What Is the Cheapest Health Sharing Plan in 2026?
CHM at $115/month — but there's a catch. You need to be a practicing Christian, and it doesn't cover telehealth, prescriptions, or mental health. No faith requirement? CrowdHealth averages $140/month but uses crowdfunding (variable costs). Cheapest doesn't always mean best value, though — what's excluded from a plan matters as much as the monthly price.
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Editor’s pick
CrowdHealth
from $60/mo · ★ 4.6
One of the lowest-cost options with no faith requirement — a flat membership starting around $60/mo and a $500 cap per medical event.
We may earn a commission if you enroll through this link — it never affects our rankings.
CHM (Christian Healthcare Ministries) is the cheapest health sharing plan, starting at $115/month for individuals. It requires a strict Christian statement of faith and church attendance. CrowdHealth averages $140/month with no faith requirement but uses a crowdfunding model with variable costs. Zion HealthShare starts at $114/month with no faith requirement, any-provider access (no network required), and the broadest coverage of any health sharing plan.
Last updated: June 2026 | All pricing verified from official plan websites | See the 2026 Health Sharing Cost Index
Key Takeaways
- Cheapest overall: CHM at $115/mo (requires Christian faith + church attendance).
- Cheapest secular: CrowdHealth ~$140/mo average (crowdfunding model, variable costs).
- Best value: Zion HealthShare at $114/mo (no faith requirement, broader coverage, HBP/cholesterol/diabetes covered month 1).
- Coverage trade-offs: CHM excludes telehealth, prescriptions, mental health. CrowdHealth has strict pre-existing limits.
- Family pricing: CHM $345-$897/mo (cheapest), Zion $334-$899/mo (no faith), CrowdHealth has no family tier.
Key Facts
| Cheapest Overall | CHM at $115/month (Christian required) |
| Cheapest Secular | CrowdHealth at ~$140/month average |
| Cheapest No-Faith | Zion HealthShare at $114/month |
| Cheapest Family | CHM at $345/month (Christian required) |
| Best Value Overall | Zion HealthShare ($114/mo, broadest coverage) |
| ACA Marketplace Avg | $450-$700/month (unsubsidized Silver) |
How Do Plans Compare on Price?
| Rank | Plan | Individual/mo | Family/mo | Faith Req. | Rating | Key Exclusion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | CrowdHealth | $60 - $200 | $240 - $660 | None | 4.6/5 | Full coverage |
| #2 | Zion HealthShare | $114 - $320 | $334 - $899 | None | 4.8/5 | Full coverage |
| #3 | HSA Secure | $114 - $320 | $334 - $899 | None | 4/5 | No mental health |
| #4 | Medi-Share | $115 - $470 | $390 - $850 | christian light | 4.5/5 | Full coverage |
| #5 | CHM (Christian Healthcare Ministries) | $115 - $299 | $345 - $897 | christian strict | 4.4/5 | No Rx, no mental health |
| #6 | Knew Health | $142 - $379 | $400 - $950 | None | 4.2/5 | Full coverage |
| #7 | Sedera | $153 - $742 | $378 - $2088 | None | 4.5/5 | Full coverage |
| #8 | Samaritan Ministries | $199 - $365 | $699 - $715 | christian strict | 4.4/5 | No Rx, no mental health |
Prices reflect lowest available individual tier. Actual cost depends on age, IUA selection, and family size.
Why Is CHM the Cheapest Plan?
CHM keeps costs low through three factors. First, it excludes telehealth, prescription drugs, and mental health coverage from its sharing guidelines — services that other plans include at higher monthly costs. Second, it requires strict Christian faith and church attendance, which self-selects a member pool that tends toward lower-risk health profiles. Third, CHM has operated since 1981 with 300,000+ members, giving it scale efficiencies that newer plans cannot match.
The $115/month entry price comes with a $300 IUA (lowest in the industry) and unlimited sharing cap. CHM allows any doctor with no network restrictions. It covers maternity, preventive care, emergency, and surgery. For members who rarely use prescriptions, telehealth, or mental health services, CHM offers substantial savings. Over a year, CHM costs $1,380 compared to $1,368 for Zion HealthShare ($114/month) — plans are similarly priced at the floor.
Editor’s pick
CHM (Christian Healthcare Ministries)
from $115/mo · ★ 4.4
Lowest verified monthly cost ($115) for individuals comfortable with the Christian faith requirement. 40-year track record.
We may earn a commission if you enroll through this link — it never affects our rankings.
What Is the Cheapest Plan Without a Faith Requirement?
