Exposing the Healthcare Crisis: A Plea for Free Market Solutions

In a candid interview, Mike Sharman, legal counsel for Share HealthCare, cuts through the political rhetoric surrounding the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and enhanced health care tax credits. Sharman says that the fundamental problem with the current system is government intervention, which distorts the free market, drives up costs, and gives insurance companies undue power. He maintains that true competition is the only way to lower expenses. Sharman also addresses the philosophical divide between free market advocates and progressives, tracing the latter's aversion to capitalism to elitist, power-concentrating ideologies.

He details how health care sharing ministries, specifically Share HealthCare, offer a viable, affordable, and ethically aligned solution for Christians.

Key Takeaways on Healthcare and the Free Market

-- The current political proposals regarding health care tax credits—from both Democrats (keeping enhanced credits) and Republicans (giving HSA funds)—are fundamentally socialist, redistributing wealth and intruding on the free market.

-- The Affordable Care Act has been an abomination that has caused health care costs to rise by at least 200% when adjusted for inflation and has increased restrictions on what doctors and patients can do.

-- The U.S. already has multiple safety nets for the poor (like Medicare/Medicaid and the Hill-Burton Act); the enhanced tax credits are for those above the poverty level, creating a "hammock" for the non-poor.

-- The ACA's design gives incentive to insurance companies, allowing them to raise premiums when medical expenses rise, ensuring they "never lose money" and totally distorting the free market.

-- True competition, where cost is based on supply and demand, is necessary to bring down the incredibly high cost of health care.

-- Health care sharing ministries like Share HealthCare provide a free market alternative by sharing medically necessary expenses among Christians, operating outside the dictates of the ACA and insurance regulations, and adhering to Biblical principles (e.g., not paying for abortions or trans "gender destructions").

-- The cost of Share HealthCare is significantly lower than health exchanges or traditional insurance because it avoids the system's distortions.

-- The progressive/liberal hatred of the free market stems from an elitist desire for concentrated power, where they believe they know better than the general populace.

-- Health care sharing ministries are legally protected, with around 34-35 states passing specific laws protecting them, and the Affordable Care Act includes a conscientious objector clause exception for them.

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You can find out more information about Share HealthCare by calling 1-844-Share HC, or by visiting their website:

https://sharehealthcare.com/

Mike Sharman joins Doug Apple to break down the complex, often misrepresented, issues surrounding government healthcare subsidies and fraud. The discussion centers on the disturbing findings of a recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report that indicates persistent fraud risk in the Advanced Premium Tax Credit system, a risk that was never assessed during the Biden administration. Sharman makes it clear what is, and is not, truly at stake in the current political debates.

The speakers highlight the systemic nature of the problem, pointing out that many people who commit fraud are not being held accountable, and that the enhanced subsidies set to expire primarily benefit families making over $128,000 annually—not the low-income families that the original Affordable Care Act was designed to help. The media's portrayal, often using dramatic, simplistic headlines, serves only to accelerate the political drama rather than inform the public about the facts.

Ultimately, Sharman pivots to the historical context of "political shenanigans," arguing that corruption is inherent in human nature, which is why the nation's founders instituted checks and balances. He encourages Christians to pull out of the mess by looking to self-reliant, accountable, and faith-based solutions.

Mike Sharman offers the ministry he serves—Share HealthCare—as a compelling alternative, highlighting its low monthly costs ($149 for single, $249 for couple, $349 for family of four) and emphasis on prayer, community, and direct payment to providers, allowing members to choose any licensed medical professional.

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You can find out more information about Share HealthCare by calling 1-844-Share HC, or by visiting their website:

https://sharehealthcare.com/

Mike Sharman, legal counsel for Share HealthCare, joins the show to discuss what the American Dream truly is and why its pursuit has become a central battleground in American politics, drawing key lessons from the events of November 4th (elections) and November 12th (government shutdown resolution).

Sharman posits that the core components of the American Dream have not changed:

-- The ability to get a job that is a worthwhile career and build a legacy.

-- The desire to marry, create a family, and raise them up.

-- The knowledge and ability to buy one's own home.

-- The freedom to look toward a comfortable retirement without fear.

