The Best Fitness Certification Deals of the Year and Why I Recommend ISSA for 2025
Every year people ask me for advice on getting started in the fitness industry or levelling up their coaching. Whether someone wants a career change, a new income stream, or a way to finally back their passion with credentials, I always give the same answer.
Start with a certification that teaches you something real, something you can use, and something that sets you up to grow.
Right now ISSA, the International Sports Sciences Association, has launched their biggest sale of the entire year. This is the one time I actually tell people to jump on a certification because the savings are unreal and the programs give you a strong foundation.
I am currently working on my ISSA CPT and I genuinely love it. It is textbook heavy in the best way because it forces you to understand the science and apply it in real life. I am already excited to take more ISSA courses once I finish this one. When you learn the why behind the programming, your confidence grows, your coaching sharpens, and your clients feel that.
If you’ve been waiting for a sign to start your fitness education, this is it.
ISSA offers over one hundred fifty certifications across fitness, nutrition, wellness, and specialty modalities. Whether you want a fresh side hustle, a full career shift, or a way to elevate your coaching knowledge, there is something for every level.
Foundational certifications worth starting with
Certified Personal Trainer Nutrition Coach Strength and Conditioning Corrective Exercise Specialist
Pilates Instructor Yoga 200 Glute Specialist Bodybuilding Specialist Indoor Cycling Tactical Conditioning Functional Aging Health Coach and Life Coach DNA Based Fitness Coaching
My Perspective as an IFBB Pro and Coach
If you want to get into the fitness industry, ISSA gives you education with substance. Everything is laid out clearly and the knowledge stays with you. This field requires trust and responsibility. Clients rely on you and you need to understand the science behind what you are giving them.
As someone who manages trainers, interviews staff, and coaches clients every day, I know the difference between a coach who learned properly and someone who rushed through the basics. ISSA builds strong coaches.
And that is why I recommend it.
Easy Content Angles If You Want to Share These Deals
Best Fitness and Wellness Deals for Black Friday and Cyber Monday New Year, New Side Hustle under $600 Best Online Fitness Certifications to Kickstart 2025 Affordable Ways to Invest in Yourself Top Certifications for Coaches Who Want to Earn More in the New Year
Final Thoughts
If you want to learn, grow, and set yourself up for a better 2025, these ISSA deals are honestly the best time to start. The CPT is unmatched and once you are certified you can take that knowledge anywhere.
If you need help choosing which certification fits you best, message me. I will point you in the right direction.
Train It Right. You are stronger than your excuses.
Alicia Bell IFBB Pro Celebrity Trainer Kinesiologist
Jio most active technology, media, and telecom brand in sports sponsorship in APAC in 2025, reveals GlobalData
The technology, media, and telecom sector in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region has experienced significant change recently, particularly in sports sponsorship. Some key brands within the APAC market include Jio, Migu, TCL, and J:COM. With nine deals, all with teams which compete in the Indian Premier League (IPL), specifically serving as their team sponsor, including Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians, Jio is the most active technology, media, and telecom brand in sports sponsorship in the region, reveals GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
GlobalData’ s latest report, “Sponsorship Sector Report – Technology, Media, & Telecom – APAC 2025,” reveals that soccer leads in both annual sponsorship revenue and deal volume across the region. The Chinese Basketball Association’s (CBA) deal with Migu is the largest partnership across the region.
Olivia Snooks, Sport Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Sponsoring multiple teams in the same competition—including large-market franchises such as Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and Kolkata Knight Riders—gives Jio exposure to diverse regional fan bases and televised matches throughout the IPL season. Cricket, particularly the IPL, is one of the highest-impact sports properties in the APAC region, especially in India. Jio therefore leverages fans’ emotional connections with the teams to reinforce its consumer services, including telecommunications and digital apps.”
Several esports properties account for some of the largest deals in the region, including Bilibili Gaming, DreamSmart, Weibo Gaming, TapTap, and the League of Legends Pro League. The esports industry has seen exponential growth in recent years in both viewership and participation, particularly in APAC, which has some of the largest gaming markets in the world. This growth presents tech brands with a vast, engaged audience. Weibo Gaming’s partnership with TapTap, the gaming software company, is worth mentioning, given the deal represents a rapidly growing esports and gaming landscape in Asia, particularly China.