CrowdHealth is the cheapest secular option at approximately $140/month average. This breaks down into a $60/month fixed advocacy fee plus approximately $80/month in crowdfunding contributions. CrowdHealth uses a peer-to-peer crowdfunding model where members fund each other's medical bills directly. It has no faith requirement, no coverage caps, and allows any doctor.
The tradeoff with CrowdHealth is that crowdfunding is voluntary — there is no guarantee that your bill will be fully funded (though 99% of approved bills have been funded to date). Pre-existing conditions are not eligible for sharing in the first year, with phased increases in years 2-4. CrowdHealth is best for healthy people who want the lowest cost and are comfortable with a crowdfunding model. For a more traditional health sharing experience without faith requirements, Zion HealthShare starts at $114/month with any-provider access and guaranteed sharing guidelines.
Is the Cheapest Plan the Best Value?
Not always. Zion HealthShare ($114/month) actually starts below CHM ($115/month) at the individual floor, while adding prescription coverage, mental health coverage, telehealth, and any-provider access with no network required. The real comparison is broader coverage at effectively the same price — CHM's advantage is its $300 IUA (versus Zion's $1,250 minimum).
CHM is the best value specifically for healthy Christians who do not take regular prescriptions, do not need mental health services, and are comfortable with a strict faith requirement and a $300 IUA. For everyone else, Zion HealthShare offers better coverage per dollar. The main tradeoff isn't monthly cost — it's IUA level and coverage breadth.
The Bottom Line
CHM is the cheapest health sharing plan at $115/month, but it requires strict Christian faith and excludes prescriptions, telehealth, and mental health. CrowdHealth averages $140/month with no faith requirement but uses a less predictable crowdfunding model. Zion HealthShare at $114/month offers the best overall value with the broadest coverage and no restrictions.
All health sharing plans are significantly cheaper than ACA marketplace insurance ($450-$700/month for unsubsidized Silver plans). Choose based on your faith preferences, coverage needs, and monthly budget. Use our free advisor to find the cheapest plan that matches your specific needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I lower my monthly cost by choosing a higher IUA?
Yes. Choosing a higher IUA (deductible equivalent) reduces your monthly contributions. For example, with Zion HealthShare, moving from a $1,250 IUA to a $5,000 IUA can save $65-$110/month. The tradeoff is higher out-of-pocket costs when you have a medical expense. A $5,000 IUA makes sense if you are healthy and rarely visit the doctor. A $1,250 IUA provides more predictable costs if you anticipate medical expenses.
Are there hidden fees with health sharing plans?
Most health sharing plans have transparent pricing with no hidden fees. Your monthly contribution is the primary cost plus your IUA when you have a medical expense. Some plans charge a one-time enrollment fee ($50-$150). CrowdHealth separates its pricing into a $60/month advocacy fee plus variable crowdfunding costs. Always review the full fee schedule before enrolling — each plan publishes this on their website.
How much can I save per year compared to insurance?
Annual savings depend on your current insurance cost. A single adult paying $550/month for an unsubsidized ACA Silver plan would save: $5,220/year switching to CHM ($115/month), $4,920/year with CrowdHealth ($140/month), or $5,232/year with Zion HealthShare ($114/month). Over 5 years, that is $24,600-$26,100 in savings. These savings are reduced if you have significant medical expenses that health sharing does not cover.
Do cheaper plans have lower sharing caps?
Not strictly. Some of the lowest-cost options have no cap at all — CrowdHealth has no per-event maximum, and Zion HealthShare (often among the cheapest secular plans) shares with no annual, lifetime, or per-incident cap. CHM, frequently the cheapest overall, does cap each incident at $125,000 ($1M per illness with Brother's Keeper), and Samaritan caps each need at $250,000 (Classic). Meanwhile Medi-Share, which costs more, has no annual or lifetime cap. So sharing caps aren't tied to monthly price — check each plan's cap directly.
Should I choose the cheapest plan if I'm young and healthy?
If you're young, healthy, and meet the faith requirement, CHM at $115/month is a reasonable choice. If you don't meet the faith requirement, CrowdHealth at $140/month is a strong option for healthy people. However, consider that unexpected medical events happen — and broader coverage (Zion at $114/month) provides protection for prescriptions, mental health, and pre-existing conditions that might develop. Zion's broader coverage comes at a comparable price point.
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Lowest cost
CrowdHealth
from $60/mo · ★ 4.6
One of the lowest-cost options with no faith requirement — a flat membership and a $500 cap per medical event.
We may earn a commission if you enroll through this link — it never affects our rankings.
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