HHS, feds push Obamacare in churches: ‘The Body is a Temple and It Must Be Insured’

Health and Human Services and federal officials are leaving no stone unturned to get Americans onto Obamacare, taking their enrollment messages to church and even, in one case, invoking scripture to remind of a moral imperative to get the health plan.

D.C. HealthLink, the insurance marketplace for the nation’s capital region, recently put out this message from 1 Corinthians 6:19 for its congregation: “The Body is a Temple and It Must Be Insured,” The Weekly Standard reported. The actual biblical reference states that “your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit.”

The White House administration, meanwhile, has published a range of sample church bulletin inserts, fliers and talking points that churches can use to participate in what’s being billed by HHS as the “Second Sunday & Faith Weekend of Action Toolkit.”

The campaign is aimed at drawing churches around the nation to set aside the second Sunday of each month to host informal gatherings to remind about enrollment — and to solicit sign-ups into the health care plan, The Weekly Standard reported.

The news outlet posted a Sample Announcement: “No matter where you live, you maybe able to buy insurance from private health plans that cover a comprehensive set of benefits, including doctor visits, hospital stays, preventive care and prescriptions. I hope by now many of you have heard about the opportunity to get health insurance coverage throughout the Health Insurance Marketplace. … (NAME OF CHURCH) is working with the (INSERT NAME) Regional Office of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), this congregation and the surrounding community with getting coverage.”

The announcement then goes on to list a time and date for a presentation “on the health insurance marketplace along with in person assisters,” The Weekly Standard reported.

HHS is also making available officials to speak at church events at other times. The D.C. HealthLink isn’t the only organization to respond in positive fashion. HHS said more than 5,500 faith leaders have promoted Obamacare to their various church communities, The Weekly Standard said.