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If you’ve been looking into a health share because you want a more affordable alternative to traditional health insurance, I get it.
For a lot of people, the monthly cost of health insurance has gotten out of control. And when you’re self-employed or paying 100% of it yourself, it can feel like you’re making a second mortgage payment every month — for something you barely even want to use.
Health shares can be an amazing option for the right person.
But I need to say something clearly, because it’s one of the most important parts of making a smart decision:
Health shares are not one-size-fits-all.
And I’ll prove it with a real story.
There was a time someone reached out to me, excited about joining a health share… and I told them not to do it.
Not because health shares are bad.
Not because I was trying to talk them out of saving money.
But because I knew – based on what they shared – it wouldn’t work the way they hoped it would.
Let’s talk about why.
Why People Get Interested in Health Shares in the First Place
Most people don’t start researching health shares because they’re bored.
They start because the cost of health insurance is painful.
And usually, the first thing they notice about a health share is the monthly amount.
It feels like relief.
But saving money is only one piece of the puzzle.
The bigger question is:
Will a health share actually be a good fit for your healthcare needs?
Because if you join expecting it to function like traditional insurance — especially with ongoing conditions — that’s where people get frustrated.
The Moment I Knew a Health Share Wasn’t a Good Fit
This conversation happened over text messages.
The person reaching out was hopeful. They had heard about health shares and wanted to know if it could work for their situation.
As I was explaining the basics, I brought up one of the biggest “make or break” topics:
Pre-existing conditions.
The second I mentioned that, they asked a very common question:
“Okay… what if someone already has ongoing health issues?”
And as they shared more, it became clear this wasn’t a simple situation.
There were ongoing medical needs. Regular appointments. And expensive prescriptions that were needed consistently.
Then came the question that sounds simple, but is actually the whole deal:
“Would a health share help with any of this?”
And that’s when I said it:
I don’t think a health share is the right fit for this situation.
How Health Shares Typically Handle Pre-Existing Conditions
Here’s the part most people don’t realize until they’re already deep into research:
Health shares generally treat anything that’s already going on before you join as pre-existing.
And that matters because health shares are usually not designed to jump in immediately and share in ongoing, chronic expenses the way traditional insurance is.
While every health share has its own membership guidelines, here are the general patterns you’ll see across many programs:
- During the first year, medical expenses related to pre-existing conditions are typically not shareable.
- After the first year, there are often limits on how much can be shared for pre-existing conditions.
- And another big one: health shares are typically not designed for ongoing prescriptions that you’ll be taking long-term.
So if someone has expensive prescriptions month after month as part of ongoing care, a health share often isn’t going to work the way they’re hoping.
A Quick Clarification (Because This Confuses People)
People sometimes hear “pre-existing” and think it means:
“So if I join a health share and something big happens later, they won’t help.”
That’s not what I’m saying.
There’s a difference between:
- A condition that already exists before membership
- A new medical event that happens after you join
If something major happens after you join — a diagnosis, an injury, a new illness — that’s not pre-existing.
This blog post is specifically about ongoing medical needs that already existed before membership, and someone hoping the health share would handle those costs.
That’s the mismatch.
Can Someone Have a Pre-Existing Condition and Still Join?
Sometimes… yes.
Here’s a simple example:
If someone has something ongoing, but their monthly costs are small and manageable, they might choose to handle those costs themselves and use the health share for unexpected medical events that are unrelated.
But the situation I’m talking about here wasn’t “small and manageable.”
It was ongoing care, ongoing costs, and expensive prescriptions.
And that’s why I told them not to join.
What I Suggested Instead
In that moment, I didn’t try to push another alternative.
I got practical.
I told them: Look at Marketplace options.
Because when someone needs consistent care, specialists, and expensive prescriptions, they usually need something that’s designed for ongoing care.
And I’d rather someone pay more and have a plan that fits — than pay less and end up stuck with something that doesn’t.
The Real Point of This Story
I’m not here to convince everyone to join a health share.
I genuinely love health shares and think they’re one of the best options out there for the right person.
But the right person is usually someone who:
- wants a lower monthly cost
- wants more freedom in choosing providers
- and doesn’t have a bunch of expensive ongoing medical needs already in motion
Some people truly are better off with traditional health insurance.
And that is completely okay.
The goal isn’t to “pick a side.”
The goal is to pick what fits your real life.
Want the Full Breakdown on Pre-Existing Conditions?
I wrote a detailed post that explains how pre-existing conditions typically work with health shares, what to watch for, and why this matters before you join.
Health shares are not insurance and do not offer insurance coverage. Membership in a health share does not guarantee the payment or reimbursement of medical expenses. Each organization operates under its own membership guidelines, which determine what expenses may be eligible for sharing. This publication is for informational purposes only and is not provided by an insurance company. For state-specific notices and full program details, please visit the respective health share’s official website.
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