This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you enroll through my link, I’ll receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
For prospective members who want a better healthcare experience, Zion HealthShare is a fantastic option.
Founded in 2019 and based in Saint George, Utah, Zion is a non-religious health share provider offering a premium health share membership for those left by the religious nature of traditional health share ministries.
But is Zion the best health share option for you?
As a member of Zion HealthShare, I can provide some more insight on joining Zion Health Share, being a part of the Zion Health community, and whether or not I would recommend Zion Health to others.
After reading my Zion HealthShare review, you should be able to tell whether becoming a member is the right choice for you.
So, without further ado, let’s dive into what Zion offers!
About Zion HealthShare
Zion HealthShare is not your typical for-profit health insurance company.
It’s a non-profit medical cost-sharing company, also known as a health share.
Located in Saint George, Utah, the Zion HealthShare community began sharing medical costs with its members in January 2019 and has since become the fastest-growing, top-rated health share in the nation.
Zion HealthShare is a health-sharing community built around living a healthy life, inclusivity, and personal responsibility.
As a non-religious health share, Zion offers an alternative to traditional health share ministries that impose strict religious membership requirements.
Key Facts About Zion HealthShare
| Company | Zion HealthShare |
| Type of Health Share | Non-religious |
| Founded In | 2019 |
| Headquarters | St. George, Utah |
| Website | https://zionhealthshare.org/ |
| Health Share 101 Rating | 4.7/5 (based on 27 reviews) |
What Makes Zion HealthShare Different?
Zion HealthShare was founded with the mission to re-imagine the medical cost sharing model to fit the needs of its members amid the rapidly changing environment of American healthcare.
This simply means that the Zion HealthShare community focuses on exceptional customer service. They do this in a number of ways.
For example, when you call Zion HealthShare, you get to speak to a real person without a long waiting period. Also, as I’ve found out myself, if you’re going through a medical need, they will ask you how you are doing and call you by name (and not in the emotionless script I-have-to-do-this kind of way. They really want to know).
They treat you like a person rather than a number, providing exceptional customer service.
Zion Health Share also has a member care team to specifically help you with your questions, walk you through your medical needs and help you through the entire process.
When members have a medical bill eligible for sharing, Zion HealthShare takes care of their member’s medical bills in a quick and efficient manner.
Also, unlike other health share programs, there are no annual or lifetime caps on member’s medical bills. There is no additional monthly contribution needed to receive this benefit; it’s available to all with a Zion HealthShare membership.
Another huge advantage of Zion HealthShare is that it allows people with pre-existing conditions. Of course, there are some limitations on sharing for medical expenses related to pre-existing conditions.
Still, given that some health share ministries don’t welcome people with such conditions, I’d say it’s a massive win in Zion’s favor.
Finally, while many health shares require certain religious beliefs in order to join them, Zion HealthShare allows people from all faiths to join. It’s a community of like-minded individuals who strive to live a healthy life and want to share in each other’s medical expenses, no matter their personal beliefs and backgrounds.
Overview of Zion Health Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅ No annual lifetime sharing limits ✅ Exceptional and highly personalized customer service ✅ Mighty fast, often instant sharing of the most common needs and requests ✅ No network limitations ✅ A fantastic option for people with pre-existing conditions ✅ No religious membership requirements ✅ Includes sharing for alternative and preventative care | ❌ Adoption expenses are non-shareable ❌ Members must be below 65 |
How Does a Zion HealthShare Membership Work?
Zion HealthShare members pay a monthly contribution each month to the health share.
When a Zion member has medical expenses, they tell their healthcare provider that they are a self-pay patient and ask for an itemized bill. Since members are self-pay, they receive a dedicated discount. Zion Health has a team that will also try to negotiate down the price, so it’s a win-win for everyone.
If the total medical costs are more than their Initial Unshareable Amount (IUA), the member pays that to their healthcare provider and sends a copy of the receipt (showing they paid their IUA) and the itemized bill to Zion HealthShare.
Zion HealthShare then determines if it’s an eligible medical need and, if yes, deems it shareable and pays all eligible medical expenses.
The waiting period for medical bills to be paid is usually ten business days.
What Are the Requirements to Join Zion HealthShare?
Zion HealthShare accepts people of all faiths. You do not need to have certain religious beliefs to become a member.
Zion members are people who choose to be proactive about their health and practice good health measures by living a healthy lifestyle.
