Health Savings Administrators
The Aliera Companies, Inc.Headquarters
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Information and Alerts
Alert Details
This business has 3 alerts.
Government Actions
The following describes a government action that has been resolved by either a settlement or a decision by a court or administrative agency. If the matter is being appealed, it will be noted below.
On January 13, 2020, the State of Colorado, Department of Insurance and The Aliera Companies, Inc. agreed to a Final Agency Order with stipulations as a means to resolve the State's concerns regarding the sale of healthshare ministry services in Colorado.
Specifically, Aliera agreed to not provide any services or contract with any unauthorized insurers or unauthorized insurance products, including but not limited to, Health Care Sharing Ministries (HCSM) or programs representing themselves as HCSMs, unless and until HCSMs are permitted to be marketed in Colorado either by statute, or through an administrative or judicial determination that HCSMs are not an insurance product subject to regulation by the Commissioner.
Aliera agreed to continue to administer and act as program manager for any and all Colorado consumers currently enrolled in Trinity Healthshare, Inc. programs until the Commissioner releases such obligation.
Aliera also agreed to comply with all Colorado insurance laws and regulations.
For more details, visit: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1usc5RlAer15TyLolVbb57YmSyWuSBVPs/view
Government Action 1
The following describes a government action involving two parties. For one party that action is pending; for the second it has been resolved by either a settlement or a decision by a court or administrative agency. If the matter is being appealed, it will be noted below.
On May 13, 2019 Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler announced that it had ordered Aliera Healthcare, Inc. (Aliera) and Trinity Healthshare, Inc. (Trinity), both of Delaware, to immediately stop selling health insurance illegally in Washington state and engaging in deceptive business practices and gave both parties the option to request that a hearing be held to contest this action. Aliera has asked for a hearing, Trinity has settled this matter.
Backround:
Aliera, an unlicensed insurance producer in Washington, has been administering and marketing health coverage on behalf of Trinity Healthshare.
Trinity represents itself as a health care sharing ministry, which would be exempt from state insurance regulation. A legal health care sharing ministry is a nonprofit organization whose members share a common set of ethical or religious beliefs and share medical expenses among members.
Kreidler's investigation into Aliera indicated that:
1) It provides misleading training to sales agents about the nature of its products.
2) Promotes misleading advertisements to consumers.
3) Inaccurately represents Trinity's statement of faith as outlined in its bylaws.
4) Operates both as a health care service contractor and a discount plan organization without a license.
5) Was selling insurance without a Washington insurance producer license.
Kreidler's investigation into Trinity found that it fails to meet key federal and state requirements.
As of June 2019, Aliera and Trinity had sold 3,058 policies to Washington consumers and collected $3.8 million in premiums
In December of 2019, Trinity entered into a Consent Order levying a fine and assessing premium taxes and penalty, totaling $150,000, resolving the matter. In addition to paying $150,000 to the State, Trinity also agreed to permanently stop insuring people in Washington state. Trinity also will notify Washington policyholders that they can keep their coverage for up to one calendar year to allow time to look for other health insurance options.
The action against Aliera continues and the company maintains it hasn't broken any state laws. That matter is pending. For additional information please visit: https://www.insurance.wa.gov/news/kreidler-bans-trinity-healthshare-collects-150000-fine
Government Action 2
The following describes a pending government action that has been formally brought by a government agency but has not yet been resolved. We are providing a summary of the government's allegations, which have not yet been proven.
On July 19, 2019, The State of Texas Department of Insurance announced it had filed a lawsuit seeking to stop Aliera Healthcare from selling health insurance in Texas and engaging in the business of insurance without a state license. The lawsuit also seeks civil penalties.
Aliera has agreed that until the case is resolved it will not accept or write new business in Texas, or transfer, expend or disburse any funds outside the ordinary course of business without approval from the court.
For more details regarding this action, visit: https://www.tdi.texas.gov/news/2019/tdi05172019-faq.html
Important Information
Additional Info
On May 14, 2019, The State of New Hampshire's Insurance Department issued a consumer alert as a result of a Georgia court order advising consumers that Aliera may be operating illegally in New Hampshire. To view the State of New Hampshire's alert, visit:
https://www.nh.gov/insurance/media/pr/2019/documents/press-release-aliera-health-care-sharing-ministry-unlicensed-5-14-19.pdf
Additional Info
ADDITIONAL BUSINESS INFORMATION:
According to information supplied by the company, Aliera Healthcare, Inc. is now doing business as The Aliera Companies, Inc.
Pending Government Action
The following describes a pending government action that has been formally brought by a government agency but has not yet been resolved. We are providing a summary of the government's allegations, which have not yet been proven.
