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If you’ve been wondering whether a health share might be a good fit for you, this post will help you figure that out.
While health shares aren’t for everyone, for the right people, they can be a simple and affordable alternative to traditional insurance.
In the video below, I walk through exactly who should — and who should not — join a health share.
Quick Recap: What Is a Health Share?
A health share (also known as a healthcare sharing ministry or medical cost-sharing community) is not insurance.
Instead, it’s a nonprofit community of people who agree to help one another with large and unexpected medical expenses.
Each member contributes a set amount each month, and those funds are used to help with other members’ eligible medical needs.
It’s a simple, transparent, and more affordable way to manage healthcare costs — especially if you rarely use your insurance but still want protection for the big stuff.
Who Should Join a Health Share
It really comes down to three things: your health, your age, and your willingness to take an active role in your healthcare.
1. You’re Generally Healthy
Health shares are designed for people who are healthy overall.
That doesn’t mean you never get sick — it just means you don’t have any major ongoing medical conditions that require constant or expensive care.
If you see your doctor once or twice a year or take a basic prescription, you’ll likely fit right in.
Health shares were built for large, unexpected medical events, not long-term or chronic treatments.
2. You’re Under 65 Years Old
Most health shares are for individuals and families under 65.
Once you reach Medicare age, you can’t use a health share as your main healthcare option — though a few offer supplemental programs designed to work alongside Medicare.
3. You’re Ready to Be Proactive With Your Healthcare
With a health share, you’re more involved in the process — but it’s pretty simple once you get used to it.
You’ll:
- Ask for a self-pay or cash discount at the doctor’s office
- Request an itemized bill
- Submit that bill to your health share for sharing or reimbursement
For most members, that small bit of effort is well worth it once they see how much they save each month.
If you’re someone who likes transparency, control, and knowing where your money is going — you’ll probably love being part of a health share.
Who Should NOT Join a Health Share
While health shares work great for many people, they’re not the right fit for everyone. Here’s who should probably look elsewhere:
1. You’re 65 or Older
Once you reach Medicare age, you can’t rely on a health share as your primary option.
Some programs offer Medicare supplements, but they’re meant to work with Medicare, not replace it.
2. You Have Major Pre-Existing Conditions
If you have a serious or ongoing medical condition that requires frequent treatment — like cancer, dialysis, or other long-term care — a health share may not be the best choice.
That’s because health shares are meant to help with new medical needs that happen after you become a member.
So, if you join while you’re healthy and develop a major condition later, that’s when your membership can help.
But if you already have a costly condition before joining, those expenses usually aren’t shareable.
3. You Want a “Hands-Off” Experience
If you prefer to hand over a card and let the insurance company handle everything — from billing to appeals — a health share might not be for you.
Health share members take a more active role in managing their medical expenses.
That means asking questions, requesting discounts, and submitting bills.
It’s not complicated, but it does require participation — and that’s part of what keeps costs so much lower.
Quick Review
Let’s see if this sounds like you:
✅ You’re under 65
✅ You and your family are healthy
✅ You’re open to doing things a little differently
✅ You want to know where your money is going
✅ You’re ready for a simpler, more affordable approach to healthcare
If you’re nodding your head — you’re probably a great fit for a health share.
For people tired of rising premiums, network restrictions, surprise bills, and endless denials, health shares offer something refreshing: a community-based, transparent way to handle healthcare.
Next Step: Which Health Share Should You Choose?
Now that you know who health shares are best for, the next step is finding out which one is actually worth joining — because they are not all the same.
Click here to read or watch Which Health Share I Joined – and WHY.
In that post, I share which health share I personally joined — and exactly why it stood out after comparing so many others.
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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