Zion HealthShare Membership Programs
Zion HealthShares offers two primary types of membership plans – Direct Membership and Essential Membership. Here’s how they compare:
Zion HealthShare Direct Membership
This is the membership that is designed for Individuals and Families who are paying for their own Health Share membership account. This is the most comprehensive sharing program, offering additional features so you can share in some of your routine medical care as well as the larger, unexpected costs.
Zion HealthShare Direct Primary Care (DPC) Membership
This is the membership for Individuals or Families that also have a Direct Primary Care (DPC) membership. This means that the members are paying a monthly membership fee to a Direct Primary Care practice and to Zion HealthShare.
Members would utilize their Direct Primary Care doctor for routine and preventative services (like an ear infection, non surgical procedures, and most of their health care needs) while having full access to Zion HealthShare for the large and unexpected medical needs (like breast cancer or another major illness or injury).
Zion HealthShare Essential Membership
This membership is for employers who want to provide Zion HealthShare to their employees. The Zion HealthShare Essential Membership simplifies health sharing to save you and your employees on their healthcare expenses. Essential members have full access to the cost sharing community, with added flexibility to better integrate with your organization’s other healthcare options.
What Is the Initial Unshareable Amount (IUA)?
The Initial Unshareable Amount, or simply IUA, is the amount that a member must pay the Zion HealthShare community shares in any medical expenses. The IUA is also known as your personal responsibility.
Zion HealthShare has three primary levels of personal responsibility: $1,000, $2,500, and $5,000. The lower your IUA, the higher your monthly contribution will be. You get to choose which one you want, and it’s the same amount for all family members on your health-sharing plan.
All qualifying medical expenses submitted after the IUA is met are shareable with the Zion HealthShare community at one hundred percent. There is no annual or lifetime limit.
For each separate need, the Zion HealthShare community will share medical costs after the IUA is met. You will not need to pay the IUA for a single need again until you are symptom-free for 12 months. Additionally, you will not be responsible for more than three IUAs in a rolling 12-month period.
How Much Does Zion HealthShare Cost?
The price range for Zion HealthShare’s monthly contribution ranges from $103 to $790 a month.
The price is based on age, how many people are on the Zion HealthShare membership, and which Initial Unshareable Amount (IUA) the member chooses.
If a Zion HealthShare member is a tobacco user, there is an additional $50 monthly contribution fee.Also, if you have a Direct Primary Care (DPC) membership, you will pay less for your Zion HealthShare plan. In that case, you’d just go from the Direct plan to the DPC membership. It works similarly to the Essential plan, which doesn’t include preventative care services, which, in this instance, will be covered through the DPC membership.
Does Zion HealthShare Help with Preventative Care?
While Health Share plans are typically for large and unexpected medical events, Zion HealthShare does share in some preventive care for its members.
Immediately after becoming a member, Zion HealthShare shares in one annual provider visit per member (not including lab work unless it’s related to a specific medical need). After six months of membership, they will share in colonoscopy, mammogram, and youth immunizations.
There are no network limitations or other sharing networks to join, so you can go to any provider of your choice for preventative care or emergency care.
What About Pre-Existing Conditions? Can I Still Join Zion HealthShare?
At Zion Health Share, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes (types 1 and 2) will not be considered pre-existing conditions as long as the member has not been hospitalized for the condition in the 12 months prior to enrollment and is able to control it through medication or diet.
For other pre-existing conditions, it’s important for members to understand how Zion HealthShare will handle these medical needs.
What Is a Pre-Membership Condition?
Previously referred to as a “pre-existing condition,” Zion Health states that a pre-membership medical condition is any illness or injury for which a person has:
- been examined,
- been diagnosed,
- taken medication,
- had symptoms,
- or received medical treatment.
within 24 months prior to the effective date of membership.
Medical need requests related to conditions that existed prior to membership are only shareable if the condition was regarded as cured and did not require treatment or present symptoms for 24 months prior to the effective date of membership.
Please Note: medical conditions that existed prior to membership may still qualify for sharing through the Additional Giving fund.
How Are Pre-Membership Conditions Shareable With the Zion HealthShare community?
There’s a waiting period for all pre-membership conditions during the first year with Zion. This means that anything related to your pre-existing conditions during the first year as a Zion HealthShare member will not be shareable.*
After the waiting period is over, the shareable amount for pre-existing conditions will gradually increase as you enter new years of uninterrupted Zion membership:
- 2nd Year: Up to $25,000
- 3rd Year: Up to $50,000
- 4th Year and Beyond: Up to $125,000
*Other medical expenses not related to pre-existing conditions will be shareable as normal without any annual or lifetime caps.