He explains that the political unrest, as seen in the election of a socialist mayor and the government shutdown over enhanced subsidies for high-income families, reflects a loss of belief in the existing political system's ability to help people achieve this dream. Sharman contrasts the two dominant political philosophies regarding the American Dream:

-- Conservative View (Blackstonian): Let's get government out of the way so you can live the American Dream to the fullest. Rights are God-given (life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness); government's only purpose is to secure these rights.

-- Progressive/Liberal View (Marxist): Let's get government to help you live out the American Dream. This view translates wants (home, healthcare, family security) into perceived rights, which the government is then expected to provide, moving the nation into a socialist stage.

Sharman highlights how Share HealthCare provides a non-political, principled solution to one of the biggest barriers to the American Dream—expensive healthcare—by offering a family of four coverage for just $349/month, compared to the average of $2,600/month for employer-provided insurance. This difference frees up significant income, enabling families to save for a home, retirement, and achieve greater financial stability in accordance with godly principles.

Scriptures for Further Study

-- Hebrews 13:16

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You can find out more information about Share HealthCare by calling 1-844-Share HC, or by visiting their website:

https://sharehealthcare.com/

In this compelling post-election discussion, host Doug Apple and attorney Mike Sharman of Share HealthCare examine the dramatic voting differences seen across Virginia. Sharman uses the stark difference in results between his rural, church-going area and the urban/suburban areas to drive home a central point: the battle for the nation's identity is a cultural one, rooted in faith, not politics. He challenges the notion that policy change starts with "changing people's minds" and points instead to Jesus's parable of the leaven to explain how the Kingdom of Heaven grows. The conversation also offers a tangible way Christians can exercise their "spiritual and financial muscles" through alternatives like Share HealthCare.

Main Points Discussed:

-- The recent election results in Virginia show a massive cultural difference between strong church-going, conservative communities and urban/suburban areas.

-- Culture difference is determined by the presence of Christ and regular church attendance.

-- Attempting to "drum in" biblical values into others is ineffective; instead, Christians must present Christ in a winsome and acceptable way to spark personal desire for God.

-- True, lasting cultural change operates like leaven, which expands from within and grows outward, starting with the Holy Spirit in individuals. (Reference: Matthew 13:33)

-- Organizations like Share HealthCare offer a quantifiable, Christian alternative to traditional health insurance, allowing believers to exercise their financial, spiritual, and freedom muscles to change their lives and, collectively, the culture.

-- The desire for revival often begins with a Christian recognizing their culture's need for God and starting in prayer.

Scriptures for Further Study-- Matthew 13:33

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You can find out more information about Share HealthCare by calling 1-844-Share HC, or by visiting their website:

https://sharehealthcare.com/

Join Doug Apple as he interviews Mike Sharman, legal counsel for Share HealthCare, in a thought-provoking conversation on the power of a name. They start by exploring the meaning of the famous Shakespeare quote, "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet," and apply it to the identity of the Church—the Bride of Christ. The discussion dives into a study on fast-growing church names, noting how common words often reflect core biblical principles.

Mike then explains how the name Share HealthCare perfectly encapsulates their mission: a 501(c)(3) non-profit ministry dedicated to sharing members' medically necessary medical expenses.

The discussion also highlights:

-- The top words in fast-growing church names, including community, life, grace, and hope. -- The understanding that the Church's essence as the body of Christ remains regardless of its organizational name. -- How Share HealthCare is a non-insurance, faith-based ministry for Christians of any denomination. -- The ministry's exemption from the Affordable Care Act and state-level individual mandates. -- The criteria for "medically necessary" expenses, which aligns with biblical and moral standards (e.g., excluding abortions or non-medically necessary cosmetic procedures). -- Their incredibly affordable monthly sharing contributions (e.g., $149/month for a single) compared to traditional insurance. -- The model's foundation in the biblical concept of "loads and burdens," where individuals carry a personal expense (currently $2,000 per event) before the body of Christ shares the rest, with no annual or lifetime limits.

To learn more about this affordable Christian health sharing ministry, visit sharehealthcare.com or call 1-844-SHARE-HC.

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You can find out more information about Share HealthCare by calling 1-844-Share HC, or by visiting their website:

https://sharehealthcare.com/

Host Doug Apple and Mike Sharman, legal counsel for Share HealthCare, dive into the findings of a new report by Eric Kaufman, entitled The Decline of Trans and Queer Identity Among Young Americans. The report shows that transgender and non-binary identification among university students, which peaked at nearly 7% in 2023, has since dropped significantly, with one of the cited reasons being "improved mental health."

