other's medical expenses in accordance with guidelines adopted by the members and administered by CCM. Medi-Share is not insurance and is not regulated as insurance. Neither CCM nor any Medi-Share member assume any legal obligation to share in the payment of any medical expense incurred by another Medi-Share member. Medi-Share members are exempt from the individual mandate in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. See 26 U.S.C. §5000A(d)(2)(B). Certain states expressly exempt from insurance regulation healthcare sharing ministries that, among other things, post a specific notice. Although Medi-Share does not rely on such express exemptions, Medi-Share has elected to publish these notices.
Click to review the specific notice for the state in which you reside. Click to view our privacy policy"
Please do not miss this part: "Medi-Share is not insurance and is not regulated as insurance. Neither CCM nor any Medi-Share member assume any legal obligation to share in the payment of any medical expense incurred by another Medi-Share member."
I also note that there is no hyperlink on the text that says "Click to review the specific notice for the state in which you reside." or "Click to view our privacy policy."
I am not for or against MediShare... It is clearly a Christian ministry, and that is quite OK, and to the extent that it is well managed and continues to deliver on its members expectations, I hope they continue to do well. But I do not see much difference between the "cost sharing" of MediShare and traditional insurance.
The idea of insurance - whether provided by for profit companies or non-profit associations - is not the problem (at least as I see it). The problem is two fold: First, doctors are generally not allowed to reveal what they receive for your care until after the service is provided. (You can see that on the EOB you get.) This keeps us from shopping for competitive pricing and nurtures the essential myth that health care is "too expensive." They cannot allow us to discover that this is really a carefully crafted myth because we might decide we do not need their more expensive coverages. (We might just need to insure for hospital stay (medical) and its associated doctor services (professional) costs). Second, when we do go to buy insurance we are locked into small negotiating pools since we can only get a group policy from our employer.
As public policy, requiring up front pricing consistent with the "allowed amount" paid by insurance, as well as allowing businesses/associations like banks and credit unions to broker access to these policies is a viable way to reform the market in our favor as individuals. Nothing changes from the status quo when it comes to who has control of our PHI. A broker is a broker.
This is especially important now since many young adults are working remote and earning 1099 income and don't have an employer per se. insurance should not be tied to an employer.
Have you ever considered MediShare? Why ask all these complicated questions? You don't need any government agency to get involved. You confuse me, sorry, I'm not that well informed with all the convoluted nuances of your questions.
Medishare is a great program. But why can’t normal people get the same prices as insurance companies? I get labs done that supposedly costs $400, but my insurance only pays $25 and the bill is paid in full. What’s up with that? My chiropractor accepts $40 from insurance but charges $85 cash price. They would “get in trouble“ with the insurance company if they accepted $40 cash.
EXACTLY! The provider's contract with the insurance carrier forbids them from disclosing the "allowed amount" (what they receive from insurance) to the customer. In your case, the chiropractor will bill insurance for the full $85, but knows full well they will only be paid the $40 "allowed amount." It is all a fancy language game designed to control the way we think about health care.
As an aside, I do something like this with my customers - I just tell them quite frankly that if I can get them to think about their data like I do, my cybersecurity services sell themselves, so to speak. It is basic rule of marketing. If I can get you think about "A" a certain way, I can sell you "B." If the insurance industry can get us to think about health care as "too expensive" they can sell us their insurance products.
We cannot really know what insurance coverage we actually need if we do not know, up front, what the real price is (the allowed amount). Put an end to that fraud, and allow group policies to be brokered by non-employer organizations like banks and credit unions, and affordable health care will be available to all.
See the following remarks.. I don't know enough about BANKING POLICY BUT I KNOW ABOUT MEDICINE and there is NO BLOODY WAY I WOULD ALLOW MY BANK to have THAT KIND OF INFORMATION ABOUT MY MEDICAL INSURANCE. It is bad enough that my bank and Amazon can see how much I spend for OTC.. which is MORE THAN I SPEND for insurance premiums..
A good argument for paying cash for as much as you can. You want privacy? Pay with cash, and perhaps avoid organizations who won't take cash. I get it: using plastic makes the transaction so much easier. Well folks, its always been true: There is no such thing as a 'free lunch'.
The “bank” could be any entity with a defined group of “clients,” negotiating for group coverage. Thats how John’s idea eliminates the pre-existing condition problem. The bank would simply be the broker. They wouldn’t have any access to or control of your medical information. Just like our power company that brokers for insurance for its employees. Try to think of another entity to which nearly everyone is associated; I can’t, other than possibly a utility company (but that would be less well vetted; banks already know who we are).
Clarification: The bank or credit union would act as a BROKER on behalf of their customers or members. This would create tremendous negotiating power for group policy coverage. But there would be no need to provide Personal Health Information (PHI) to the bank/credit union (any more than you would to your employer).