Snooks continues: “The partnership exemplifies a wider pattern of cooperation in China’s esports ecosystem, underscoring how alliances among teams, platforms, and sponsors are fueling industry growth. Other noteworthy deals include Bilibili’s agreement with DreamSmart, TCL’s League of Legends partnership, and T1’s collaboration with SK Telecom.”
CBA’s deal with Migu ran from 2020–21 to 2024–25 and concluded in May 2025. The deal designated China Mobile as the CBA’s official partner, while Migu served as the association’s digital media and exclusive 5G partner. The deal was worth an estimated $12.25 million per year—almost five times larger than any other deal in the region.
Snooks concludes: “In China, tech platforms dominate content distribution, so teaming up with a major provider like Migu is often essential to attain nationwide reach and effectively monetize digital audiences. For Migu, its collaboration with the CBA guarantees exclusive streaming rights and bolsters user engagement and market standing in China.”
Quotes provided by Olivia Snooks, Sport Analyst at GlobalData
Information based on GlobalData’s latest report, “Sponsorship Sector Report – Technology, Media, & Telecom – APAC 2025”, which explores all the main active brands in the sector as well as details the movement in the sector over the last few years in the sports sponsorship industry.
About GlobalData
4,000 of the world’s largest companies, including over 70% of FTSE 100 and 60% of Fortune 100 companies, make more timely and better business decisions thanks to GlobalData’s unique data, expert analysis and innovative solutions, all in one platform. GlobalData’s mission is to help our clients decode the future to be more successful and innovative across a range of industries, including the healthcare, consumer, retail, financial, technology and professional services sectors.
Ghostworking: 58% Admit They’re Pretending to Work on a Regular Basis
Resume Now Survey Reveals How Employees Fake Productivity and Job Hunt on the Clock
A survey from Resume Now®, an AI resume building service, reveals that a significant number of employees are engaging in "ghostworking"—pretending to work while doing little to no meaningful work. According to the Ghostworking Report, 58% of employees admit to regularly pretending to be working, while another 34% occasionally engage in similar behavior. Even more alarming, a whopping 92% of workers have job-searched during their work hours.
As companies explore ways to improve productivity, the data suggests that time-wasting isn’t just about distractions, it’s also about the pressure to appear busy. Employees have developed creative strategies to maintain the illusion of productivity, even as many report wasting more time while working remotely than in the office.
Key Findings:
58% of employees admit to regularly pretending to work, while 34% do so occasionally.
23% of employees have walked around the office with a notebook to appear busy, and 22% have typed randomly to seem engaged.
Workers are slightly more prone to wasting time when they work from home (43%), compared to the office (37%).
A whopping 92% of workers have job-searched during work hours.
Workers admit they edit their resumes (24%) on the clock and 23% have even applied for jobs using work computers (23%).
Ghostworking: The Strategies Behind It
The survey highlights the common strategies employees use to create the illusion of productivity at work:
23% of employees admit to walking around the office with a notebook to look busy.
22% have typed randomly to appear engaged.
15% have held a phone to their ear with no real call, while another 15% have kept a spreadsheet open while browsing unrelated content.
12% have scheduled fake meetings to avoid real work.
12% of respondents said they never fake productivity.
“Many employees feel pressure to appear busy rather than actually being productive,” says Keith Spencer, career expert at Resume Now. “Rather than focusing on monitoring, companies should explore why employees feel the need to fake productivity and consider addressing underlying issues like unproductive meetings and communication gaps.”
Job Hunting on Company Time
The survey found that a whopping 92% of workers have job-searched during work hours.
55% of employees have regularly searched for a new job while on the clock.
37% have occasionally searched for a new job during work hours.
The most common bold job-hunting move is using company time to edit resumes (24%).
Applying for jobs using work computers (23%) and taking recruiter calls from the office (20%) are also significant actions.
A smaller group (19%) has snuck out for an interview.
Remote vs. Office Work: Where Are Employees Wasting More Time?
The survey revealed that work setting impacts time-wasting habits:
47% of employees feel they waste more time when working from home.
