Self Employed Health Insurance Question

[Dave T]

Working on an extension for a young couple, both self employed.

I asked if they had health insurance and he said they were part of a Health Sharing Ministry.  I did some research and appeared to get conflicting answers as to whether they could take this as the Self Employed Health Insurance deduction. I know it is not technically insurance although it did qualify as an alternative to Obamacare but saw various opinions and code section references on both sides of either yes of no on the deduction.

One post I saw mentioned a proposed regulation which would definitely allow this but not sue it it ever became law.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you

[BrewOne]

Pat Dimmitt over at the NAEA site in February commented that the rules remain in proposed form and therefore sticks with a previous opinion:

Quote

I do not believe there is substantial authority to treat the payments as medical insurance for purposes of the deduction allowed under IRC § 162(l)(1).

[TexTaxToo]

The proposed regulations are here: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/06/10/2020-12213/certain-medical-care-arrangements, but indicate that they take affect when finalized.  I also don't believe they have been finalized.