Mike Sharman draws a sharp distinction between fleeting cultural "fads"—like the Nehru jacket or micro skirts—and the tragic, permanent ramifications of the transgender movement, which he refers to as "gender destruction."

-- The rapid decline in gender and queer identity is cutting in half the percentage of students identifying as non-binary (from 6.8% in 2022-2023 to 3.6% this year in one major poll).

-- This trend is even more pronounced in elite liberal institutions. For example, Brown University saw a drop from 5% to 2.6%.

-- The report's link between the decline and "improved mental health" suggests a return to common sense and reality. Sharman explains that Share HealthCare, a 501c3 Christian ministry, is exempt from state mandates—like those in Oregon, California, and Washington State—that require coverage for gender-destroying procedures.

-- Adherence to biblical, eternal principles leads to positive consequences, while contrary actions have negative consequences and create victims, particularly among impressionable youth.

-- Living in accordance with God's Word is supported by new studies, including a correlation between conservative-leaning counties (which tend to align with the Biblical mandate to "be fruitful and multiply") and higher fertility rates.

Scriptures for Further Study

-- Genesis 1:27 (God created them male and female) -- Genesis 1:28 (Be fruitful and multiply)

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You can find out more information about Share HealthCare by calling 1-844-Share HC, or by visiting their website:

https://sharehealthcare.com/

In a time of dire headlines about rapidly rising health insurance costs, Mike Sharman, General Counsel of Share Healthcare, offers a powerful, biblically-grounded perspective on the U.S. healthcare crisis. Sharman says that government control and subsidies have distorted the market, leading to soaring prices, which he identifies as the symptom of the problem, not the problem itself. The true issue, he contends, is that the American people have allowed the government to take over, rejecting the principles of self-governance and liberty set up by "the laws of nature and nature's God."

Mike Sharman connects the current healthcare crisis to the Old Testament account of Israel rejecting God as their King for an earthly one. He highlights the profound difference between conventional, high-cost health coverage and the Christian principles embodied by Share Healthcare.

Key takeaways from this discussion include:

-- The soaring costs of government-controlled healthcare are a consequence intended to get us to repent and seek liberty in the Lord.

-- We must focus on solving the problem (government control/rejection of God's authority) not just reducing the symptom (high prices, quick-fix drugs).

-- The original American dream was based on the liberty that grants each person the freedom to rise up and improve through work, rooted in New Testament principles.

-- A lack of liberty in our lives is an indication of an absence of the Spirit of the Lord, as 2 Corinthians 3:17 states: "Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."

-- Share Healthcare provides an alternative where a family of four can pay $349 a month, compared to a national average of $2,600 for employer-provided insurance, a difference Sharman attributes to living in accordance with the Spirit of the Lord and walking in liberty.

-- The ministry explicitly excludes sharing in expenses for practices (like abortions and trans gender destruction) and symptom-only treatments (like weight loss drugs).

-- Sharman says that healthcare is not a universal human right according to Scripture or the Declaration of Independence, which guarantees the unalienable rights of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

Find out how a biblically-principled approach to healthcare can lead to both spiritual and financial freedom.

Scriptures for Further Study

-- 1 Samuel 8 and 12: Israel rejects God as King, asking for a human king.

-- Isaiah 33:22: "The Lord is our king. The Lord is our lawgiver. The Lord is our judge."

-- 2 Corinthians 3:17: "Now the Lord is the spirit and where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."

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You can find out more information about Share HealthCare by calling 1-844-Share HC, or by visiting their website:

https://sharehealthcare.com/

Join Doug Apple and Mike Sharman (of Share HealthCare) as they report live from the vibrant 2025 Homesteaders of America Conference in Front Royal, VA. Mike, whose organization is built on the pillars of medical, financial, and religious freedom, dives deep into why the homesteading movement is exploding into a "tsunami." This community is defined by a desire to unplug from industrialized, mechanized systems and government intervention, empowering families to live their own lives with greater self-reliance.

Discover how this movement, which started with "how-to" skills (canning, butchering), has become a significant cultural and political thought process.

