Oregon’s Division of Financial Regulation has ordered ClearShare Health and four affiliated entities to immediately stop selling memberships in the state, concluding that the Texas-based health share operated as an unlicensed insurer and TPA.
ClearShare markets itself as a health share that sells memberships to individuals seeking to pool resources for healthcare costs. Oregon regulators noted that its website advertises products described as “high-quality, affordable healthcare,” “major medical insurance,” and “supplemental insurance,” while also stating in its FAQ section that “ClearShare is not insurance.” Regulators concluded that the memberships function as insurance contracts under state law, describing ClearShare’s “annual maximum” cost-sharing threshold as equivalent to a deductible.
As of March 29, the state said 370 residents were enrolled in ClearShare memberships, with monthly contributions ranging from $284 to $969 depending on plan tier and family size.
The April 24 cease and desist order bans ClearShare from marketing, selling, or collecting payments for memberships in Oregon.
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