37% say they waste more time in the office.
16% say they waste about the same amount of time in both settings.
Biggest Distractions at Work
Employees identified the most common distractions they face in the workplace:
In the Office:
Technical issues (e.g., slow internet or software problems) – 16%
Coffee/lunch breaks that run long – 15%
Corporate socializing (office birthdays, team lunches) – 15%
Chatty coworkers – 14%
Random interruptions from managers – 14%
Office noise – 11%
When Working Remotely:
Background noise from housemates – 40%
Internet or power outages – 35%
Family members not respecting work hours – 35%
Household emergencies – 33%
Loud construction from neighbors – 32%
Pets disrupting important calls – 32%
Unexpected doorbell interruptions – 27%
Would Monitoring Improve Productivity?
The survey also explored whether monitoring employee activity would increase productivity:
69% of employees believe they would be more productive if their employer monitored their screen time.
19% say monitoring would not change their work habits.
10% say they would just find other ways to take breaks.
3% say it wouldn’t matter because they already stay focused.
The findings provided were gathered through a survey conducted with 1,127 American workers on February 25, 2025. Participants were asked about their time-wasting habits, workplace distractions, and the frequency of procrastination at work. Participants responded to various question types, including yes/no questions, open-ended questions, scale-based questions gauging agreement levels, and questions that permitted the selection of multiple options from a list of answers.
About Resume Now
Since 2005, Resume Now has offered job seekers a fast and easy way to create a beautifully designed, expert-backed resume. With pre-written, industry-specific phrases and recruiter-approved templates, the award-winning builder enables users to create a polished and professional resume in minutes. Resume Now has been featured in major outlets such as Fortune, Forbes, and more. Stay connected with Resume Now’s latest updates onFacebook and LinkedIn.
WINDJAMMER LANDING RESORT & RESIDENCES LAUNCHES IT’S BIGGEST BLACK FRIDAY, CYBER MONDAY, AND TRAVEL TUESDAY SALE WITH OFFERS OF UP TO 55% OFF & MORE
(TORONTO, ON – November 19TH, 2025) – Windjammer Landing Resort & Residences in Saint Lucia has launched its highly anticipated Black Friday Sale, offering Canadian travellers savings of up to 55% percent off on select luxury accommodations from November 24th through to December 4th, 2025. As one of the biggest sales of the year, this limited-time offer makes it easier than ever for Canadians to enjoy a world-class Caribbean getaway at an exceptional value.
Proudly Canadian-owned, Windjammer Landing is celebrated for its world-class hospitality, authentic island charm, and welcoming atmosphere that keeps Canadian visitors returning year after year.
As an added bonus, guests booking five nights or more will receive a $150 USD resort credit to use toward dining, spa treatments, or watersport activities during their stay.
Unveil Unmatched Luxury With:
Up to 55% Off Rooms, Suites & Villas
Up To A $150 Resort Credit for stay of 5+ nights
Daily breakfast featuring gourmet selections.
Full access to resort amenities, including six pools and a world-class spa.
Complimentary non-motorized watersports, including paddleboarding and snorkeling
Guests can also choose to upgrade to the premium all-inclusive package, which includes all meals, beverages, entertainment, and watersport activities, an ideal option for multi-generational families, couples, and friends looking for a completely stress-free getaway.
Following a transformative three-year renovation valued at over 40 million US dollars, Windjammer Landing has reimagined itself as one of the Caribbean’s leading luxury resorts. Every aspect of the guest experience has been elevated, including redesigned accommodations, enhanced dining, refreshed pools, and upgraded service standards.
Windjammer Landing recently joined the prestigious Leading Hotels of the World, becoming the only resort in Saint Lucia to receive this recognition. This distinction highlights the resort’s commitment to exceptional service, family-friendly hospitality, and authentic Saint Lucian charm.
With direct flights from Toronto Pearson International Airport to Hewanorra International Airport in Saint Lucia on Air Canada and WestJet, the island is an easy and convenient tropical escape for Canadians seeking sunshine, relaxation, and adventure.
From romantic getaways to family vacations, Windjammer Landing offers guests an unforgettable Caribbean experience with oceanfront dining, six swimming pools, a full-service spa, a PADI dive center, and a wide variety of land and sea activities.
