What You Need to Know About Thyroid Disorders

Do you have brain fog and fatigue? Are you sweaty and anxious?

Over 30 million American’s have thyroid disorders, yet more than half remain undiagnosed and untreated. Many experience symptoms, but dismiss them as coming from other causes.

According to The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE), thyroid disease is more common than diabetes and heart disease, or breast cancer. In fact, more than all types of cancer combined.

What is the thyroid gland?

The American Thyroid Association explains the thyroid gland as a butterfly-shaped gland located in the lower portion of the neck. The thyroid makes hormones that are carried through the blood to every tissue in the body. The thyroid affects vital tasks such as regulating body temperature, brain, muscle, and other organ functions.

What goes wrong?

Thyroid problems range in severity from a harmless goiter to advanced cancer (though rare). The two main conditions are hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.

Thyroid disorders are more prevalent in women and those with a family history of thyroid dysfunction. The metabolism is affected by either too much or too little hormone being released by the thyroid gland. The hormones produced by the thyroid affect almost every metabolic process in our body.

Hypothyroidism – When one has too little thyroid hormone in their blood, it is referred to as hypothyroidism. This occurs by the thyroid gland being underactive or by not producing enough thyroid hormone.

Here are some of the main symptoms of an underactive thyroid:

Weight gain
Always cold
Tired
Hair loss
Brittle nails
Constipation
Fatigue

Causes:

One of the most common causes is the immune system. The immune system’s job is to protect the body from invaders and infections. In the case of Hashimoto’s Disease, the thyroid gland cells and their enzymes will be mistaken as invaders and attacked. With many cells destroyed, there are not enough cells producing thyroid hormones.
Another cause is thyroiditis or inflammation of the thyroid gland.
Iodine levels can also cause this condition. In this country, we generally get plenty of iodine in our diets, but too little iodine can cause hypothyroidism, resulting in goiter (see below).
Other causes can be surgical removal of the thyroid, radiation treatment, or some medicines.

Table of Contents

Here is a representation of the difference in possible symptoms in women:

Hyperthyroidism – This occurs when one has too much thyroid hormone present in their blood. The thyroid is referred to as overactive.

As with hypothyroidism, your metabolism is affected; however, this time, one may initially feel like they have more energy. Eventually, this feeling can change to tiredness with hyperthyroidism as well. In most cases, symptoms come on slowly which makes them easily mistaken for stress symptoms:

Fast heartbeat or racing feeling
Easily perspire
Hard time sleeping
Restlessness
Diarrhea
Muscle weakness
Trembling hands
Losing weight despite a good appetite
The eyes may look enlarged or may bulge

Causes:

In 70% of cases, hyperthyroid is caused by overproduction of thyroid hormone by the thyroid gland due to an autoimmune disease known as Graves’ disease. Antibodies in the blood cause the thyroid to secrete too much thyroid hormone. This type of thyroid dysfunction runs in families and is more common with young women.
A less common cause of hyperthyroidism is distinguished by one or more nodules or lumps in the thyroid. As these lumps grow, their output of thyroid hormone into the blood is greater than normal.
The source of a third cause is when a problem with the immune system or a viral infection causes a leak of stored thyroid hormone temporarily causing hyperthroidism.
Another temporary cause of hyperthyroidism is over consumption of thyroid hormone in pill form.

Additional Thyroid Concerns

Goiter – A goiter is an enlarged thyroid gland.

Causes:

Iodine deficiency is the greatest cause of a goiter in other countries; however, it is uncommon in the United States and other developed countries.
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is where one’s own immune system attacks the thyroid gland. As this happens, the pituitary gland tries to offset the low thyroid hormone level and secretes more thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). This stimulation causes the thyroid to grow, which may cause a goiter.
Another cause is Graves’ disease in which the body’s immune system produces a protein called TSI (thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin) which stimulates the thyroid gland to enlarge and produce a goiter.
Nodules within the thyroid gland can also cause a goiter.

Get step-by-step intructions on how to check your neck for a goiter.

A doctor can perform a physical examination when an enlargement has been found. Next, you will likely have a blood test to determine thyroid hormone levels and ultimately the cause of your goiter. Additional tests may be taken if the doctor feels it’s necessary to research the cause further.