And they (the bank or credit union) would never require that anyway because it makes them a Business Associate of a Covered Entity for HIPAA and its cybersecurity rules. (I run a cybersecurity business and would never have a client assume this responsibility unless absolutely necessary.)
The insurance companies have a data field in their systems for "Group ID." The only difference here would be the Group ID would be that of the bank or credit union, not the employer.
You site HIPPA. During "The Disease" fiasco, HIPPA was thrown to the roadside to eliminate nurses, doctors, soldiers and first responders or anyone else who wouldn't comply with "The Big Lie". We need to accept truth.
Also, Mike... When municipal governments and businesses started tracking our vaccination status, yes, we saw HIPPA disregarded in that respect. I watched as the City of San Diego registered vaccine recipients when the shots (including the J&J shot) were first available to the public. I laughed inside as there was no way they were even close to compliant - just based on watching the operation. Since the City's Fire Department was administering the shot, they arguably became a Provider. I doubt they had a single clue.
While we think we are past that, there is something more insidious at work. The "ICD" codes used to identify symptoms, syndromes, and diseases now include codes for our vaccine status. I haven't yet dug into this with my current provider (University of Tennessee Heath System), but I expressly forbade my previous provider (in California) from having those codes in my chart. My choice whether to vaccinate or not is not a "symptom", "syndrome", or "disease." As such, coding for it in my chart with an ICD code is wholly inappropriate.
What is happening almost unnoticed is the work of "syndromic surveillance" is being expanded to include "vaccination surveillance." Syndromic surveillance is designed to detect when patients present with a common set of symptoms in a concentrated geographic area and there is no explanation for the symptoms. Seeing that develop in real time is essential to the CDC's proper role. Expanding that surveillance to the private choice whether to vaccinate or not need to be stopped in its tracks.
Thank you John for your descriptions. My whole thing about personal information sharing, HIPPA in this instance, is that the foundation for the sharing was based on a lie. The lie being that the shots were safe and effective. That whole evil narrative was based on lies, deception and subversion.
Kinda off subject, but not really. I caught by accident a documentary called "The Rise of RFK Jr. on Frontline. 1 hr. 54 min. of a carefully crafted take-down. I was appalled at the innuendo of slant towards the story; I kept saying "they want to take him down and out!" This kind of warfare will influence way too many people, esp. those already influenced by the MSM. Made my blood boil...
Total agreement with you D D. It is war because they have protections in place for themselves on the Hill, they don't really care about the American Population but have well crafted rhetoric to making that group BELIEVE they Care. They are funded out the wazoo, plus they take any and all bribes they believe will go undetected. In other words, the CARE they so richly lavish in words toward us is in reality only care towards their own selves/inner circle in deed. Majority of them have gone or always were disciples to the dark side. I won't go so far as to lump ALL of them together, but there is definitely a slant towards sleazy behavior over there. I've got several of them representing my state.
Have long been disturbed by the chemicals I see listed on food and drinks. No way are these being tested for synergistic negative effects. Have often wondered why we could not implement a food/drink purity law like the Germans have (had?) for beer. Any chemicals to be added to consumables have the need for use justified.
YES, 53rd! The importance of and the OUTCOME of the 2026 Midterm elections will be (in my humble estimation) quite possibly THE most important in the history of the USA - for IF
Jeffries becomes Speaker of the House - meaning IF the DemoCOMMIES regain control of the House of Representatives; and Chuck- U Schumer (or AOC - Absolutely Obnoxious Communist ) in the Senate, everything President Trump and his administration are trying to do to Make America Great Again and Healthy Again, will turn into Democrat excrement.
Our DC politicians are the road block! They spend half their political life trolling for $$ to keep them in office. I went to DC in 2012 and asked my Congressman why they are not addressing the autism crisis. Uniform answer. "Our hands are tied". If they dared to raise that issue they would not be re-elected to their political office. Big Pharma would fund a new candidate. Schiff, Cassidy, Sanders, Warren and Blumenthal plus many others in DC personify this issue. They have no soul and don't give a damn that 100,000 of our infants each year are diagnosed with a form of autism and become a major burder for the parents as well as the community. You never hear about how many die within days of being injected. The true number is hidden! or never reported.
I know.. and it makes me very sad.. for our children's and future's future. I don't have a comprehensive solution.. but I do understand there will be a negative comprehensive outcome if this mess isn't fixed.
And yes I blame.. OBAMACARE and actually even the DEMOCRAT SOCIALISTS HAVE BEEN PUSHING SINGLE PAYER FOREVER.... and after Covid BIG PHARMA and Hospitals and the DEMS FIGURED OUT HOW TO GAME THE SYSTEM FOR BILLIONS AT THE EXPENSE OF THE DEATHS OF THOSE WHO DIED OF COVID. This is not what I EVER SIGNED UP FOR.. ever.. I am glad I am retired and a Christian.
I think the definitions of "Highly Processed Foods" is greatly needed. It should be in categories of Meats, Cheeses, Vegetables, Legumes, Sugars, and Grains ( Carbohydrates) and how any of these categories are combined to create highly processed foods. Separation of explanations for basic fermentation, preservation, pickling, and ageing should also be made.