Nestled into 65 acres of the lush hillside on St Lucia's north-western coast, Windjammer Landing is a Mediterranean-style resort on a large crescent-shaped stretch of beach, boasting six swimming pools (two of them for kids), a selection of signature restaurants and bars, a spa, fitness center, water sports programs, and well-equipped kids club. The resort's 220 guest rooms and villas range from stylish and contemporary waterfront villas to beachfront suites steps from the water's edge and charming hillside rooms, each designed to offer its guests beautiful views across Labrelotte Bay and the Caribbean Sea. Windjammer Landing's spectacular two to four-bedroom villas feature luxury amenities such as private plunge pools or terraces. Its larger villas offer full kitchens with the services of a dedicated chef available on request.
Top Consultancies Report Rising Holiday Shopping Fatigue; Clinicians Explain How to Maintain Wellbeing
Illustration of a girl stressed due to holiday shopping
As Deloitte, PwC, and Accenture holiday shopping reports warn of record cognitive stress and rising indecision this holiday season, clinicians explain why constant decision-making drains the brain, and what can be done to support it.
November 17, 2025. Three of the world’s leading consultancies, Deloitte, PwC, and Accenture, have recently released reports on holiday shopping. They highlight record levels of cognitive stress and rising indecision as key features of the coming season. Clinicians warn that, beyond budget tightening and economic instability, this is leading us to a global cognitive burnout.
All three reports represent different sides of holiday shopping struggles. Deloitte’s Holiday Retail Survey 2025 finds that 58% of consumers describe holiday shopping as stressful, while Accenture reports that 85% of online shoppers abandon their carts due to frustration or indecision. PwC’s Holiday Outlook 2025 shows that 84% expect to cut back spending.
“People aren’t just overwhelmed by buying. They are mentally strained by constant decision-making,” said Dr. Hannah Nearney, clinical psychiatrist and UK Medical Director at Flow Neuroscience, a company that develops brain stimulation solutions for mental wellbeing. “When the brain gets overloaded like that, we quickly see stress “mode” kicking in which can worsen other problems like anxiety and depression.”
Dr. Nearney adds that difficulties can include low mood, poor concentration, and overwhelm as a result of decision fatigue overloading the prefrontal cortex, the brain’s region responsible for planning and emotional regulation.
What amplifies the decision fatigue during this holiday shopping season is financial pressure, consultancies’ data shows.
For example, Deloitte reports that 57% of consumers expect the economy to weaken in the next six months. The firm says this is its most negative sentiment in nearly 30 years.
“Economic uncertainty keeps the brain and nervous system in a constant state of anxiety and alertness,” said Dr. Nearney. “This makes it harder for people to manage holiday shopping and planning. Thus, we can’t simply enjoy the season.”
While cognitive burnout is on the rise, one demographic of consumers seems to be resisting it more than others.
According to PwC’s report, Gen Z plans to reduce holiday spending by 23%, more than any other age group, while showing a growing interest in purchases related to wellness and mental health.
“Younger people are realising that mental energy is finite,” she said. “And this is great, to be honest. They’re beginning to view focus and calm as resources worth protecting.”
This shift in priorities appears visible in practice, too, Dr. Nearney adds. A growing number of younger adults are beginning to use mental health devices to manage stress before it escalates into burnout. One of such tools are brain stimulation headsets that are gaining popularity.
“While it’s important to choose the right method that works for you, at-home solutions where you target the brain regions responsible for stress and anxiety are becoming more popular with increasing clinical research to support that,” Dr. Nearney said. “People who incorporate this into their routines often report an improvement in their wellbeing within a matter of weeks, so this may be a suitable practice for some to implement ahead of the predictable “holiday stressor” season.”
Clinical research shows that brain stimulation therapy can improve emotional regulation, mood, sleep, and focus. It can also ease anxiety: based on over 18,800 samples of real-world data, 66% of people using a Flow brain stimulation device reported improvement after three weeks of regular use.
“The answer to cognitive burnout this holiday season is not avoiding decisions, but practicing self-care,” concludes Dr. Nearney. “And this can manifest in different forms, be it meditation, physical activity, “batch” decision-making ahead of hitting the online deals, pacing your shopping to include breaks, taking screen breaks or considering incorporating brain stimulation into your routine.”
