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If you are looking for Unite Health Share Ministries (UHSM) reviews, you are in the right place.
In this post, I’ll go over what UHSM is, who qualifies to join, how it works, how much it costs, and some important limitations to understand before you decide.
About Unite Health Share Ministries (UHSM)
Unite Health Share Ministries (UHSM) is a nonprofit, faith-based health care sharing ministry. It is not health insurance.
Members share one another’s eligible medical bills. UHSM focuses on physical, mental, and spiritual wellness. They use Christian beliefs as the foundation for their community.
Is UHSM Health Insurance?
No. UHSM is not a health insurance company and does not offer health insurance plans.
Instead, UHSM is a medical cost sharing ministry. That means:
- It does not provide Minimum Essential Coverage.
- It does not legally guarantee payment of medical bills.
- Members agree to share each other’s eligible needs, based on the guidelines.
Health sharing can still be an affordable alternative to traditional health insurance for large, unexpected medical expenses. However, it does not work the same way as insurance.
Who Can Join UHSM?
UHSM is a Christian health share. To join, you generally must:
- Agree with UHSM’s Christian statement of faith.
- Live a lifestyle that aligns with their beliefs and guidelines.
- Be comfortable with a community-based sharing model, instead of insurance.
Always read the most recent membership guidelines before you enroll. Requirements can change over time.
How Does UHSM Work?
With UHSM, you pay a set monthly contribution (similar to a premium, but for a health share). That money goes into the community to help pay for eligible medical bills.
Here’s the basic flow:
- You join UHSM and choose a program.
- You pay a fixed monthly amount.
- If you have a medical need, you pay your member responsibility first (similar idea to a deductible).
- After that, UHSM and the community share in eligible medical expenses, based on the guidelines.
Members are usually self-pay patients at the time of service. Then UHSM helps process the bills and apply sharing.
UHSM Programs (WeShare)
UHSM’s main health share programs are branded as WeShare.
In general:
- One option is more comprehensive and includes a wider range of services.
- Another option is more catastrophic-focused, meant for large, unexpected events.
Program details can change, so always check the UHSM membership guides for:
- What services are eligible
- Visit fees or consultation fees
- Any waiting periods
Provider Network and Discounts
UHSM partners with the PHCS PPO Network for medical providers and with CVS Caremark for pharmacy benefits.
Because of these partnerships:
- Members can access a large network of doctors and hospitals.
- They can often use pre-negotiated rates, which helps lower costs.
- Prescription drugs may be available at discounted prices.
This can make care more affordable compared to going in as a completely cash-pay patient.
How Much Does UHSM Cost?
Exact pricing depends on:
- Your age
- Number of people on the membership
- Which UHSM/WeShare program you choose
- Your personal responsibility amount (like a “deductible-style” choice)
In general, many people find that health shares like UHSM can cost less per month than traditional health insurance, especially if:
- They are relatively healthy
- They do not qualify for large ACA subsidies
However, lower monthly cost also comes with more limitations, so it’s important to read the details.
Member Responsibility (Your Portion)
Like most health shares, UHSM has a member responsibility amount you must pay first per event or per year (depending on the program).
Only after you meet that amount will UHSM share in eligible bills.
Typically:
- A higher member responsibility = lower monthly share
- A lower member responsibility = higher monthly share
This design is similar in concept to choosing a higher or lower deductible on an insurance plan, but the legal structure is different.
Preventative Care
UHSM includes some preventative and wellness benefits, but the details depend on the specific program you choose.
In general:
- Some programs may include limited wellness visits.
- Certain screenings or preventative services may be shared, up to specific limits.
- There may be requirements to use in-network providers.
Because preventative care varies by plan, always check:
- What’s shared
- Any visit fees
- Annual limits
Pre-Existing Conditions
Like other health shares, UHSM has rules and limits around pre-existing conditions.
Typically:
- Pre-existing conditions may have waiting periods before they are eligible for sharing.
- Some chronic conditions may have ongoing limits or may not be shared at all.
