Houston Chronicle by Jenny Deam July 19, 2019
Georgia company, accused of illegally selling insurance, agrees to stop enrolling Texans and temporarily limit its assetsA Georgia company accused of selling deceptive faith-based health plans has agreed to temporarily limit its access to assets until a Texas district court case against it concludes. It also said it will not enroll any new Texas members at this time.
The agreement by Aliera Companies, a multi-million-dollar Atlanta-based firm, came late Thursday afternoon in an ongoing Texas civil lawsuit filed by Attorney General Ken Paxton in June, new court documents show.
A week ago, on July 12, a Travis County judge issued a temporary restraining order against Aliera prohibiting new Texas enrollment, but it was not immediately clear whether the company would challenge the ruling.
“This agreement demonstrates our commitment to transparency and to negotiating in good faith while the parties endeavor to resolve this matter,†Aliera said in a statement Friday, “ In the meantime, we will continue working with thousands of Texans to help them meet their health care needs."
Aliera has been accused by authorities in multiple states of deceiving customers who spent thousands of dollars on what they thought were comprehensive health plans through two affiliated Christian health share ministries, first Unity Healthshare, and now, Trinity Healthshare. More than 70 complaints have been filed with regulatory agencies in four states, including in Texas, for nonpayment of claims. Last month 10 complaints were sent to the FBI by the Georgia attorney general’s office.
Aliera has 100,000 members nationwide, with 17,000 in Texas and earned $215 million in revenue last year, according to the company.
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