I had written off any Government based health advice as industry captured puppet speak. To my joy leaders have been found and importantly positioned that are not industry whores. A dream come true. I'm happy to again contact my Senators, but unsure what to specifically request; support for the AHA initiative ?
Thank God for Dr.s Malone and HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. and all those in this struggle. You folks are out front against a storm and flood of an out of control destruction to humankind. They blindly don't care. An organization is judged by its' leadership. An organization involved in chaos is evil. Right now the battle is against chaos and order, and chaos is fighting hard to legitimize itself with slogans and chants and of course lies. It is not complicated proven by thousands of years of history.
It occurs to me that we have a problem when the company who makes roundup is paying out money to claims of it causing cancer and our gov allows its use as a drying agent on food.
It is amazing that people clamor for Medical treatments...There is No Medical Care, it is all about the Medical Industry out to sell its products. 2400 years ago, Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine was known for curing his patients...not providing them with toxic prescriptions.. He said, "Let Food be Your medicine; and Medicine be Your Food. Mankind lived for eons of time on natural unprocessed food...and no medical products to damage the organs; or processed food with no nutritional value. People have to bombard their representatives about getting better food...No more poisonous pesticides in the food. In addition, no more three element NPK. The soil needs fertilizer, which has all the elements in it that would create healthy, pest-resistant food. People would be healthier mentally and physically, if our government focused on the well being of Americans...not money- making industries providing it with kickbacks.
I submitted support for Secretary Kennedy’s MAHA initiative to my reps per your recommendation. I hope many more do as well.
“I’m writing to give my support to the MAHA initiative in addressing the state of our nations health crisis. I believe it is vital that Secretary Kennedy’s changes to current government health regulations be implemented and codified. Together with congress, now is the time for you to address the conflicts of interest between large food corporations and valid health guidelines. From neonatal to geriatrics, all phases of food production, processing and marketing should be subject to common sense and transparency. The MAHA agenda addresses this in a comprehensive and effective manner.
I finally got a reply via form letter….it didn’t even address my concerns.
November 5, 2025
Dear Mr. Godfrey:
Thank you for taking the time to express your thoughts regarding health care and the health care system in the United States. Understanding your perspective helps me to better represent Florida in the United States Senate, and I appreciate being given this opportunity to respond.
The United States stands at the forefront of global innovation and cutting-edge technologies in health care products, services, and treatments. American innovation has pushed the boundaries of science and delivered lifesaving therapies and treatments that were unbelievable just decades ago, and for this I am incredibly grateful. We are faced, however, with rapidly increasing health care costs. In 2023 alone, America’s national health expenditures reached $4.9 trillion and accounted for over 17% of our country’s gross domestic product. The sheer size and complexity of the American health care system and the evolving health needs of our citizenry present unique issues. Floridians are rightly worried about the never-ending rise in costs and premiums. The last thing someone should worry about if they are sick or injured is going broke and being indebted for the rest of their lives.
I know how important it is for Floridians to have access to health care, including medications, at affordable prices. During my time as Attorney General, I saw that the practices of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), which act as intermediaries between pharmacies, drug manufacturers, health insurance plans and consumers, were contributing to skyrocketing costs of prescription drugs. I took action to address the harmful practices of PBMs and advocated for stronger PBM oversight and regulation. I also fought to protect the public from scammers who exploited our health care system. Through the work of my Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and Senior Protection Team, we recovered millions of dollars and prosecuted individuals attempting to steal critical health care benefits. As your United States Senator, I will continue to fight for greater quality and accessibility in the American health care system.
As a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) Committee, I have the honor and privilege of working with my Senate colleagues to address issues related to our nation’s health. I will be certain to keep your thoughts in mind as the Committee considers health care related matters and as such matters come to the Senate floor for a vote.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me regarding this issue. I am honored to serve as a United States Senator representing the great state of Florida, and grateful that you shared your thoughts on this issue with my office. If you would like to stay updated on the work I am doing on behalf of Floridians in the U.S. Senate, I invite you to visit my website, subscribe to my newsletter and YouTube, and follow me on X, Instagram, and Facebook.
I was hoping for a response from my representatives….nothing but crickets…I guess I’ll just have to make an appointment to see them in person.
I’m being proactive… because that’s what it takes to be relevant in the grand scheme of things. I think Dr Malone is a great example of being proactive…. And relevant. More to follow….
This looks great! DIdn't jump out at me, but I hope the list includes letting us consumers know when meat animals have been medicated/vaccinated and with which ones so we can avoid at will, such as the experimental mRNA vaccines the Doc has written about in the past.
Thank heavens you multitask and have contacts with questioning minds who further your involvement.
My senators and representative appear to know that I would never vote for them. But maybe Andy Harris, in hopes they don't manage to redistrict him out.