About Flow Neuroscience
Flow Neuroscience is a healthcare company that focuses on tDCS therapies and devices. In 2016, it was co-founded in Sweden by Daniel Mansson, a clinical psychologist, and Erik Rehn, an engineer. Erin Lee joined as CEO in 2022, having previously worked at Google, Uber and Babylon, and the company is now based in the UK. Flow is the only at-home medical tDCS device with clinically proven effectiveness in treating depression. It is not only used by the National Health Service (NHS), but also available and has passed regulations in Europe, Norway, Switzerland, and Hong Kong.
Mindful Care same-day mental health access across New York City saves lives
New York, NY — Mindful Care, a pioneering mental health provider offering same-day and next-day psychiatric and therapy services, continues to make high-quality, affordable mental health care easily accessible throughout New York City. With conveniently located clinics across Manhattan and Long Island — and the ability to connect virtually — Mindful Care provides flexible care options for New Yorkers seeking immediate support.
Accessible Care Across the Five Boroughs
Mindful Care serves patients across the New York area with in-person clinics located at:
Midtown Manhattan: 25 W. 45th Street, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10036
Midtown East: 71 Vanderbilt Avenue, Suite 329, New York, NY 10017
West Hempstead (Long Island): 595 Hempstead Turnpike, Suite 200, West Hempstead, NY 11552
Each location offers psychiatric evaluations, medication management, and therapy sessions, including Mindful Care’s signature MicroTherapy™ — short, 20-minute sessions designed to fit into modern, busy lifestyles. Patients can also access the same high-quality services virtually through secure telehealth visits, creating continuity between in-person and online care.
A Mission Rooted in Preventing Delayed Care
The story that inspired Mindful Care’s creation is one that still drives the organization’s mission today.
“I’ll actually share a story that begins as a tragedy, because it demonstrates why Mindful Care exists today and how our model is designed to create a better outcome,” said Dr. Tamir Aldad, founder and CEO of Mindful Care.
“When I was in training, I met a young woman named Lauren. She had just come home from college to find her mother locked in the bathroom, dead from an overdose and her baby sister barely responsive. Her sister was rushed to the pediatric ICU, her mother was pronounced dead on arrival, and Lauren herself came to psychiatry.
Despite her obvious trauma, she didn’t meet the criteria for an inpatient admission. Because of the way the system works, we couldn’t start her on medication in the ER. We discharged her with an appointment several weeks out, telling her to come back if things got worse. Two days later, we got the devastating call that Lauren had died by a drug overdose.
That case has stayed with me ever since. And it’s why I built Mindful Care. In our model, Lauren wouldn’t have been turned away or told to wait weeks. She could have walked into one of our urgent-care clinics the same day, received an evaluation, started treatment immediately, and been connected to ongoing support. Mindful Care now exists to ensure no one in her position falls through the cracks again. We’ve had countless patients since then walk in at their breaking point, get same-day care, and stabilize—lives that otherwise could have been lost but were instead saved by this new approach.”
Mindful Care Nationwide
In addition to serving New York, Mindful Care operates clinics in Florida, Connecticut, and New Jersey. Coming soon to Michigan and Illinois.
About Mindful Care
Founded in 2018, Mindful Care is the first national outpatient mental health company to offer same-day and next-day psychiatric and therapeutic care — both virtually and in person. By combining the accessibility of urgent care with the depth of ongoing mental health treatment, Mindful Care is changing how and when people can get the help they deserve.
Dr. Tamir Aldad is a board-certified psychiatrist and addiction medicine specialist recognized for his leadership in transforming access to mental health and substance use treatment. As the Founder and CEO of Mindful Care, Dr. Aldad pioneered the nation’s first same-day mental health and addiction treatment urgent care model, expanding access to care across multiple states. Under his leadership, Mindful Care has grown into a multi-state network, serving thousands of patients with integrated psychiatric, addiction, and therapy services.
