Which Health Sharing Plans Don't Require Church Attendance?
Six health sharing plans have no church attendance requirement: Zion HealthShare (4.8/5, $185–$268/mo), Sedera (4.3/5, $199–$379/mo), Impact Health Sharing, netWell, HSA Secure, and JHS Community. CrowdHealth (~$140/mo average) is also secular but operates as a crowdfunding platform, not a health sharing ministry.
Only two major health sharing ministries require church attendance: CHM and Samaritan Ministries. Medi-Share requires a Christian statement of faith but does not verify church attendance.
Key Facts
| Plans with no church requirement | Zion HealthShare, Sedera, Impact, netWell, HSA Secure, JHS Community |
| Plans requiring church attendance | CHM, Samaritan Ministries |
| Cheapest secular option | CrowdHealth ~$140/mo (crowdfunding); Zion $185/mo (health sharing) |
| Best-rated secular plan | Zion HealthShare (4.8/5) |
| Faith-optional (statement only) | Medi-Share, Presidio Healthcare |
Why Do Some Health Sharing Plans Require Church Attendance?
Health sharing ministries originated in the 1980s as faith communities pooling resources to pay medical bills. The ACA (Affordable Care Act) exempted health sharing ministries from the individual mandate, provided they had been in continuous operation since December 31, 1999, and shared a common set of ethical or religious beliefs. This legal framework incentivized faith-based structures.
CHM (founded 1981) and Samaritan Ministries (founded 1994) both require regular church attendance as a membership condition. CHM requires members to “faithfully attend a Christian church.” Samaritan Ministries requires a pastor's signature verifying regular attendance. These requirements serve as membership gatekeeping tied to the ministry's religious mission.
Which Plans Are Fully Secular With No Faith Requirement?
Zion HealthShare and Sedera are the two largest health sharing plans with no statement of faith and no church attendance requirement. Zion (founded 2017, Denver, CO) has 50,000+ members, starts at $185/month for individuals, offers unlimited sharing cap, and accepts pre-existing conditions with no waiting period. Sedera (founded 2010, Austin, TX) has 50,000+ members, starts at $199/month, and has a 6-month pre-existing waiting period.
Impact Health Sharing, netWell, HSA Secure, and JHS Community also operate without faith requirements, though they are smaller and less widely reviewed. CrowdHealth is fully secular with no faith requirement but is structured as healthcare crowdfunding rather than health sharing.
What About Plans That Require a Statement of Faith But Not Church Attendance?
Medi-Share requires members to sign a Christian statement of faith but does not require proof of church attendance. It is the largest health sharing ministry with 400,000+ members and monthly costs starting at $227 for individuals. Presidio Healthcare is Christian-oriented in branding but does not require faith for enrollment and is actually regulated health insurance, not health sharing.
The distinction matters: a statement of faith is a personal declaration, while church attendance verification requires documentation from a pastor or church leader. Plans like Medi-Share sit in a middle ground — faith-oriented but not church-verified.
Comparison: Church Requirement by Plan
| Plan | Church Required | Faith Required | Monthly (Individual) | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zion HealthShare | No | None | $185–$268 | 4.8/5 |
| Sedera | No | None (secular) | $199–$379 | 4.3/5 |
| CrowdHealth | No | None (secular) | ~$140 avg | 4.6/5 |
| Medi-Share | No | Christian statement | $227–$405 | 4.5/5 |
| CHM | Yes | Strict Christian | $115–$264 | 4.5/5 |
| Samaritan Ministries | Yes | Strict Christian | $220–$495 | 4.4/5 |
| Presidio Healthcare | No | Christian-oriented (optional) | $300–$600 | 4.7/5 |
How Do You Choose Between Secular Health Sharing Plans?
The decision between secular plans comes down to three factors: pre-existing condition coverage, network preference, and monthly cost. Zion HealthShare is the strongest overall pick because it has no pre-existing waiting period, a Cigna PPO network with 950,000+ providers, unlimited sharing cap, and competitive pricing at $185–$268/month for individuals.
Sedera suits members who want any-doctor flexibility with no network restrictions. CrowdHealth works best for healthy individuals under 55 who want the lowest monthly cost (~$140/month average) and are comfortable with the crowdfunding model. All three require no church attendance and no statement of faith.
The Bottom Line
Most health sharing plans do not require church attendance. Only CHM and Samaritan Ministries enforce this requirement. Zion HealthShare is the top-rated secular option (4.8/5, $185/mo starting) with no faith requirement and no pre-existing condition waiting period.
If you want the lowest cost with no faith requirement, CrowdHealth averages $140/month but operates as crowdfunding, not health sharing. For guaranteed coverage of pre-existing conditions from day one, Presidio Healthcare ($300–$600/mo) is regulated health insurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do any health sharing plans require church attendance?
Yes. CHM (Christian Healthcare Ministries) and Samaritan Ministries both require regular church attendance and a strict Christian statement of faith. CHM requires members to attend church regularly, and Samaritan Ministries requires a pastor's verification of church attendance.
Is CrowdHealth a health sharing plan without church requirements?
CrowdHealth has no faith or church requirement, but it is technically a healthcare crowdfunding platform, not a health sharing ministry. Members contribute to a crowdfund that pays medical bills. Monthly cost averages $140 for individuals under 55, with a $500 member commitment per health event.
Can I join Medi-Share without going to church?
Medi-Share requires a Christian statement of faith but does not require proof of church attendance. It is classified as "christian-light" in terms of faith requirements. Monthly costs range from $227 to $405 for individuals.
What is the cheapest health sharing plan with no church requirement?
CrowdHealth averages $140/month for individuals under 55, making it the cheapest secular option (though it is crowdfunding, not health sharing). Among traditional health sharing plans, Zion HealthShare starts at $185/month for individuals with no faith or church requirement.
Do secular health sharing plans cover as much as faith-based ones?
Secular plans like Zion HealthShare and Sedera offer comparable or better coverage than faith-based plans. Zion includes telehealth, prescriptions, maternity, mental health, preventive care, emergency, and surgery with unlimited sharing cap and a PPO network of 950,000+ providers. Some faith-based plans like CHM exclude telehealth, prescriptions, and mental health.
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Last updated: February 2026. Data sourced from ministry websites and verified against plan documents. WhichHealthShare is editorially independent. Some links may be affiliate links.