The Iowa Insurance Division is notifying Iowa residents who paid premiums or contribution payments to certain health care cost sharing ministries that they are eligible for restitution through an order filed by Iowa Insurance Commissioner Doug Ommen on March 17. In the settlement, Aliera Cos. Inc., Aliera Healthcare Inc., Ensurian Agency LLC, USA Benefits & Administrators LLC, Advevo LLC, Tactic Edge Solutions LLC, Trinity Healthshare and Jessica Buddington were required to pay $90,000 to the Iowa Insurance Division’s Settlement Fund. This amount will be distributed among eligible Iowa residents who remitted premium or contribution payments for these health plans. Trinity purportedly operated as a health care sharing ministry and acted as an unauthorized insurer by offering health care insurance products to Iowa consumers that were not approved for sale in Iowa. At least 334 Iowa residents purchased the plans. “As with any type of health care coverage decision, we strongly encourage consumers to take great care in reviewing the information and marketing materials to ensure they are getting what they are paying for,” said Chance McElhaney, a spokesman for the Iowa Insurance Division. “We want consumers to understand the limitations that they may experience with various products available in the market.” In order to be eligible to receive any restitution, individuals must complete and submit a questionnaire to the Iowa Insurance Division no later than Aug. 26. More information about the settlement can be found on this page of the Iowa Insurance Division website.