I fully appreciate now is the time to get MAHA wants to legislators while they pursue elections. I'm receiving about 100 solicitations a day, a substantial number from other states.
One issue, outside of those covered here, is fresh fruit and vegetable harvesting vs school lunch needs. Much of the fresh produce is available April - October. Much of the school years seem to run August through June. There may need to be a way for smaller farms in the south to support both their own and northern state needs in the winter.
More on point is drug advertising.
Radio. Since the effort to modify how patients acquire drug information, I'm hearing different strategies from Pfizer and Moderna. Pfizer nots now is the season to get your vaccinations - time to check with your Doctor. Moderna is straight out recommending their vaccination and giving out all the pros and cons.
Off now to todays MAHA and IMA webinars. Back to this thereafter.
Thanks for writing this, as it provides good context. This is a huge group of strategies and reforms, and its spread is testimony to how long these issues have been ignored. All are important. The ones that immediately resonate with me:
Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs) Reform: These are essential actions as the guidelines inform overall healthy eating to cover food purchasing and serving policy for so many. I hope that the detailed actions in the Advisory Committee Structures include disqualifying anyone with conflicts of interest related to big food, pharma, and any other entity not having interests in enhancing human health by developing meaningful, results-oriented guidelines.
Healthy Food in Hospitals: I sincerely hope the term "Healthcare Facilities" includes nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
Medical School Accreditation Reform: Increase nutrition and lifestyle medicine education in curricula. A well-designed DGAs must be in place as a foundation for exactly what constitutes "healthy" nutrition and lifestyle.
Dr. Malone... I have always wondered why we cannot get "group policy" insurance outside of our employment. My hunch is, seeing that most Americans work for small businesses, that this locks us into small purchasing groups, limiting our negotiating power.
So, here is a REALLY SIMPLE idea. Allow banks and credit unions to broker group policies for their customers/members.
This will immediately make group policies available to all Americans, and allow us to negotiate from a place of numeric strength. When we can all get a group policy, the "individual policy" market will no longer be needed. And that will be the end of ObamaCare.
We do not need Congress to "repeal" anything. We need Congress to allow banks and credit unions to offer group policy health insurance. Instead of trying to tinker around the margins (ObamaCare) of a failed model (the individual policy market), how about we render the failed model obsolete and allow the customer to "repeal" ObamaCare by walking away?
I can appreciate the sentiment, but after seeing some of the larger banks literally debank people for their political views, I think it is naive to trust any banks to intervene in our healthcare. I understand where you are coming from though and appreciate that you are trying to think of a creative solution to a gargantuan problem.
Banks and credit unions are the low hanging fruit. The larger goal is to expand availability of group policies through various groups other than employers. Our employer does not maintain Personal Health Information (PHI) on us. That is maintained by the insurance carrier. A bank or credit union can negotiate group policy options on behalf of their customers/members without having to collect personal-level health information.
As far as us, our data, and the insurance companies nothing really changes. As far as our negotiating power vis-a-vis the insurance companies, we are put in a massively stronger position just based on numbers.
If you look at what Amazon is doing right now, they are using their scale to negotiate with Providers (this is distinct from insurance Payors) to make various health care service available at lower costs. This is great, but does not insure against things like hospital bills, Urgent Care, ER, etc. But the underlying idea is the same. Amazon brings customer volume in exchange for lower prices. Banks and credit unions can do this as well... bring insurance carriers customer volume in exchange for lower premiums. We win because you cannot be denied group policy coverage based on pre-existing conditions.
I appreciate your taking the time to write a thoughtful reply. I forgot to mention that there are group insurance plans for some groups, like people who belong in a trade association. I used to get it through my writers group years ago, before Obamacare, even with pre-existing conditions. This was in Texas at the time. Not sure how things are nowadays, but there were professional and trade association groups back then that you could get insurance with, if you didn't have an employer and were not a dependent on a spouse's plan. This was great for freelancers. I have no idea if they are still available anymore, but it does illustrate your point about forming groups not dependent on an employer.
I still do not want banks involved. Of course, since 2020, I have a problem trusting anyone anymore.
Anyway, thank you for the thoughtful reply!
Agree. I don't trust 98% of banks with any of my information.
Bianca... I would be interested in knowing whether the trade association policy was a "group policy" instead of an "individual policy" where the trade association acted as something of a broker. This difference matters. Insurers are not allowed to deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions to a customer in a group who is being covered under a group policy.
I may be wrong, but I believe outside the ObamaCare exchanges, they can deny you individual policy coverage based on pre-existing conditions. ObamaCare is attempt to "fix" that "bug" in the individual policy market. Of course, that requires significant government subsidies, and has otherwise failed miserably if compared with the much more affordable group policy market.
So back to this matter of tinkering with an irreparably failed model (the individual market). Open the group policy market to organizations beyond employers (and possibly trade associations) and you render the individual market (and ObamaCare) obsolete.