GLP-1 evidence signals shift in future dialysis care in US, says GlobalData
Emerging evidence that GLP-1 therapies can slow chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression is reshaping expectations for renal care demand in the US. As semaglutide demonstrates measurable reductions in kidney decline, cardiovascular events, and mortality, clinicians and device manufacturers face a pivotal inflection point, balancing delayed disease progression with the likelihood of more patients ultimately surviving long enough to require dialysis and transplant support, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
Reportedly, around 14% of US adults had CKD between 2017 and 2020, and more than 815,000 people are living with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Comorbidity is common, in 2022, 59% of ESRD patients had diabetes, 25% had heart failure, and 20% had other cardiac disease.
Selena Yu, Senior Medical Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “GLP-1s, like Ozempic (semaglutide) used for diabetes remission could ultimately reduce new CKD cases, but uncertain long-term population effects and access limitations (e.g., payer coverage) mean both clinicians and medical device companies must plan for mixed scenarios in service demand and patient access.”
A 2024 clinical trial, “A Research Study to See How Semaglutide Works Compared to Placebo in People With Type 2 Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease,” found that the decline in kidney function was slower in the semaglutide group compared to the placebo group, and patients on semaglutide risk of major cardiovascular evens was 18% lower and risk of death caused by them was 20% lower.
In turn, the FDA approved Ozempic for use in reducing the risk of kidney failure and disease progression, and heart problems associated with diabetes patients with CKD in January 2025. And the European Medicines agency also added use case of reduction for events related to kidney disease to the label of Ozempic. Although, Ozempic is not curative, it can slow the progression to ESRD, decrease major cardiovascular events and deaths associated with them, thus improving the patient’s journey.
Yu adds: “One thing to note is more patients with CKD are surviving to stage 5 or ESRD. This is because Ozempic will not cure CKD, it functionally works as slowing down the disease progression but eventually patients will develop ESRD as kidney function declines. Therefore, more patients will need transplants and dialysis since they are surviving longer in earlier stages of CKD to reach ESRD. Thus, there may be a rise in the medical devices from HLA testing for organ matching to dialyzers and dialysis machines for dialysis care.
“On the other hand, because type 2 diabetes is a leading cause of CKD, broader use of GLP-1 agonists before kidney impairment begins could potentially reduce future ESRD prevalence. With one in three adults with diabetes developing CKD, achieving diabetes remission through agents like semaglutide may prevent a significant share of these patients from progressing to kidney disease at all.”
Currently, it is difficult to predict the market dynamics for dialysis care in the US with Ozempic’s clinical applications still being tested in clinical trials. Moreover, with budget cuts to public services like Medicare and Medicaid, patients with CKD who would benefit from treatment with GLP-1 agonists may have limited access to care.
Yu concludes: “Semaglutide has been shown to slow CKD progression, reduce major cardiovascular events, and lower cardiovascular mortality in people with type 2 diabetes and CKD, prompting regulatory label expansions for kidney- and heart-protection. Because semaglutide delays but does not cure kidney disease, clinicians should anticipate patients living longer with earlier-stage CKD yet still progressing to ESRD which requires proactive care coordination, earlier transplant and dialysis planning, and aggressive management of comorbidities. On the other hand, industry may see increased demand for dialysis equipment and transplant-related services.”
Quotes provided by Selena Yu, Senior Medical Analyst at GlobalData
This press release was written using data and information sourced from proprietary databases, primary and secondary research, and in-house analysis conducted by GlobalData’s team of industry experts
About GlobalData
4,000 of the world’s largest companies, including over 70% of FTSE 100 and 60% of Fortune 100 companies, make more timely and better business decisions thanks to GlobalData’s unique data, expert analysis and innovative solutions, all in one platform. GlobalData’s mission is to help our clients decode the future to be more successful and innovative across a range of industries, including the healthcare, consumer, retail, financial, technology and professional services sectors.
ACA premiums to rise 30 percent:Health Care Sharing Ministries offer a lifeline amid soaring costs
As inflation, record insurance rate hikes squeeze families, the Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries says faith-based sharing offers affordable, values-driven care
WASHINGTON — As Americans brace for a 30 percent surge in Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance premiums next year — the steepest annual increase in recent memory — Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries (Alliance) leaders say the news underscores the growing need for faith-based alternatives that help families stay healthy, solvent, and free from bureaucracy.
