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Health Share Plans are primarily focused on people who are proactive about living a healthy lifestyle. It’s one of the reasons why Health Share plans are less expensive than Health Insurance – not everyone can join them.
However, there are a lot of people who smoke who still try to live a heathy lifestyle, whether they are trying to quit smoking or not.
Health Share organizations are saving people money on their healthcare costs each year, and some health share plans will even let you join if you vape, smoke or chew tobacco.
What is Health Sharing?
Health Sharing is when a group of people come together and agree to share in each other’s medical expenses. Usually the large and unexpected medical bills (and members pay most small medical bills on their own).
Here’s how it works: Health Share members contribute money each month and the Health Share provides an organized way of sharing in those expenses with the Health Share community.
Of course, every Health Share will have their own method of sharing in those medical expenses, but I personally like Zion Health because they take care of everything on their end (I don’t need to send money to other members – I don’t need more things to do in my day!), which is also probably why they are one of the fastest with paying medical bills for their members. But I digress….
If you are new to Health Sharing, you can start here.
Are Health Share Plans Available for People who Smoke?
People who smoke (including vape) or use any tobacco products can still join a Health Share plan, but they are limited on which Health Share organizations that they can join. For Health Share plans that allow tobacco users to join, there is an additional monthly fee and some limitations on sharing related to tobacco use.
Best Health Share Plans for Tobacco Users
The two Health Share organizations that allow tobacco users to join are also the only two secular, or non-religious health share plans available. This means that anyone can join them, whether you are religious or not. You just need to agree to their member guidelines, which includes being proactive about a healthy lifestyle.
Living a healthy lifestyle does not prevent tobacco users from joining.
So if you currently use tobacco products (including vape) or have used tobacco within the last 12 months, these are the two best health share plans for you to choose.
Zion HealthShare
According to the Zion HealthShare member guidelines, a household member who has used any tobacco product one or more times a month within the past year is considered a tobacco user. Tobacco products include, but are not limited to, cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, snuff, vape products, and pipe tobacco. Smoked cannabis products are considered tobacco for the purposes of the tobacco surcharge.
Please note the failure to report a Tobacco/Vape User to Zion HealthShare may result in termination of membership.
Additional Monthly Contribution if you Smoke
Households with one or more tobacco users are required to contribute a higher monthly contribution to maintain membership, which is an additional $50 per month.
Limitations on Sharing for People who Smoke
Medical cost sharing for the medical need requests of tobacco users 50 years of age and older is limited to $50,000 for each of the following four disease categories:
• Stroke
• Cancer
• Heart conditions
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Learn more about Zion HealthShare.
Sedera
According to the Sedera member guidelines, a household member who has used any tobacco product (including vape users) within the past year is considered a tobacco users (the only exception is for the occasional celebratory cigar or pipe, which is acceptable).
Please note the failure to report a Tobacco/Vape User to Sedera may result in termination of membership.
Additional Monthly Contribution if you Smoke
Households with one or more Tobacco/Vape Users are required to share a higher monthly contribution amount, which is an additional $75.00 per month.
Limitations on Sharing for People who Smoke
Medical cost sharing for the medical need requests of tobacco users 50 years of age and older is limited to $25,000 for each of the following conditions:
- Cancer
- Respiratory disease
- Vascular disease including coronary disease and stroke
- Oral and Esophageal disease
- Gastric and Duodenal Ulcers
Requirements to Prove Cessation of Tobacco
What if you quit smoking or using tobacco products after you have joined Sedera? To prove Cessation of Tobacco, a Member will be required to show Cessation of Tobacco for a 12-month period. To do this, a Member is required to submit three (3) negative cotinine tests: 1) the first negative cotinine test date trigger the start of the 12-month period; 2) the second negative cotinine test can be submitted any time during the next 10 months; and 3) the third negative cotinine test must occur during the month preceding the 12 month anniversary of the first test. A member will also be required to submit an affidavit or acknowledgement stating the last date of tobacco use upon submitting their third negative cotinine test. Once the 12-months have passed and Sedera has received all required tests and affidavit/acknowledgement, the Member will no longer be subject to the Tobacco/Vape User fee or the limitations placed on the tobacco/vape related illnesses, which will take effect at the start of the next billing cycle.
If a Member becomes a Tobacco/Vape User during the aforementioned 12-month period, the 12- month period will restart upon submittal of a negative cotinine test. Note: Nicotine usage will make these test positive, so all nicotine supplements need to be stopped as well.
Requirements to Prove Cessation of Vaping/Non-nicotine:
To prove that a Member has stopped vaping any non-nicotine product, the Member will need to submit an affidavit or acknowledgement indicating that their last vape of non-nicotine product was at least 3 months prior to the date of submission. Provided that the Member is not a tobacco user, the Member will no longer be subject to the Tobacco/Vape User fee or the limitations placed on the tobacco/vape related illnesses, which will take effect at the start of the next billing cycle.
Health Share Plans that do not Accept People who Smoke
If you use any tobacco products (including vape), you are not allowed to become a member of the following Health Share plans. Additionally, if you are a current member and you have a medical need related to tobacco use, they will not share in those medical needs and your membership will likely be terminated.
Altrua HealthShare
According to the Altrua HealthShare member guidelines, any medical needs that are caused by lifestyles, choices, or activities that conflict with the Statement of Standards are ineligible for sharing. Examples include: Illnesses arising from tobacco use or that are vaping related Drug screening and nicotine testing, in the event results come back positive.
