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About Zion HealthShare
Zion HealthShare is a non-profit Health Share organization. They provided a simple and easy way for members to share in one another’s medical sharing requests. Zion HealthShare is mainly designed to help members with larger or unexpected medical bills.
Is Zion HealthShare the same as Health Insurance?
It’s important to know that Zion HealthShare is NOT Health Insurance. Zion HealthShare is a Health Share, or a Medical Cost Sharing Company, which is an alternative to Health Insurance. Zion HealthShare provides an organized way for members to share in one another’s medical bills.
How Does Zion HealthShare Work?
Members pay a monthly contribution amount. This money is set aside for eligible medical sharing requests for the Zion HealthShare community.
When an eligible sharing request arises, the member would first pay their Initial Unshareable Amount (IUA) directly to their provider. The Initial Unshareable Amount, or IUA, is the amount a member must pay before expenses related to a medical need become eligible for sharing with the Zion HealthShare community.
When you go to your doctor’s appointment, present yourself as a self-pay patient and request any available discounts. Also, request an itemized bill which you will submit to Zion HealthShare via the Member Portal.
How a Health Share is different from Health Insurance
Here are some of the ways a Health Share is different than Health Insurance:
- A Health Share is a nonprofit organization.
- A Health Share has open enrollment all year long.
- Health Shares are month-to-month and can be cancelled at any time.
- Health Share memberships are not required to share in Minimum Essential Coverage benefits, like Health Insurance plans. Depending on which state you live in, you may need to have MEC Insurance in addition to your Health Share membership.
- Health Share memberships are typically designed for larger unexpected medical expenses and is also a big reason why Health Share memberships are much more affordable.
- Health Share organizations decide what medical expenses are shared with the community, and how the medical bills are paid.
- Each Health Share chooses who can join their community, based on similar beliefs or ideologies.
- With a Health Share, there are usually restrictions or waiting periods for pre-membership conditions.
- Health Share memberships typically do not have network restrictions.
Benefits of Joining a Health Share
Save Money: One of the biggest benefits to joining a Health Share is the amount of money you save. in fact, most people save up to 30-60% on their healthcare costs when they join a Health Share.
No Network Restrictions: Another benefit of joining a Health Share that you typically do not have any network restrictions to worry about. You get to go to the right doctor or healthcare facility that works best for you.
No Contracts: You can join a Health Share year-round and can cancel at anytime.
Ideal Candidates for Joining a Health Share
A Health Share is perfect for those that meet the following criteria:
- Under 65 years old
- Lives a healthy lifestyle and generally a healthy person
- Believes in the concept of sharing in one another’s medical burdens
- Wants to save money on their healthcare costs
- Wants help available to them in case of larger unexpected medical bills
- Wants the flexibility to join or cancel at any time
- Wants to have the freedom to choose which medical professional they can see (without network restrictions)
Which Health Share Should I Join?
There are a lot of great options to choose from! You can read more about Zion HealthShare and you can find out which Health Share I think is the Best Health Share for Individuals and Families.
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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