Recent reporting from KFF Health News, The Washington Post, and Insurance Business Magazine confirms that roughly 17 million Americans who buy coverage on Healthcare.gov will see premium hikes averaging 30 percent beginning in 2026. Analysts warn that without continued pandemic-era subsidies, many households could see their premiums double or even triple.
“The Alliance has long advocated for negotiating better prices and having more transparency in health costs of all kinds, from drug prices to medical treatments to hospital stays,” said Katy Talento, executive director of the Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries. “Non-insurance options such as Health Care Sharing Ministries may be one of the only ways to buck the trend of skyrocketing costs of health care.
“Leveraging the power of the cash-pay economy, as well as the community connections and mutual accountability to live in a healthy way, is not only good stewardship, but also consistent with Christian beliefs.”
The dramatic premium increase arrives amid lingering inflation and partisan gridlock over how to contain health care costs. Congress remains divided: Democrats push to extend COVID-era expanded ACA subsidies, while Republicans argue such subsidies were always meant to be temporary. Meanwhile, middle-income Americans — too prosperous to qualify for expanded assistance but unable to absorb the rate hikes — face excruciating financial choices.
“Families are caught in a perfect storm of inflation, medical debt, and shrinking options,” said Talento. “Health Care Sharing Ministries demonstrate that a community of believers can stand together, care for one another and avoid being trapped in a costly and impersonal system.”
Members of Health Care Sharing Ministries— nonprofit, faith-based communities that share one another’s medical needs — have existed for decades, long before the ACA, and say their approach provides both spiritual and financial relief. Participants contribute monthly “shares” to assist others’ eligible medical expenses and, in turn, have their own needs supported when they arise.
According to the Alliance, members enjoy advantages such as:
Community support and accountability that encourages healthy living consistent with faith principles
Transparency in pricing, as members or their ministries often negotiate directly with providers
Lower monthly costs compared to insurance carriers’ premiums
“When the federal government or insurance carriers announce yet another double-digit rate increase, Americans need to know that a faithful, ethical alternative exists,” said Talento. “Health Care Sharing Ministries are not insurance, but they represent a return to stewardship, generosity and wise financial management in health care.”
The latest ACA premium spike continues a decade-long trend of rising costs that have far outpaced wage growth. These premium increases are just creating an opportunity for more Americans to discover what hundreds of thousands of other people have already discovered, which is the non-insurance option, Health Care Sharing Ministries. The Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries reports a steady uptick in Americans exploring health care sharing options, particularly among Christian families and self-employed individuals who value autonomy and transparency.
“As prices rise, more Americans are turning toward health care models that reflect their values and give them control,” said Talento. “This is not just a financial decision — it’s a moral and spiritual one, rooted in how we care for one another as believers.”
Talento added that while insurance carriers grapple with inflation, regulatory complexity and profit pressures, Health Care Sharing Ministries rely on a simpler model of mutual aid: Members directly share funds for eligible medical bills, guided by their commitment to Christian compassion.
“The system is broken when premiums rise faster than paychecks and when government policy punishes personal responsibility,” said Talento. “Lawmakers should focus on empowering Americans with real choices — including Health Care Sharing Ministries — that reward stewardship and transparency rather than propping up a failing status quo.”
Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries is a 501(c)(6) trade organization representing the common interests of Health Care Sharing Ministries, which facilitate the sharing of health care needs — financial, emotional and spiritual — by individuals and families. The Alliance engages with federal and state regulators, members of the media, and the Christian community to provide accurate and timely information on health care sharing.
To learn more about the Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries, visit www.ahcsm.org or follow the ministry on Facebook or X.
‘Fine’ Is the New Fake: Life Coach Darla Nelson on Why Emotional Honesty Is the Key to Connection and Peace
TURLOCK, Calif., Nov. 17, 2025 — “Fine” may be the most common and most dishonest word in the English language, and it’s silently keeping people isolated from one another, explains Christian Life Coach Darla Nelson. She believes the antidote to that isolation begins with vulnerability.
‘Fine’ keeps people at arm’s length; honesty invites connection,” Nelson said. “Vulnerability is where true healing begins, and that’s when peace starts to take root.”
