Best Health Sharing for Pastors and Clergy
Most pastors and ministry staff use Medi-Share, CHM, or Samaritan — all three are Christian-required and well-established. Medi-Share is the most widely adopted ($115–$470/mo individual, $390–$850/mo family). CHM is the budget pick ($115–$299/mo individual). Samaritan is the traditional choice for fully committed members ($199–$365/mo individual). Many churches will reimburse the monthly share through a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA).
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Most ministry households can't afford full ACA premiums on a pastor salary, and most church budgets can't cover group insurance. Health sharing fills that gap for the majority of working pastors, missionaries, and ministry staff. Here's which plans actually fit the lifestyle and what they cost.
The Three Plans Pastors Use Most
| Plan | Individual | Family | Members | Founded | Church Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medi-Share | $115–$470 | $390–$850 | 400,000+ | 1993 | Statement only |
| CHM (Christian Healthcare Ministries) | $115–$299 | $345–$897 | 2,000,000+ | 1981 | Required |
| Samaritan Ministries | $199–$365 | $699–$715 | 250,000+ | 1994 | Required |
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Find My Plan (2 min) →Medi-Share — The Most Common Choice
350,000+ members and 30+ years of operation makes Medi-Share the default for most pastors. The Christian statement of faith is required but church attendance isn't formally verified — which makes it a fit for itinerant ministers, missionaries between assignments, and pastors of newer church plants. Family pricing ($390–$850/mo for 4) is competitive. TeleBehavioral health is included, which matters for ministry staff dealing with the stress that comes with the job. Downside: ongoing maintenance prescriptions aren't shared, so budget separately if anyone in the household takes daily medication.
CHM — The Budget Pick
Christian Healthcare Ministries is the budget option for pastoral families. Individual cost starts at $115/month, family at $345/month — meaningfully cheaper than Medi-Share for similar coverage scope. CHM requires both a statement of faith and active church membership (your pastor signs off on it, which is a non-issue for working clergy). Downsides: no telehealth, no prescription sharing, no mental-health sharing. CHM covers traditional medical needs only — surgery, hospitalization, maternity, ER. For households that want a no-frills, low-cost plan and handle prescriptions/therapy out-of-pocket or through other channels, CHM is hard to beat.
Samaritan — The Traditional Choice
Samaritan Ministries is the most traditional model — direct member-to-member sharing where you literally send a monthly check to another member whose bills have been approved. The strict statement of faith and required church attendance make this a fit for pastors who are confidently in a healthy church community and want the closest thing to first-century Christian community in their health coverage. Individual cost $199–$365/month. No telehealth, no prescription sharing, no mental-health sharing. The administrative effort is higher than Medi-Share or CHM, but many members consider that a feature, not a bug.
Church-Reimbursed Coverage (HRA)
Many churches subsidize their pastor's health sharing membership through a Health Reimbursement Arrangement. The church sets a monthly reimbursement amount (typically $300–$700), the pastor pays the health sharing share directly, submits proof of payment to the church, and gets reimbursed tax-free up to the church's contribution limit. This is administratively simpler than group insurance and works with any of the three Christian plans. Talk to your church board or a CPA familiar with ministerial benefits before setting one up — the rules around HRAs and health sharing have specific tax implications.
The Bottom Line
Most pastors should start by comparing Medi-Share and CHM head-to-head. Medi-Share is the more mainstream, well-equipped option (telehealth, TeleBehavioral health, larger member base). CHM is the budget-friendly, no-frills option that pairs well with self-pay for prescriptions and therapy. Samaritan is the right call for pastors who want the most traditional member-to-member model and have a stable, verifiable church community. Regardless of plan, ask your church about an HRA — getting some or all of the monthly share reimbursed tax-free changes the math substantially.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do pastors and clergy commonly use health sharing?
Two reasons. First, the cost. Church and ministry budgets rarely cover comprehensive insurance, and the typical pastor salary plus housing allowance often pushes households above ACA subsidy thresholds — leaving the pastor paying full $700–$1,200/month premiums. Health sharing at $115–$340/month is the only realistic option for most. Second, the values alignment. Faith-based ministries are explicitly Christian organizations that exclude coverage for abortion and (depending on the plan) other categories the pastor likely already avoids personally.
Which plan is best for a senior pastor with a family?
For most senior pastors with families, Medi-Share or CHM are the top considerations. Both are Christian-required, well-established (Medi-Share since 1993, CHM since 1981), and have extensive experience with ministry households. Medi-Share runs $390–$850/month for a family of 4; CHM runs $345–$897/month. CHM has a slightly stricter faith requirement and church attendance verification. Medi-Share is more widely used by non-denominational pastors. Run both quotes for your specific household composition before choosing.
What about youth pastors, ministry interns, or single staff?
For single ministry staff, individual costs run $115–$280/month at the major Christian plans. CHM is the most budget-friendly at $115–$299/month. Medi-Share runs $115–$470/month depending on age and AHP (Annual Household Portion) tier — the highest AHP option drops the monthly cost dramatically and works well for healthy single staff under 35. Samaritan Ministries is the most traditional fit for committed Christian singles ($199–$365/month) but requires church attendance verification.
Does church staff coverage qualify as a "group" plan?
Health sharing is per-household — there is no group plan structure. But several plans (Medi-Share, CHM, Samaritan) work directly with churches as preferred-partner organizations. If your church covers part of the cost as a ministry benefit, the church reimburses or pays the monthly share directly. This is administratively simpler than employer-sponsored insurance because there are no group enrollment requirements, no ERISA paperwork, and no premium tax issues. Talk to your church administrator about how to set up a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) if the church wants to subsidize the cost.
What if my church is non-denominational or charismatic?
All three major Christian plans (Medi-Share, CHM, Samaritan) accept non-denominational and charismatic Christian members. CHM is the most explicit about welcoming the full breadth of Bible-believing Christians. Samaritan has the strictest doctrinal alignment. Medi-Share has the broadest acceptance — it explicitly accepts members from any Christian denomination that aligns with their statement of faith. If you pastor a non-Reformed, non-Catholic church, all three plans are typically a fit.
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