Thyroid Cancer – Thyroid cancers are rare. Past radiation treatments to the head or neck have been shown to increase risk of nodules becoming cancerous later in life. Most thyroid cancers do not spread beyond the neck and respond well to treatment.

What to do

The treatment options will be different depending on the thyroid condition you have. Discuss your options with your doctor so that together you can determine the best course of action.

Hypothyroidism is most commonly treated by supplementing the amount of hormone your body makes with a pill form of that hormone. There are both synthetic and natural options.

Hyperthyroidism has many more choices of treatment which are often decided on by age, the severity of the condition, and other medical concerns.

According to Dr. Fuhrman, thyroid disease prevention may be possible when addressed early. He believes that a Nutritarian diet has the potential to improve thyroid function because it reduces inflammation, promotes the removal of toxins, and improves gut health.

Thyroid and pregnancy

The thyroid may encounter changes in hormones and size during pregnancy. These relatively minor changes are completely normal.

However, pregnancy impacts treatment and dosing for hypothyroidism, and it is important to follow up with your doctor to monitor your condition.

Looking for more details on how the thyroid works? Click this link for a more detailed description and diagram. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0072572/

Thanks to the American Thyroid Association for supplying most of the research provided in this post.

— Update: 17-03-2023 — cohaitungchi.com found an additional article Healthcare sharing ministry pros & cons from the website www.peoplekeep.com for the keyword hypothyroidism cost sharing ministry.

Healthcare sharing ministries are a healthcare alternative that have grown in popularity since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was passed. While most health sharing ministries were created for organizations as a benefit for their own members, a select few offer open membership, with Medishare being the most popular.

Because these organizations are not-for-profit and don’t fund the cost of certain medical procedures that act against their religious or spiritual beliefs, costs for members are generally lower than other health insurance options.Before entering a healthcare sharing ministry, you need to know how they work. This article will define what a healthcare sharing ministry is, its pros and cons, and other alternative health plan options.

What are healthcare sharing ministries?

A healthcare sharing ministry is a medical sharing plan or private healthcare system (PHCS). They began in the 1990s as a faith-based 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization.

Members use their shared similar beliefs and values as guidelines for the foundation of their medical expense distributions. The vast majority of the known and active healthcare sharing organizations are founded on religious principles.

Unlike the average health insurance plan purchased on the federal or state exchanges, you can sign up for a health sharing ministry at any time without waiting for an open enrollment period or a qualifying life event.

Some of the more prominent healthcare sharing ministries are:

Christian Healthcare Ministries
Medi-Share, Samaritan Ministries
Liberty HealthShare
United Refuah HealthShare
MCS Medical Cost Sharing
Altrua HealthShare
Freedom HealthShare
Trinity HealthShare Inc

How do healthcare sharing ministries work?

Members of healthcare sharing ministries contribute a fixed monthly dollar amount to their own savings account. When a member of the ministry community is ill and needs help paying their medical expenses, the person submits a request for the amount required to cover the bill.

If approved, either by a person appointed to an administrative position or by committee vote, the request is paid directly to the healthcare provider with funds from other members’ savings accounts.

As with traditional health insurance policies, there is usually a set amount that each family or individual has to pay before submitting requests to the program for assistance. This amount can range from about $500 to $10,000.

Members are part of a preferred provider organization (PPO), which means they receive pre-negotiated rates when using providers in that network. A member using a non-PPO physician or facility may have to pay out-of-network prices or cover the entire bill.

Many refer to healthcare sharing ministries as Christian health insurance or a Christian care ministry because members need to comply with the imposed rules of Christianity. This typically means there are no payouts for procedures against Christian beliefs.

What are the pros and cons of healthcare sharing ministries?

Like any health benefit, healthcare sharing ministries have their pros and cons. This section will break down the major advantages and disadvantages of healthcare ministries so you can make the best decision for you and your organization.

Pros of healthcare sharing ministries

While low costs are a perk of healthcare sharing ministries, some organizations have additional membership bonuses such as dental and vision discounts, disability sharing, and free telehealth.