You may well be right about that. It was more than 20 yrs ago, so I don't recall how it was set up, but I can see your point that it may have been individual coverage brokered by the writer's group.
On a lighter note: anything that renders the monstrosity of Obamacare obsolete works for me! ; )
Like I responded earlier, why not research MediShare? Why in God's name would you involve banking? I'm confused unless more personal info-sharing is your motive.
Mike... Let's start with the personal info sharing issue. Please understand that HIPPA and the Privacy Act (which only applies to USG) is the heart of what I do every day. I run a cybersecurity business and provide expert witness services in cybersecurity cases. This is my field.
When you sign up for insurance (or even for MediShare) you are going to provide some level of personal info. Whether your medical bill is paid for through MediShare or a for profit insurance, that payor will have access to information about what services you were provided. There will certainly be PHI (as defined in HIPPA). The question is who will have control of the information.
Under HIPPA, a "Payor" is considered a "Covered Entity" - so I am going to assume that MediShare is a Covered Entity and is subject to the cybersecurity protection standards required by HIPPA. (Their video says they "receive the bill" - this makes them a Payor.) If you sign up for a traditional insurance policy, the carrier (e.g. Blue Cross/Blue Shield) is a Covered Entity and is required to implement HIPPA protections. So as far as information sharing and HIPPA go, between MediShare and traditional insurance, there is no difference - they are both payors and thus both subject to HIPPA.
When you get a group policy from your employer, there is a broker who is involved in putting together policy options for the employees. That broker is NOT a Payor and as such by default is not subject to HIPPA - UNLESS they collect and store/manage personal health information for some reason related to the work of the Payor. In that case they would be considered a Business Associate of a Covered Entity and be subject to HIPPA. For this reason, brokers do not usually collect your PHI. Why assume that risk if you do not have to?
If we were to expand access to the "group policy" market outside of employers (who rely on brokers) and include banks and credit unions, they take the place of the broker. Just like the current group policy market, there is no reason for a bank/credit union acting as a broker to collect any personal info beyond what they already have on their banking service customers. They are there to offer the insurance companies customers at volume in exchange for lower premiums for a group policy - very different from an individual policy.
But back to MediShare. Have you looked at the disclaimer on the bottom of their website. I'll paste it here:
"Medi-Share is a nonprofit health care sharing ministry of Christian Care Ministry, Inc ("CCM"). Medi-Share members voluntarily share each other's medical expenses in accordance with guidelines adopted by the members and administered by CCM. Medi-Share is not insurance and is not regulated as insurance. Neither CCM nor any Medi-Share member assume any legal obligation to share in the payment of any medical expense incurred by another Medi-Share member. Medi-Share members are exempt from the individual mandate in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. See 26 U.S.C. §5000A(d)(2)(B). Certain states expressly exempt from insurance regulation healthcare sharing ministries that, among other things, post a specific notice. Although Medi-Share does not rely on such express exemptions, Medi-Share has elected to publish these notices.
Click to review the specific notice for the state in which you reside. Click to view our privacy policy"
Please do not miss this part: "Medi-Share is not insurance and is not regulated as insurance. Neither CCM nor any Medi-Share member assume any legal obligation to share in the payment of any medical expense incurred by another Medi-Share member."
I also note that there is no hyperlink on the text that says "Click to review the specific notice for the state in which you reside." or "Click to view our privacy policy."
I am not for or against MediShare... It is clearly a Christian ministry, and that is quite OK, and to the extent that it is well managed and continues to deliver on its members expectations, I hope they continue to do well. But I do not see much difference between the "cost sharing" of MediShare and traditional insurance.
The idea of insurance - whether provided by for profit companies or non-profit associations - is not the problem (at least as I see it). The problem is two fold: First, doctors are generally not allowed to reveal what they receive for your care until after the service is provided. (You can see that on the EOB you get.) This keeps us from shopping for competitive pricing and nurtures the essential myth that health care is "too expensive." They cannot allow us to discover that this is really a carefully crafted myth because we might decide we do not need their more expensive coverages. (We might just need to insure for hospital stay (medical) and its associated doctor services (professional) costs). Second, when we do go to buy insurance we are locked into small negotiating pools since we can only get a group policy from our employer.
As public policy, requiring up front pricing consistent with the "allowed amount" paid by insurance, as well as allowing businesses/associations like banks and credit unions to broker access to these policies is a viable way to reform the market in our favor as individuals. Nothing changes from the status quo when it comes to who has control of our PHI. A broker is a broker.
exactly.. BANKS ARE ON OVERLOAD AS IT IS
That would be competition to the BIG 6 Insurance companies that control and increase the cost of medical care.
Underline and BOLD the word BIG. That's a BIG part of the problem. AND growing.
PS: Not just in insurance.
This is especially important now since many young adults are working remote and earning 1099 income and don't have an employer per se. insurance should not be tied to an employer.
Have you ever considered MediShare? Why ask all these complicated questions? You don't need any government agency to get involved. You confuse me, sorry, I'm not that well informed with all the convoluted nuances of your questions.