Oakland, California -- March 10, 2020
The California Department of Insurance issued a Cease and Desist order effective immediately against Aliera Healthcare, Inc., and Trinity Healthshares, Inc., for violating California law by misleading California consumers regarding their products and transacting insurance business without a certificate of authority from the Insurance Commissioner.
The Department's Cease and Desist Order alleges that Aliera and Trinity provided misleading training to sales agents, promoted misleading advertisements to California consumers, and sold products that do not cover preexisting conditions, abortion and/or contraception, or comply with the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, and the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
Deceptive marketing practices may have pressured some consumers to purchase a health sharing ministry plan, thinking they had missed the deadline for purchasing coverage through Covered California.
The Cease and Desist Order prohibits Aliera and Trinity from immediately transacting insurance in California, including advertising or receiving any money, commission, fee, rebate, payment, remuneration, or any other valuable consideration whatsoever, in connection with any insurance transactions.
For additional information please contact California Department of Insurance:
cdipress@insurance.ca.gov
https://www.insurance.ca.gov/0400-news/0100-press-releases/2020/upload/nr026AlieraCEASE_AND_DESIST.PDF
Pending Government Action
The following describes a pending government action that has been formally brought by a government agency but has not yet been resolved. We are providing a summary of the government's allegations, which have not yet been proven.
The following describes a pending government action that has been formally brought by a government agency but has not yet been resolved. We are providing a summary of the government's allegations, which have not yet been proven.
BALTIMORE - February 27, 2020
The Maryland Insurance Administration (MIA) issued an order revoking the insurance producer license of Aliera Healthcare Inc. The February 27, 2020 order states that the company was actively trying to sell an unauthorized health insurance plan in Maryland, in violation of state law and an earlier consent order between MIA and the company.
The MIA and Aleira Healthcare entered into a voluntary April 2018 consent order, which found that the health care sharing ministry operated by the company did not meet the requirements for a religious exemption.
In the 2018 consent order, the company agreed to "permanently cease the sale, solicitation or operation in Maryland of the Unity Healthshare Ministry plan and any other plan" that did not meet the qualification for a religious exemption.
In a June 2019 written affirmation, Aliera Healthcare told the MIA that it had not sold products that would violate Maryland law or the consent order. But in March, an MIA investigator was contacted by an Aliera Healthcare representative, who attempted to sell her a membership in another health ministry product.
In addition to the license revocation, the MIA has also ordered Aliera Healthcare to pay an administrative penalty of $11,000.
Aliera Healthcare has 30 days from the date of the revocation order to request a hearing. Under Maryland law, the order will be stayed pending a hearing if a hearing request is received within 10 days of the order date.
For additional information please see https://insurance.maryland.gov/Pages/newscenter/NewsDetails.aspx?NR=2020249
By phone 410-468-2488
Pending Government Action
The following describes a pending government action that has been formally brought by a government agency but has not yet been resolved. We are providing a summary of the government's allegations, which have not yet been proven.
Thursday, September 24, 2020
DES MOINES, IOWA - The Iowa Insurance Division's Enforcement Bureau recently filed a statement of charges against Trinity Healthshare Inc. and The Aliera Companies.
According to the statement of charges, Respondent Trinity, purportedly operating as a health care sharing ministry, acted as an unauthorized insurer by offering health care insurance products to Iowa consumers which were not approved for sale in Iowa.
It is alleged that Aliera marketed, offered, sold, and administered these plans on behalf of Trinity without being appropriately licensed. Both Aliera and Trinity are alleged to have utilized unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the offer and sale of these health care products.
Trinity and Aliera have denied the allegations. An administrative hearing is scheduled to resolve these issues.
For additional information:
s://iid.iowa.gov/documents/statement-of-charges-trinity-and-aliera-companies
https://iid.iowa.gov/press-releases/iowa-insurance-division-files-charges-in-connection-with-unauthorized-health-care.
Consumers who may have purchased these products are encouraged to contact Sonya Sellmeyer, the Iowa Insurance Division's Consumer Advocate, at 515-654-6538 or sonya.sellmeyer@iid.iowa
BBB will update this aspect of the Business Profile once additional information becomes available.
Reason for Rating - Factors Lowered
3 complaints filed against business that were not resolved.
Reason for Rating - Factors Lowered
Government action(s) against business.
Related Businesses
Information on file with BBB indicates The Aliera Companies, Inc. is affiliated with Trinity Healthshare, Inc. BBB maintains a separate Business Profile for Trinity Healthshare, Inc. that can be viewed by clicking here: https://www.bbb.org/us/ga/atlanta/profile/health-sharing-ministries/trinity-healthshare-inc-0443-28121794
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