Are you new to the idea of health sharing? If so, you probably have some questions about how they work, their potential benefits, and their costs. All this is likely to find out if this healthcare model is going to work for your needs.
I get it. I have definitely been there. When I first looked at health shares, it was overwhelming. There was a lot of information to review, and it got confusing as I was trying to figure out what is and isn’t shareable with each health share plan.
This is why I created Health Share 101. To help simplify what health sharing is (and isn’t) and to help you find the right one for you and your family.
If my website can give you more confidence in your decision about health share plans, I have achieved my goal.
As for this guide, it will help you get started and learn the basics of health sharing, as well as answer some key health share-related questions.
Key Highlights
- Health shares are non-profit organizations where the medical costs of their members are shared within a community.
- Most health share plans are faith-based, with strict membership requirements and guidelines and few non-religious options.
- Although similar, health shares and health insurance are two different things, with key differences including the fee structure, regulatory oversight, and coverage guarantees.
- Key benefits of health share plans over traditional insurance policies include lower costs and fewer network restrictions.
What Is a Health Share?
A health share is a non-profit organization where healthcare costs are shared among members who usually have common beliefs and faith. Health shares have been around for over 40 years and have been shown to be an effective alternative to traditional health insurance.
Ultimately, health share members have the common goal of sharing in one another’s medical expenses. A health share ministry just provides an organized way of making this happen.
How Does a Health Share Work?
By enrolling in a health share plan, you become a member of a specific health sharing community. As a member, you pay or contribute a set amount of money each month to the community.
When an eligible medical need arises, the member submits a “need” to the health sharing community, such as a hefty medical bill. These costs are then shared across members.
However, before the health share pays or “shares” in any medical bills, the member must pay their member responsibility amount. This payment is called differently depending on the health share plan, but it works similarly to a standard health insurance deductible. Only when the member pays their responsibility amount can a health share pay or share in an underlined eligible medical expense.
How Are Health Share Plans Different from Health Insurance?
First, it’s important to remember that a health share plan is not health insurance.
Here’s a table outlining the main differences between health share plans and health insurance:
| Feature | Health Share Plans | Health Insurance |
| Nature of a Plan | Cooperative arrangements among members to share healthcare costs; typically faith-based. | Legally binding contracts with an insurance company to cover healthcare expenses. |
| Regulatory Oversight | Not regulated by state insurance departments. | Strictly regulated by federal and state laws. |
| Coverage Guarantees | Coverage isn’t guaranteed; sharing costs are subject to collective resources and guidelines. | Coverage is guaranteed under the terms of a policy, including essential health benefits under the ACA (Affordable Care Act). |
| Premiums/Cost Sharing | Members contribute a monthly amount, which is usually lower than insurance premiums. | Includes premiums, deductibles, copays, and out-of-pocket maximums. |
| Healthcare Network | Some plans have more limited networks, while others allow members to pick a provider. | Typically have established networks of providers. |
| Application Restrictions | Most health share plans are faith-based, with strict requirements for membership and restrictions on shared expenses. | Insurance policies aren’t based on ethical or religious beliefs, with standardized benefits regulated by law. |
| Best For | Suitable for individuals with religious and ethical beliefs, those in good health, or people seeking a more community-oriented approach with lower fees. | Suitable for a wide range of individuals, especially those who want guaranteed coverage and have pre-existing conditions or want comprehensive benefits. |
I cover this in more detail in a comprehensive guide to the differences between health share plans and health insurance, so be sure to check it out if you’d like to learn more about how health shares differ from traditional insurance policies.
Is a “Health Share” and a “Healthcare Sharing Ministry” the Same Thing?
There seems to be a million different names for health share organizations. It’s something I found pretty confusing when I was first introduced to the concept of health sharing, but the truth is that they all pretty much mean the same thing.
Whether you call it a health share, healthcare sharing, healthcare sharing ministry, HealthShare ministry, or medical cost sharing company, they all refer to a non-profit organization of like-minded individuals that agree to share in one another’s medical burdens.