If the need is related to tobacco, nicotine, or illicit drug use, Altrua HealthShare may require a drug screening or nicotine test be administered within 48 hours from the time you have been notified by Altrua HealthShare. You will be notified by a letter in the mail, a phone call, and an email that testing will be required and that the requested test results must be received by Altrua HealthShare within seven days. If you do not provide the results, or if the results are positive, your membership may be subject to termination. Please note that contributions paid prior to the date of termination are non-refundable, as your contributions are already submitted for member to-member sharing.
If you wish to reapply for membership, your new application may be considered on a case-by-case basis, although Altrua HealthShare has no obligation to reconsider your application. If your ineligible need resulted from or was related to tobacco, nicotine, or illicit drugs, you may reapply for membership after 12 months of abstinence.
Christian Care Ministry (Medi-Share)
According to the Medi-Share member guidelines, members who do not follow the Christian lifestyle will have their membership cancelled. Examples of behavior that can lead to non-sharing and/or cancellation of membership include, but are not limited to: the use of tobacco in any form, including the use of e-cigarettes, vaping, or nicotine replacement.
Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM)
According to the Christian Healthcare Ministries member guidelines, members must abstain from the following activity: use of any tobacco, nicotine, smoking device, or substitutionary smoking device (including but not limited to cigarettes, cigars, pipes, herbal cigarettes, e-cigarettes, vape pens, etc.); illegal use of drugs; Additionally, members must follow biblical principles with respect to the use of alcohol.
Liberty HealthShare
According to the Liberty HealthShare member guidelines, for health share members to qualify as a Sharing Member, an applicant must comply with any lifestyle requirements contained in their member guidelines and must submit a detailed account of their medical history. In general, a Christian lifestyle requirement includes, but is not limited to, the following: Refrain from tobacco use in any form (Including smokeless tobacco and vaping devices).
OneShare Health
According to the OneShare Health member guidelines, to be eligible for a health share membership, all applicants must attest that in the 12 months prior to
application: They have abstained from the use of illegal drugs or tobacco in any form, including the use of e-cigarettes or vaping.
Any illness, injury, or condition which is the result of substance abuse or any use of tobacco, e-cigarettes, or vaping, is not eligible for sharing.
If medical records show you have presented inaccurate data regarding age, tobacco use, or any medical condition, we reserve the right to terminate Membership.
OneShare Health Exceptions
The legal use of marijuana prescribed by or taken under the direction of a Physician, or an occasional celebratory cigar or pipe (for example, at the birth of a child), are allowed.
It’s also important to note that while you are not able to become or stay a OneShare Health member if you regularly use tobacco products, they have “Tobacco Cessation Counseling” and “Alcohol, Tobacco, and Drug Use Assessment” (for children) available for sharing.
Samaritan Ministries
According to the Samaritan Ministries member guidelines, the health share members agree to not abuse any legal or prescribed substance, abstain totally
from illegal drugs and recreational use of marijuana, and abstain from tobacco use.
Samaritain Ministries Exceptions
A rare celebratory cigar or pipe, e.g. when a baby is born, is allowed.
Share Healthcare
According to the Share Healthcare member handbook, members agree to exercise the virtue of temperance to avoid every kind of excess, including, but not limited to the abuse of food, tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, and medicine (over-the-counter or prescription drugs).
Solidarity HealthShare
According to the Solidarity HealthShare sharing guidelines, members must live a virtuous lifestyle and “avoid every kind of excess, including, but not limited to the abuse of food, tobacco, alcohol, and medicine (over-the-counter or prescription drugs).
United Refuah
According to the United Refuah sharing guidelines, they do no accept members who smoke or use any tobacco or tobacco-type products (i.e. vaping, e-cigs). If you have quit smoking for at least six months, and can complete a nicotine screening, you can apply for a membership with them.
Should you Join a Health Share Plan if you Smoke?
If you currently use tobacco products or vape, you have a few things to consider when it comes to joining a Health Share.
Additional Monthly Contribution Fee
If you are a Health Share member who uses any tobacco products or vapes, there will be an additional $50 or $75 monthly contribution fee.
Age
If you are 50 years or older and use tobacco products or vape, there are limitations on sharing that is available to you ($25,000 or $50,000 per need, depending on which health share you join). The limitations on sharing is for medical conditions that are most likely related to tobacco use or vaping.
If you use tobacco products or vape and you are 50 years or older, I would only consider joining a Health Share if you are in good health and actively refraining from any and all tobacco products, including vape (meaning you already quit, but you are still within your 12 month window to be cleared of tobacco or vape use).
Are you Willing to Quit Smoking Soon?
With the limitations on sharing for those who are 50 years old and over, the best thing you can do for yourself is to quit smoking. Once you have been tobacco-free for 12 months, you will have more sharing available to you in the event a medical need arises.
If you are under 50 years old and use tobacco products or vape, there are no limitations on sharing (until you turn 50 years old) and you do have that extra monthly cost that would go away once you have been tobacco-free for 12 months.
Which Health Share to Join if you Smoke?
If you are looking to join a Health Share plan, you have two choices: Sedera or Zion HealthShare.
So here’s a quick recap on what you’d get if you joined either health share as a person who uses tobacco products or vapes.
Sedera
Additional monthly contribution fee: $75/month
Sharing limitations: $25,000
Zion Health Share
Additional monthly contribution fee: $50/month
Sharing limitations: $50,000
Zion Health has a smaller monthly contribution fee plus they have a higher shareable amount for smoking-related illnesses. They seem to be the obvious choice if you are looking to join a Health Share plan if you currently use tobacco products, vape, or you are within the 12 month waiting period to no longer be considered a tobacco user.
You can also check out Sedera Reviews and Zion HealthShare reviews on this website.
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