If you have ongoing or serious medical conditions, it is very important to read UHSM’s pre-existing condition section in the guidelines before enrolling.
Maternity Sharing
UHSM does offer maternity sharing, but only under specific conditions (and only on certain programs).
For example, most health shares require:
- Membership for a certain period before conception
- Married status, according to their statement of faith
- Use of specific hospitals or providers
Maternity sharing usually has:
- Its own member responsibility amount
- Its own sharing limits
Be sure to confirm:
- Waiting periods
- Maximum dollar amounts shared
- What is and is not eligible (prenatal care, delivery, complications, baby’s care, etc.)
Caps, Limits, and Important Precautions
Before you join UHSM, pay close attention to the caps and limits in the guidelines.
Things to look for:
- Per-incident maximums (how much they will share for one medical event)
- Annual or lifetime sharing caps
- Percentage-sharing after your responsibility is met (for example, they might share up to a certain limit, but not 100%)
- Any rules that allow UHSM to limit or deny sharing under certain circumstances
Even though UHSM can help with big bills, there is always a possibility that not every expense will be shared.
Turnaround Time for Sharing
Most health shares give a general estimate for how long it takes to share in eligible bills.
Typical timelines are often 30–90 days, depending on:
- How quickly you submit documents
- Providers sending itemized bills
- The health share’s internal process
If timing is important to you, ask UHSM directly:
- How long does sharing usually take?
- How do they handle urgent or large needs?
Do I Recommend Unite Health Share Ministries?
My goal is to help you find a health share that:
- Treats members fairly
- Communicates clearly
- Provides real help when large medical bills show up
Health sharing can be a good option for people who:
- Want to save money compared to traditional insurance
- Are comfortable with Christian faith requirements
- Understand that sharing is not guaranteed the same way insurance claims are (since it’s not insurance)
If you want to compare UHSM to other options, I recommend reading my article on the Best Health Shares. In that post, I explain which health shares I currently recommend and why.
Write an Unite Health Share Ministries Review
Are you a current or former member of Unite Health Share Ministries? If you have any experience with Unite Health Share Ministries, please write a review! Reading other people’s Health Share experiences is a huge when trying to make a decision about which Health Share to join. In fact, over 90% of people will read online reviews before they buy a product or service! Please consider writing a review!
If I Could Give 0 Stars I Would
This Health Plan is a SCAM. They say they are Christian and will sound very kind on the phone. DO NOT USE THEM. I had two major surgeries we were told were fully covered by them in APRIL 2025 and JULY 2025. The first surgery they decided to cover WHEN I WAS ON THE OPERATING TABLE. The second surgery they said they didn’t know if they would cover, even when they told us it was before, so we had to pay out of pocket and WAITED A WHOLE MONTH for them to decided they would finally “pay it”. It is now NOVEMBER 2025 and we STILL have not gotten our check they said they are going to send for reimbursement. It has been “marked priority” every time we call and email (which is a lot) and nothing ever happens. On top of that we still have a reimbursement they still owe us from CVS from back in JULY as well that they keep saying “CVS won’t answer”. It has been 4 months now… They are a scam and literally steal your money. Their list of doctors they give you that are covered- half are not even working in the clinics listed anymore. It is a huge scam and not worth your money. They also say you will get $100 if you refer someone. We made the HUGE mistake and referred two people (so sorry to those two friends). They called to follow up on our $100 and we did as well. We were all told the credit would be added to our next bill. Still hasn’t. That was last SPRING. WeShare has 4 cheeks they owe us, that they are not paying. SCAM.
DO NOT SUPPORT THIS AWFUL COMPANY
DO NOT GIVE A DIME TO THIS COMPANY. It is a SCAM. They have treated us horribly, never paid a single bill while take $650 dollars a month out of our bank account. THEY ARE A SCAM. They told us our doctor was in network when she wasn’t and now I am four weeks away from giving birth and have no in network doctor. Absolutely insane. DO NOT GO HERE.
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.