I also keep seeing people asking about “Christian Health Insurance.” They also mean health share plans, even though they aren’t health insurance.
One key difference is that some health share providers are “ministries,” meaning they have religious requirements in order to join. The faith-based health share ministries also often have religious restrictions on sharing expenses, such as not sharing in maternity costs for an unwed mother.
Now, while most health share providers are faith-based (primarily Christian), there are two health share organizations, Sedera and Zion HealthShare, that have no religious affiliations or requirements to join them. Both of these non-religious health share plans welcome people of all faiths and have chosen to create a community of members who all agree to be proactive about their health.
Is Joining a Health Share Right for Me?
Although health share plans provide numerous advantages (which I’ll discuss in a minute), they aren’t suitable for everyone. To decide whether joining a health sharing community is a good fit, consider the following factors:
- How often do you go to a Doctor’s office?
Each health share plan has something similar to a deductible that members will need to pay before the health share will “share” in any medical expenses. This means that any doctor’s appointment that costs less than your Member Responsibility Amount will be your responsibility. On the other hand, some health share plans do share in some preventative care like annual wellness visits. - Do you have any pre-existing conditions?
Most health shares have a waiting period (meaning you need to be a member for a year or longer) before a medical need for a pre-existing condition is considered “shareable” with the community. If you have a pre-existing condition that is chronic and costs a lot more than what you are able or willing to pay, you may be better off staying with health insurance. Check to see if a health share plan has waiting periods, phased-in sharing, or exceptions for certain conditions. - Are you a religious person?
Most health shares are faith-based and require members to live according to certain religious or biblical beliefs and will determine whether a medical need is eligible for sharing based on that. For example, if you are not married but become pregnant, a faith-based health share might not share in any maternity bills as such expenses aren’t eligible for sharing if you’re unwed. For some, this is a selling point to join a particular health share. For others, there are non-religious health shares that do not have faith-based requirements, such as already mentioned Zion or Sedera. - Are you ACA-compliant?
While most Americans can join a health share without any worries about being ACA Compliant, there are a few states that have individual state mandates: California, the District of Columbia, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Vermont. If you live in one of the states mentioned, you will need to meet the minimal health insurance requirement. If you live in one of these states, you can simply purchase a policy that meets these requirements and then join a health share. When preventative care is needed, it will be covered through your policy. When a larger unexpected medical need arises, it will be shared with the health share community.
What Are the Benefits of Joining a Health Share?
Health share plans offer their members a wide range of advantages. The key benefits include:
- Lower Costs. This is the number one reason why most people choose to join a health share over health insurance. Such plans give members more freedom and control over how much they want to contribute, with monthly contributions being typically lower than those of standard insurance.
- Supporting Community. Health sharing communities connect people with similar beliefs and lifestyle choices, providing individuals with a chance to become a part of a supportive community that fits their faith.
- Less or no Network Restrictions. Although it depends on a plan, health share members enjoy more freedom to choose which doctors or healthcare providers they want to see. For preventative services, most health shares seem to have a network that they work with.
- Nationwide or Worldwide Sharing. Health shares usually have sharing available to people all throughout the United States and even abroad, making them a great option for those who love to travel.
Is Joining a Health Share right for me?
While every HealthShare is going to be different, here are some things to consider before joining a Health Share.
- How often you go to a Doctor’s office – Each Health Share has something similar to a deductible that members will need to pay before the Health Share will “share” in any medical expenses. So any Doctor visits that costs less than your Member Responsibility Amount is the member’s responsibility. Keep in mind that some Health Shares will “share” in some preventative care like annual wellness visits.
- If you have pre-existing conditions – Most Health Shares have a waiting period (meaning you need to be a member for a year or longer) before a medical need for a pre-existing condition is considered “shareable” with the community. If you have a pre-existing condition that is chronic and costs a lot more than what you are able or willing to pay, you may be better off staying with Health Insurance. Check to see if a Health Share has waiting periods, phased-in sharing, or exceptions for certain conditions.
