I don't know what it is about this place (which I haven't mentioned in quite a while), but ProPublica had a big story today about a nest of health-care scammers based in and around the northeastern Ohio city of Canton.
Liberty HealthShare isn't health insurance, but it's not the kind of Christian mutual aid group it purports to be, either. From ProPublica's research, it sounds like it's a get-rich-fairly-quick racket for a connected group of friends and family.
And it's connected to CPAC, the Conservative Political Action Coalition, too, because... of course it is. Their logo was just behind Donald Trump's right elbow while he was hugging the American flag in that infamous stunt.
Liberty and "health plans" like it are a loophole in the Affordable Care Act, enacted with the help of Iowa's Chuck Grassley. They counted as coverage when there was a coverage mandate, even though too often they will not cover your health costs, as many of their "members" have found out in their time of need.
Meanwhile, the scammers have gotten rich off the monthly payments their dupes made in good faith. And the company claims that much of the money it takes in is not revenue because the money is "under the control of its members." In reality, the company is keeping two sets of books, according to ProPublica.
ProPublica talked to hundreds of members and former members with complaints against the company. The Ohio Attorney General's office has heard complaints from people in 44 states.
The Massachusetts insurance board has published findings showing that Liberty spends 56¢ for every dollar it takes in from members; the ACA requires insurers to spend at least 80¢ of every dollar. Liberty — since it is not classified as insurance, and has a religious exemption — is not bound by that rule.
And then there's the part about the bank they've bought in the Ozarks. Don't miss that.
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