Key Takeaways from the Conference:

-- The Core of Homesteading: It's about self-reliance, not 100% self-sufficiency, driven by a "can-do attitude" to take charge of one's food, health, and future.

-- Daniel Salatin's Perspective: As the son of "grandfather of the homesteading movement" Joel Salatin, Daniel shares how his family's Polyface Farm became a hub for those seeking to decouple from conventional school systems, healthcare, and grocery stores to find genuine joy, peace, and fulfillment.

-- Vendor Spotlights on Freedom:

-- Redmond (Redmond.life): Providing American-mined, unrefined sea salt to help people be "free from ailments" by supporting health.

-- Bo's Tractor Works: A faith-based company focusing on plant-based anti-inflammation creams, crediting the Creator for providing everything we need "right out of the earth" for our bodies.

-- Earthley Wellness (Earthley.com): An all-natural company focused on medical freedom and education, offering herbal remedies, and even homeschool units.

-- The Chicken Fountain (TheChickenFountain.com): Offering the "freedom to be away" by providing an automatic, clean watering system for backyard flocks.

-- The Biblical Worldview: Tina Freitas (and her husband, delegate Nick Freitas) discuss the importance of living a life where the biblical worldview is not tucked away but is forefront in politics, livelihood, and all aspects of life.

--Karen Hamilton, delegate for HD-62. (https://www.hamiltonforvirginia.com/)

The conference is a community for sharing ideas and finding encouragement in a culture-changing movement built on faith, family, and radical self-reliance.

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You can find out more information about Share HealthCare by calling 1-844-Share HC, or by visiting their website:

https://sharehealthcare.com/

"That's the difference between charity and socialism. Charity is when you individually, or your church collectively, want to help somebody. Socialism is when the government says, "We decide that this particular group needs your money more than you do, and we're taking your money from you by taxation." - Mike Sharman

Legal Counsel Mike Sharman explains why the term "government shutdown" is inaccurate, as essential services like law enforcement, air traffic control, and the IRS continue operating. The temporary stoppage affects "non-essential" or discretionary functions, but the major political fight centers on massive federal spending, primarily related to health care. Sharman says the true debate is about truth when it comes to taxpayer-funded subsidies.

The Cost of "Compassion": Subsidies and Loopholes

The debate over the shutdown reveals a push by some for the reintroduction of soon-to-be expired "enhanced subsidies" under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which would cost an estimated $350 billion over 10 years.

-- These subsidies would benefit families making up to four times the poverty level—about $128,600 for a family of four—for premium assistance on health care exchanges.

-- This spending, Sharman contends, functions as socialism, distorting the free market and ultimately increasing healthcare costs for everyone due to market-dumping.

-- The legislation Democrats are fighting to change also closed several loopholes that allowed illegal immigrants to receive various forms of subsidized or paid medical care, totaling over $200 billion in potential savings.

Charity vs. Socialism: The Christian Worldview

Sharman draws a sharp line between genuine Christian charity and government-mandated socialism, arguing that only one is truly compassionate.

-- Charity is an individual or church-led, voluntary act of giving out of love, allowing the giver to understand and address the specific need and pray over the situation.

-- Socialism is the government's forced compulsory taking of money through taxation, which lacks the personal, corrective, and spiritual elements of charity.

-- He notes that the government generates no money on its own; all its funds are derived from taxpayers.

-- The current system acts as a "magnet" that encourages illegal immigration, leading to humanitarian crises like human trafficking and enforced slavery.

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You can find out more information about Share HealthCare by calling 1-844-Share HC, or by visiting their website:

https://sharehealthcare.com/

The interview features legal counsel Mike Sharman of Share HealthCare, who points out that U.S. Senator Tim Kaine's belief that rights come from the government is fundamentally wrong and dangerous. Sharman explains that the Declaration of Independence states that unalienable rights—such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness—are a gift from our Creator, not from the government. Governments are created by the people to secure and protect these pre-existing rights. Sharman says Kaine's view, which reflects ignorance or an intentional desire for government control, is a troubling and even stupid misinterpretation of the foundational principles of the United States. He contrasts the American model of a constitutional republic with other nations where the government's purpose is to protect the power base, not the rights of individuals.

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You can find out more information about Share HealthCare by calling 1-844-Share HC, or by visiting their website:

https://sharehealthcare.com/