- Religious affiliation requirements – Most Health Shares are faith-based and require members to live according to certain religious or biblical beliefs. Not living by those standards set by the Health Share will determine whether a medical need is eligible for sharing with the community. For example, if you are not married but you or your partner become pregnant, a faith-based Health Share will not share in any maternity bills since it’s not eligible for sharing with unwed parents (It is something members agree to before they join). For some, this is a selling point to join that particular Health Share, for others, there are non-religious Health Shares that do not have faith-based requirements.
- Affordable Care Act (ACA) Compliance – While most Americans can join a Health Share without any worries of being ACA Compliant, there are a few states that have individual state mandates: California, District of Columbia, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Vermont. If you live in one of the states mentioned, you will still need to meet the minimal Health Insurance requirement. For those living in a state or district that has a state mandate, you can simply purchase that meets the minimal Health Insurance requirement and you can still join a Health Share. When preventative care is needed, it would be covered through your Health Insurance. When a larger unexpected medical need arises, it would be shared with the HealthShare community.
What Are the Benefits of Joining a Health Share?
Health share plans offer their members a wide range of advantages. The key benefits include:
- Lower Costs. This is the number one reason why most people choose to join a health share over health insurance. Such plans give members more freedom and control over how much they want to contribute, with monthly contributions being typically lower than those of standard insurance.
- Supporting Community. Health sharing communities connect people with similar beliefs and lifestyle choices, providing individuals with a chance to become a part of a supportive community that fits their faith.
- Less or no Network Restrictions. Although it depends on a plan, health share members enjoy more freedom to choose which doctors or healthcare providers they want to see. For preventative services, most health shares seem to have a network that they work with.
- Nationwide or Worldwide Sharing. Health shares usually have sharing available to people all throughout the United States and even abroad, making them a great option for those who love to travel.
What Is the Best Health Share Plan?
If you’ve decided that a health share would be a good fit for you and your family, you then need to find the right health sharing community to join. The good news is that you have multiple choices. However, not all Health Shares are created equal.
I’ve done countless hours of research, including reading through the fine print of the many health share plans, member guidelines, and health share reviews.
Based on my research, I was able to pinpoint the most popular health share organizations:
- Altrua HealthShare
- Christian Care Ministry (Medi-Share)
- Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM)
- Liberty HealthShare
- Samaritan Ministries
- Solidarity HealthShare
- Zion HealthShare
Feel free to check out my article on the Best Health Share Plans, where I have narrowed the list down to the top three health sharing options based on cost, value, and overall experience.
However, if you want my honest answer on what is the best health share plan, my recommendation would be Zion HealthShare. They offer the best benefits at excellent value, providing a holistic approach to health sharing.
Furthermore, as a non-religious health share provider, they accept people of all faiths and have less strict guidelines and membership requirements than other popular options. You can read my full Zion HealthShare review here. And if you decide to enrol for their plan, you can quickly get a free quote to decide which of their plans best suits your needs.
Wrapping Up
Overall, health sharing can be an excellent alternative to traditional health insurance. These plans come with lower costs and offer more flexibility, providing members with a chance to share their medical costs within a caring community.
On the other hand, health sharing doesn’t guarantee that all expenses will be shared or covered. Such plans also have strict membership requirements and guidelines imposed by the faith and beliefs of their members.
In other words, while I really recommend enrolling in a health share (as I did myself), I also understand that these plans aren’t for everyone. My advice would be to consider your medical needs and the other factors I mentioned above.
Once you have your answers, it will become much easier to decide whether to join a health share community, either as an alternative or supplement to your current health insurance plan.
And if you have more health sharing-related questions, feel free to explore Health Share 101, where you’ll find more guides and health share reviews. You can also follow me on social media for any industry news and updates.