What Are the Maternity Benefits at Zion HealthShare?
Zion HealthShare has great maternity benefits. Essentially, after your IUA is paid, Zion will share 100% of all your eligible medical expenses. Even better, there are no lifetime sharing limits for your maternity needs.
If you opt for a home birth, you may submit a request to have your IUA responsibility waived by Zion HealthShare.
I have read quite a bit of Zion HealthShare reviews and have heard from new moms that Zion HealthShare had such great customer service. Both my husband and I wish Zion Health was available when we had our kids.
What Is the Turnaround Time for Paying Medical Bills?
At Zion HealthShare, most medical needs are paid within 5-10 business days.
Since Zion HealthShare provides an organized way for members to share in each other’s medical costs – without getting the members involved with individual medical needs – the process is quick and efficient.
The Zion HealthShare community greatly benefits from this streamlined and easy process, which results in faster medical cost sharing.
If you’ve purchased healthcare in the past, you’ll understand how revolutionary it is to get your medical expenses paid for in such a timely manner.
Should You Join Zion HealthShare?
I would say the biggest consideration to joining Zion Health – or any health share – is whether or not you have a serious medical condition that may require medical attention in the next 12 months.
If you are able to hold off during the pre-membership medical conditions waiting period, will $25,000 be enough to pay for your medical expenses?
For all other medical needs that are not related to pre-existing conditions, there are no lifetime caps on your need requests. This is exactly what you want and need from a health-sharing plan.
Do I Recommend Zion Health Share?
While I focus on providing unbiased information about all healthcare cost-sharing programs on my website, I find myself recommending Zion Health to prospective members for a few reasons.
You’ll see that some of these benefits are already mentioned above, but I wanted to share my personal reasons as to why I recommend Zion HealthShare and why my family and I are members of the Zion Health community:
- Zion Health Share accepts members of all faiths. They are a community of individuals who strive to live a healthy lifestyle and want to share in the costs of one another’s medical burdens. This really resonated with our family since all are welcome to join and be a part of this community.
- You can save up to 30-60% off of traditional insurance. Through our Zion membership, we’re able to save money monthly and whenever we have large healthcare medical needs.
- No annual or lifetime sharing caps. The fact that there’s no limit on eligible need requests gives us and other people peace of mind that every large medical expense is shared.
- Fast processing times. Zion Health Share is known in the industry and to its members for processing medical needs quickly – often within five to ten business days (once all receipts and bills are submitted)!
- Zion HealthShare will negotiate your medical bills for you. Big or small, you can count on Zion to negotiate your bills for you. This means that the bigger medical bills have less of an impact on the entire community.
- Exceptional maternity benefits. Zion shares 100% of all eligible maternity medical expenses after the IUA is paid.
- Beneficial for those with pre-existing conditions. Zion HealthShare allows people with pre-existing conditions, offering a waiting period and a phase-on of sharing in medical expenses.
- Annual visits are shareable. Zion Health Share will share in an annual provider visit for each member of the household. After six months of membership, Zion Health will also share in colonoscopy, mammogram, and youth immunizations.
- Zion HealthShare is a Nationwide Health Share. This means you can live anywhere in the United States and become a member. Zion also will share in medical costs when on vacation or serving a mission outside of the United States.
- No network limitations. Members can work with providers of their choice – without network restrictions.
- Fantastic customer service. Zion has a member care team that provides wonderful service for members going through medical needs. They will handle all the communication with the hospital and doctors prior to procedures and will take care of the payments for you so that there are no surprises.
Wrapping Up My Zion HealthShare Review
One of the reasons I left traditional insurance for Zion HealthShare is because I wanted a better health care experience. I am not against for-profit healthcare. In fact, Direct Primary Care is a wonderful example of what for-profit healthcare could be!Health shares, and even more specifically Zion HealthShare, provide a very real and very human experience to their members. They take care of you when you have health needs that consume your energy and time. This, in addition to everything else they provide, is why I chose to join Zion HealthShare.
Zion HealthShare Video Reviews
Zion HealthShare Review Video Summary: The Zion HealthShare member had a great experience with bills getting paid quickly. Zion HealthShare was great to work with during his medical need process. In fact, several days before his surgery, Zion HealthShare paid for everything in advance. The Zion HealthShare member recommends Zion HealthShare to all of his friends and family.
