The Iowa Insurance Division’s Enforcement Bureau recently filed a statement of charges against Trinity Healthshare Inc. and the Aliera Cos., both based in Atlanta. According to the statement of charges, Trinity, purportedly operating as a health care sharing ministry, acted as an unauthorized insurer by offering health care insurance products to Iowa consumers that were not approved for sale in Iowa. The division alleges 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 used unfair or deceptive practices in the offer and sale of these health care products. Both companies have denied the allegations, and an administrative hearing is scheduled to resolve the issues, Iowa Insurance Division spokesman Chance McElhaney said. “Products offered by health care sharing ministries are not insurance and there is no guarantee that your medical costs will be paid,” he said in a press release. “We want to make certain that Iowans who may have purchased these products believing they were purchasing an insurance product will have an opportunity to consider their health care needs as we approach the open enrollment period, which begins Nov. 1. Consumers are encouraged to speak with licensed insurance agents who can help them determine what options may be available to them.” According to the statement of charges, at least 343 Iowa residents purchased the products. 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.gov.