More advantages of healthcare sharing ministries include the following:

Healthcare sharing ministries are cost-effective because each family contributes a specific monthly dollar amount they choose based on program options.
Membership can’t be terminated for developing a medical condition.
Healthcare sharing ministries don’t impose annual or lifetime limits.
Healthcare sharing ministries can cover qualified adoption and funeral expenses.
Membership isn’t affected by where you live or your employment status.
An independent accounting firm can audit healthcare sharing ministries annually to ensure financial stability.
Healthcare sharing ministries provide a viable option for those seeking an alternative to shopping on the ACA Marketplace.
Members of these ministries can encourage one another through personal notes of encouragement, which can foster a sense of community and family between each other.

Cons of healthcare sharing ministries

As with all health insurance programs, there are some disadvantages to Medishare organizations. Members need to know about the limitations so those considering the benefit know the entire process and can make the right decision for their health and family.

Disadvantages of healthcare sharing ministries include the following:

Many regulations don’t consider healthcare sharing insurance, so consumers have little or no legal protection if a claim isn’t paid, coverage is denied, or the ministry goes bankrupt.
Treasury letter 2016-0051 confirms that healthcare sharing ministries don’t qualify as minimum essential coverage (MEC) under the ACA’s employer mandate.
There are certain restrictions and payment caps relating to pre-existing conditions.
Certain pre-existing conditions, such as diabetes, may require a member to pay an additional monthly amount and standard membership fees.
Because healthcare sharing ministries are faith-based organizations, they can have specific rules associated with membership.

For example, members might be required to attend church regularly, abstain from tobacco and illegal drugs, and attest to a specific statement of faith.

Can you use an HRA with a Medishare?

Because of IRS guidelines, healthcare sharing ministries’ membership fees can’t be reimbursed under a health reimbursement arrangement (HRA), such as the qualified small employer HRA (QSEHRA). This is due to U.S. Code 213¹, which determines the expenses and health insurance premiums you can reimburse through an HRA.

Healthcare sharing ministry programs aren’t offered by a health insurance company, making the benefit technically not considered insurance. Therefore, membership fees or donations aren’t eligible for reimbursement per the IRS.

However, employees may still be eligible to receive reimbursements for other types of qualified medical expenses. For example, health insurance isn’t required to participate in a QSEHRA. Employees can use their HRA allowance to pay for out-of-pocket expenses, including prescription drugs, counseling, over-the-counter medicine, and more.

If you’re comparing the two benefits and searching for a comprehensive healthcare alternative with more flexibility and fewer limitations for your employees, an HRA might be the way to go. Your employees will have better control over their healthcare decisions and provide you with a tax-free and budget-friendly alternative to your organization’s traditional health insurance plan.

Can you use a health stipend with healthcare sharing ministries?

While you can’t reimburse healthcare sharing ministries’ membership fees with an HRA, you can reimburse them through a health stipend. A health stipend isn’t a formal health benefit, so there are fewer restrictions on how you can use it.

A health stipend works similarly to an HRA. Employees submit requests for reimbursement on their medical expenses, and their employer reimburses them up to their monthly allowance amount. However, unlike HRAs, health stipends are taxable and must be reported as income on an employee’s W-2.

Health stipends allow employers to reimburse employees for health, dental, and vision insurance premiums, chiropractic care, medical services like office visits, prescriptions, health sharing membership fees, and more.

While most expense reimbursements with a health stipend don’t require proof of purchase, an employer can require proof of purchase for healthcare sharing ministries membership fees. Because a healthcare sharing ministry isn’t a formal group health plan under IRS Publication 502, it isn’t subject to HIPAA regulations.

Your employer can approve or reject the expense when you submit a receipt for your membership fees. Once approved, your employer reimburses you up to your available monthly allowance. Most employers reimburse employees through payroll, though some admins may process a separate payment.

Conclusion

It’s understandable to be cautious about healthcare sharing if you’re unfamiliar with it. However, it remains relatively popular, with more than 1.5 million Americans participating in the benefit. Healthcare sharing can provide an alternative to traditional health insurance, but it has certain restrictions.

You should review Medishare membership requirements to see if the terms to join are agreeable to you. Failure to adhere to these terms could result in a denied application or membership cancellation.

If you think a tax-advantaged HRA benefit or a taxable health stipend will be more flexible and comprehensive for you and your employees’ needs, PeopleKeep can help you get started! Our HRA and employee stipend benefits administration software makes it easy to set up and manage your benefit in minutes.

This blog article was originally published on August 18, 2020. It was last updated on December 9, 2022.

¹https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/213