That message is at the heart of Nelson’s new book, I’m Fine. Really?: Moving From Stress and Anxiety to Peace and Calm. Her book invites readers to drop the mask, embrace grace and rediscover the peace that comes from being real — with themselves, with others and with God.
Her book walks readers through simple, life-giving shifts to help them:
● Understand what’s really behind those feelings of stress
● Release emotional weight that’s been holding them back
● Build healthier thoughts, habits and relationships
● Embrace peace, even amid life’s chaos
“The book is filled with honest, relatable stories — my own and those of people I’ve coached — that show life isn’t always neat and tidy,” Nelson said. “I don’t pretend to have it all figured out. I’m just an ordinary woman who’s learned (and is still learning) to trust God more deeply, let go of stress and build healthier habits one step at a time.”
And that’s what makes Nelson’s narrative so refreshing: She doesn’t speak from a place of perfection. She shares the trenches of real life with readers in a way that is candid and heartfelt. I'm Fine. Really? is an honest, faith-filled guide that can help readers let go of stress and live with more clarity, connectedness and purpose.
“Ultimately, my prayer is that readers feel seen, understood and inspired to let go of the pressure to be ‘fine’ and start creating a life that’s truly fulfilling — spiritually, emotionally and physically,” Nelson added.
I’m Fine. Really?: Moving from Stress and Anxiety to Peace and Calm
Darla Nelson is a Christian Life and Health Coach, author and speaker who specializes in helping women (and a few wise men!) move from stress and anxiety to peace and purpose. With over a decade of coaching experience and certifications in life and health coaching and NLP, she equips her clients with practical tools and faith-based strategies to navigate life with greater calm and clarity.
She has been married to her husband for 38 years, and together they have built a life filled with love, faith and family that includes three married children and five grandchildren.
‘Fine’ Is the New Fake: Life Coach Darla Nelson on Why Emotional Honesty Is the Key to Connection and Peace
TURLOCK, Calif., Nov. 12, 2025 — “Fine” may be the most common and most dishonest word in the English language, and it’s silently keeping people isolated from one another, explains Christian Life Coach Darla Nelson. She believes the antidote to that isolation begins with vulnerability.
‘Fine’ keeps people at arm’s length; honesty invites connection,” Nelson said. “Vulnerability is where true healing begins, and that’s when peace starts to take root.”
That message is at the heart of Nelson’s new book, I’m Fine. Really?: Moving From Stress and Anxiety to Peace and Calm. Her book invites readers to drop the mask, embrace grace and rediscover the peace that comes from being real — with themselves, with others and with God.
Her book walks readers through simple, life-giving shifts to help them:
● Understand what’s really behind those feelings of stress
● Release emotional weight that’s been holding them back
● Build healthier thoughts, habits and relationships
● Embrace peace, even amid life’s chaos
“The book is filled with honest, relatable stories — my own and those of people I’ve coached — that show life isn’t always neat and tidy,” Nelson said. “I don’t pretend to have it all figured out. I’m just an ordinary woman who’s learned (and is still learning) to trust God more deeply, let go of stress and build healthier habits one step at a time.”
And that’s what makes Nelson’s narrative so refreshing: She doesn’t speak from a place of perfection. She shares the trenches of real life with readers in a way that is candid and heartfelt. I'm Fine. Really? is an honest, faith-filled guide that can help readers let go of stress and live with more clarity, connectedness and purpose.
“Ultimately, my prayer is that readers feel seen, understood and inspired to let go of the pressure to be ‘fine’ and start creating a life that’s truly fulfilling — spiritually, emotionally and physically,” Nelson added.
I’m Fine. Really?: Moving from Stress and Anxiety to Peace and Calm
Darla Nelson is a Christian Life and Health Coach, author and speaker who specializes in helping women (and a few wise men!) move from stress and anxiety to peace and purpose. With over a decade of coaching experience and certifications in life and health coaching and NLP, she equips her clients with practical tools and faith-based strategies to navigate life with greater calm and clarity.
She has been married to her husband for 38 years, and together they have built a life filled with love, faith and family that includes three married children and five grandchildren.