Medishare is a great program. But why can’t normal people get the same prices as insurance companies? I get labs done that supposedly costs $400, but my insurance only pays $25 and the bill is paid in full. What’s up with that? My chiropractor accepts $40 from insurance but charges $85 cash price. They would “get in trouble“ with the insurance company if they accepted $40 cash.
EXACTLY! The provider's contract with the insurance carrier forbids them from disclosing the "allowed amount" (what they receive from insurance) to the customer. In your case, the chiropractor will bill insurance for the full $85, but knows full well they will only be paid the $40 "allowed amount." It is all a fancy language game designed to control the way we think about health care.
As an aside, I do something like this with my customers - I just tell them quite frankly that if I can get them to think about their data like I do, my cybersecurity services sell themselves, so to speak. It is basic rule of marketing. If I can get you think about "A" a certain way, I can sell you "B." If the insurance industry can get us to think about health care as "too expensive" they can sell us their insurance products.
We cannot really know what insurance coverage we actually need if we do not know, up front, what the real price is (the allowed amount). Put an end to that fraud, and allow group policies to be brokered by non-employer organizations like banks and credit unions, and affordable health care will be available to all.
See the following remarks.. I don't know enough about BANKING POLICY BUT I KNOW ABOUT MEDICINE and there is NO BLOODY WAY I WOULD ALLOW MY BANK to have THAT KIND OF INFORMATION ABOUT MY MEDICAL INSURANCE. It is bad enough that my bank and Amazon can see how much I spend for OTC.. which is MORE THAN I SPEND for insurance premiums..
A good argument for paying cash for as much as you can. You want privacy? Pay with cash, and perhaps avoid organizations who won't take cash. I get it: using plastic makes the transaction so much easier. Well folks, its always been true: There is no such thing as a 'free lunch'.
The “bank” could be any entity with a defined group of “clients,” negotiating for group coverage. Thats how John’s idea eliminates the pre-existing condition problem. The bank would simply be the broker. They wouldn’t have any access to or control of your medical information. Just like our power company that brokers for insurance for its employees. Try to think of another entity to which nearly everyone is associated; I can’t, other than possibly a utility company (but that would be less well vetted; banks already know who we are).
Clarification: The bank or credit union would act as a BROKER on behalf of their customers or members. This would create tremendous negotiating power for group policy coverage. But there would be no need to provide Personal Health Information (PHI) to the bank/credit union (any more than you would to your employer).
And they (the bank or credit union) would never require that anyway because it makes them a Business Associate of a Covered Entity for HIPAA and its cybersecurity rules. (I run a cybersecurity business and would never have a client assume this responsibility unless absolutely necessary.)
The insurance companies have a data field in their systems for "Group ID." The only difference here would be the Group ID would be that of the bank or credit union, not the employer.
You site HIPPA. During "The Disease" fiasco, HIPPA was thrown to the roadside to eliminate nurses, doctors, soldiers and first responders or anyone else who wouldn't comply with "The Big Lie". We need to accept truth.
Also, Mike... When municipal governments and businesses started tracking our vaccination status, yes, we saw HIPPA disregarded in that respect. I watched as the City of San Diego registered vaccine recipients when the shots (including the J&J shot) were first available to the public. I laughed inside as there was no way they were even close to compliant - just based on watching the operation. Since the City's Fire Department was administering the shot, they arguably became a Provider. I doubt they had a single clue.
While we think we are past that, there is something more insidious at work. The "ICD" codes used to identify symptoms, syndromes, and diseases now include codes for our vaccine status. I haven't yet dug into this with my current provider (University of Tennessee Heath System), but I expressly forbade my previous provider (in California) from having those codes in my chart. My choice whether to vaccinate or not is not a "symptom", "syndrome", or "disease." As such, coding for it in my chart with an ICD code is wholly inappropriate.
What is happening almost unnoticed is the work of "syndromic surveillance" is being expanded to include "vaccination surveillance." Syndromic surveillance is designed to detect when patients present with a common set of symptoms in a concentrated geographic area and there is no explanation for the symptoms. Seeing that develop in real time is essential to the CDC's proper role. Expanding that surveillance to the private choice whether to vaccinate or not need to be stopped in its tracks.
Thank you John for your descriptions. My whole thing about personal information sharing, HIPPA in this instance, is that the foundation for the sharing was based on a lie. The lie being that the shots were safe and effective. That whole evil narrative was based on lies, deception and subversion.
Excellent idea, John. Negotiating power is directly related to the strength, (numbers) of the negotiator.
Bundle with my auto / homeowner's insurance?
As long as it is a group policy, yeah, that would work.
Kinda off subject, but not really. I caught by accident a documentary called "The Rise of RFK Jr. on Frontline. 1 hr. 54 min. of a carefully crafted take-down. I was appalled at the innuendo of slant towards the story; I kept saying "they want to take him down and out!" This kind of warfare will influence way too many people, esp. those already influenced by the MSM. Made my blood boil...