Zion HealthShare Review Video Summary: The Zion HealthShare member needed three surgeries that would cost $70,000. It was due to a medical condition that would not normally be covered with Health Insurance. As a Zion HealthShare member, she just paid her Initual Unshareable Amount(IUA), which was $1,000 – and Zion HealthShare took care of the rest of the costs for all three surgeries. In fact, Zion HealthShare pre-paid for her surgeries so there was never any medical bills to worry about. The member was able to focus on just feeling better. Zion HealthShare is exactly what affordable healthcare should be.
Zion HealthShare Review Video Summary: The Zion Health Share member’s wife is currently pregnant. The member likes being able to just pay one small flat fee (the Initial Unshareable Amount, or “IUA” for short) and then Zion Health Share has taken care of the rest of their eligible medical bills. About half-way through his wife’s pregnancy, Zion HealthShare changed their policy from two IUA’s (for maternity needs) to just one IUA. Zion HealthShare reached out to the member and reimbursed him for the second IUA rather than just keeping the money.
You can visit the Zion HealthShare website and learn more.
Write your own Zion HealthShare Review!
Are you a current or former member of Zion HealthShare? If you have any experience with Zion HealthShare, 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 Zion HealthShare review!
Hands down the BEST experience!
Hands down the BEST experience! Customer service is amazing! They are so kind, helpful, and easy to communicate with. Every person I’ve spoken to there has been the NICEST. They covered my maternity OB visits and labor and delivery. There were zero surprises or bumps in the road. My husband and I joined knowing we might want to start a family and I’m so happy we did. They offer an amazing and very affordable maternity package. I HIGHLY recommend Zion! They even sent the most beautiful flowers to our home as a congratulations after our son was born! Truly just above and beyond! Because it’s health share and not insurance, just be sure to join BEFORE you’re pregnant so it’s a need that can be shared. This is a great option if you’re healthy and know you’d like to start a family soon 🙂
Deceiving shared amounts and dishonest coverage
Their IUA is deceiving compared to other providers, it’s actually a “deductible” that you have to pay up to 3 times a year, not once, that’s huge. They hide this from you until you sign up.
The icing on the cake is that they won’t cover a medical expense that occured while the member was covered by Zion. They bailed on paying anything since the bill arrived “too late”. So of note, if you have coverage with them when you go the doctor, and then cancel your membership two months later, they will say that they can’t pay the bill for you since you’re not a member anymore, even though it occured months before while you were a paying member of their service. If you already have coverage with them, wait until all your bills are settled before cancelling, because Zion will leave you holding the bag.
Avoid this group at all costs.
Response from Health Share 101
Hi Ian,
I am sorry you had a bad experience. I think it’s important to note that in Zion HealthShare’s member guidelines, they state that the IUA needs to be paid first before the Health Share will share in any medical expenses.
Per the member guidelines: “Zion HealthShare provides a safeguard for households that experience more than three shareable needs in a 12-month period. After the member has paid three IUAs in that period, any additional shareable expenses of $500 or more will be shared with no IUA responsibility.”
All needs requests need to be handled while you are still a member of the Health Share community.
Hope this helps,
Holly
HealthShare101.com
Everything is a preexisting condition
Concept is great but when you need it, everything seems to be a pre-existing condition. Need, knee surgery? You have to wait after the first year because almost everything builds up over time and probably started without you knowing. Maybe if you get an accident this won’t be an issue.
Zion Health pays QUICKLY!
I have been with Zion Health for almost a year and just recently had my first need with them. I had a wellness visit for my son, and Zion Health said they would pay for it on the same day as his appointment. When I spoke to the front desk at the pediatrician’s office, they said they can’t/won’t call anyone but Insurance, so they said I had to pay for it. I took care of the bill and sent the itemized bill to Zion Health. Within 2 1/2 weeks (13 business days), I had a reimbursement check in my mailbox from Zion Health!
It was easy to submit the bill online, and I got my money back quickly. I highly recommend Zion Health to anyone who wants to go with a health share that pays for medical bills (or reimburses you) quickly.
Simple & Easy
I’ve been a Zion Health member for over a year now and have loved every minute of it. Not only am I saving a ton of money monthly/annual. But their customer service is hands down the best I’ve ever come across. You always get a live person who speaks clearly and Isn’t guessing what the answer could be. If they don’t know the answer they’ll make sure they find it. I personally endorse Zion Health to anyone I know. It’s been an amazing experience and I plan on being a Zion Health member for life!