Total agreement with you D D. It is war because they have protections in place for themselves on the Hill, they don't really care about the American Population but have well crafted rhetoric to making that group BELIEVE they Care. They are funded out the wazoo, plus they take any and all bribes they believe will go undetected. In other words, the CARE they so richly lavish in words toward us is in reality only care towards their own selves/inner circle in deed. Majority of them have gone or always were disciples to the dark side. I won't go so far as to lump ALL of them together, but there is definitely a slant towards sleazy behavior over there. I've got several of them representing my state.
And, of course, the MSM is on the take also.
Mine too!
wow.
Have long been disturbed by the chemicals I see listed on food and drinks. No way are these being tested for synergistic negative effects. Have often wondered why we could not implement a food/drink purity law like the Germans have (had?) for beer. Any chemicals to be added to consumables have the need for use justified.
maltodextrin… poison
Exactly!!
Agree! Including glyphosate and the requirement to “enrich “ our wheat crops with folic acid and other chemicals that many Americans cannot digest.
That graph at the top is powerful!
Yes, the importance of the 2026 midterms! The Charlie Kirk midterms!
YES, 53rd! The importance of and the OUTCOME of the 2026 Midterm elections will be (in my humble estimation) quite possibly THE most important in the history of the USA - for IF
Jeffries becomes Speaker of the House - meaning IF the DemoCOMMIES regain control of the House of Representatives; and Chuck- U Schumer (or AOC - Absolutely Obnoxious Communist ) in the Senate, everything President Trump and his administration are trying to do to Make America Great Again and Healthy Again, will turn into Democrat excrement.
Indeed, literally good vs. evil; another crossroad for the Republic!
Our DC politicians are the road block! They spend half their political life trolling for $$ to keep them in office. I went to DC in 2012 and asked my Congressman why they are not addressing the autism crisis. Uniform answer. "Our hands are tied". If they dared to raise that issue they would not be re-elected to their political office. Big Pharma would fund a new candidate. Schiff, Cassidy, Sanders, Warren and Blumenthal plus many others in DC personify this issue. They have no soul and don't give a damn that 100,000 of our infants each year are diagnosed with a form of autism and become a major burder for the parents as well as the community. You never hear about how many die within days of being injected. The true number is hidden! or never reported.
I know.. and it makes me very sad.. for our children's and future's future. I don't have a comprehensive solution.. but I do understand there will be a negative comprehensive outcome if this mess isn't fixed.
And yes I blame.. OBAMACARE and actually even the DEMOCRAT SOCIALISTS HAVE BEEN PUSHING SINGLE PAYER FOREVER.... and after Covid BIG PHARMA and Hospitals and the DEMS FIGURED OUT HOW TO GAME THE SYSTEM FOR BILLIONS AT THE EXPENSE OF THE DEATHS OF THOSE WHO DIED OF COVID. This is not what I EVER SIGNED UP FOR.. ever.. I am glad I am retired and a Christian.
I think the definitions of "Highly Processed Foods" is greatly needed. It should be in categories of Meats, Cheeses, Vegetables, Legumes, Sugars, and Grains ( Carbohydrates) and how any of these categories are combined to create highly processed foods. Separation of explanations for basic fermentation, preservation, pickling, and ageing should also be made.
I had written off any Government based health advice as industry captured puppet speak. To my joy leaders have been found and importantly positioned that are not industry whores. A dream come true. I'm happy to again contact my Senators, but unsure what to specifically request; support for the AHA initiative ?
Thank God for Dr.s Malone and HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. and all those in this struggle. You folks are out front against a storm and flood of an out of control destruction to humankind. They blindly don't care. An organization is judged by its' leadership. An organization involved in chaos is evil. Right now the battle is against chaos and order, and chaos is fighting hard to legitimize itself with slogans and chants and of course lies. It is not complicated proven by thousands of years of history.
It occurs to me that we have a problem when the company who makes roundup is paying out money to claims of it causing cancer and our gov allows its use as a drying agent on food.
It is amazing that people clamor for Medical treatments...There is No Medical Care, it is all about the Medical Industry out to sell its products. 2400 years ago, Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine was known for curing his patients...not providing them with toxic prescriptions.. He said, "Let Food be Your medicine; and Medicine be Your Food. Mankind lived for eons of time on natural unprocessed food...and no medical products to damage the organs; or processed food with no nutritional value. People have to bombard their representatives about getting better food...No more poisonous pesticides in the food. In addition, no more three element NPK. The soil needs fertilizer, which has all the elements in it that would create healthy, pest-resistant food. People would be healthier mentally and physically, if our government focused on the well being of Americans...not money- making industries providing it with kickbacks.
I just wrote my senators and my house representative and included the link to this article. I have asked for a reponse. We'll see what happens.
I submitted support for Secretary Kennedy’s MAHA initiative to my reps per your recommendation. I hope many more do as well.
“I’m writing to give my support to the MAHA initiative in addressing the state of our nations health crisis. I believe it is vital that Secretary Kennedy’s changes to current government health regulations be implemented and codified. Together with congress, now is the time for you to address the conflicts of interest between large food corporations and valid health guidelines. From neonatal to geriatrics, all phases of food production, processing and marketing should be subject to common sense and transparency. The MAHA agenda addresses this in a comprehensive and effective manner.
Regards, Owen Godfrey”
I finally got a reply via form letter….it didn’t even address my concerns.
November 5, 2025
Dear Mr. Godfrey:
Thank you for taking the time to express your thoughts regarding health care and the health care system in the United States. Understanding your perspective helps me to better represent Florida in the United States Senate, and I appreciate being given this opportunity to respond.
The United States stands at the forefront of global innovation and cutting-edge technologies in health care products, services, and treatments. American innovation has pushed the boundaries of science and delivered lifesaving therapies and treatments that were unbelievable just decades ago, and for this I am incredibly grateful. We are faced, however, with rapidly increasing health care costs. In 2023 alone, America’s national health expenditures reached $4.9 trillion and accounted for over 17% of our country’s gross domestic product. The sheer size and complexity of the American health care system and the evolving health needs of our citizenry present unique issues. Floridians are rightly worried about the never-ending rise in costs and premiums. The last thing someone should worry about if they are sick or injured is going broke and being indebted for the rest of their lives.
I know how important it is for Floridians to have access to health care, including medications, at affordable prices. During my time as Attorney General, I saw that the practices of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), which act as intermediaries between pharmacies, drug manufacturers, health insurance plans and consumers, were contributing to skyrocketing costs of prescription drugs. I took action to address the harmful practices of PBMs and advocated for stronger PBM oversight and regulation. I also fought to protect the public from scammers who exploited our health care system. Through the work of my Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and Senior Protection Team, we recovered millions of dollars and prosecuted individuals attempting to steal critical health care benefits. As your United States Senator, I will continue to fight for greater quality and accessibility in the American health care system.
As a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) Committee, I have the honor and privilege of working with my Senate colleagues to address issues related to our nation’s health. I will be certain to keep your thoughts in mind as the Committee considers health care related matters and as such matters come to the Senate floor for a vote.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me regarding this issue. I am honored to serve as a United States Senator representing the great state of Florida, and grateful that you shared your thoughts on this issue with my office. If you would like to stay updated on the work I am doing on behalf of Floridians in the U.S. Senate, I invite you to visit my website, subscribe to my newsletter and YouTube, and follow me on X, Instagram, and Facebook.
Sincerely,
Ashley Moody
United States Senator
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I was hoping for a response from my representatives….nothing but crickets…I guess I’ll just have to make an appointment to see them in person.
I’m being proactive… because that’s what it takes to be relevant in the grand scheme of things. I think Dr Malone is a great example of being proactive…. And relevant. More to follow….
This looks great! DIdn't jump out at me, but I hope the list includes letting us consumers know when meat animals have been medicated/vaccinated and with which ones so we can avoid at will, such as the experimental mRNA vaccines the Doc has written about in the past.
Thank heavens you multitask and have contacts with questioning minds who further your involvement.
My senators and representative appear to know that I would never vote for them. But maybe Andy Harris, in hopes they don't manage to redistrict him out.
I fully appreciate now is the time to get MAHA wants to legislators while they pursue elections. I'm receiving about 100 solicitations a day, a substantial number from other states.
One issue, outside of those covered here, is fresh fruit and vegetable harvesting vs school lunch needs. Much of the fresh produce is available April - October. Much of the school years seem to run August through June. There may need to be a way for smaller farms in the south to support both their own and northern state needs in the winter.
More on point is drug advertising.
Radio. Since the effort to modify how patients acquire drug information, I'm hearing different strategies from Pfizer and Moderna. Pfizer nots now is the season to get your vaccinations - time to check with your Doctor. Moderna is straight out recommending their vaccination and giving out all the pros and cons.
Off now to todays MAHA and IMA webinars. Back to this thereafter.
Thanks for writing this, as it provides good context. This is a huge group of strategies and reforms, and its spread is testimony to how long these issues have been ignored. All are important. The ones that immediately resonate with me:
Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs) Reform: These are essential actions as the guidelines inform overall healthy eating to cover food purchasing and serving policy for so many. I hope that the detailed actions in the Advisory Committee Structures include disqualifying anyone with conflicts of interest related to big food, pharma, and any other entity not having interests in enhancing human health by developing meaningful, results-oriented guidelines.
Healthy Food in Hospitals: I sincerely hope the term "Healthcare Facilities" includes nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
Medical School Accreditation Reform: Increase nutrition and lifestyle medicine education in curricula. A well-designed DGAs must be in place as a foundation for exactly what constitutes "healthy" nutrition and lifestyle.