Which Health Sharing Plans Cover Pre-Existing Conditions?

Most health sharing plans accept members with pre-existing conditions but impose waiting periods before those conditions are eligible for sharing. Zion HealthShare offers the most generous pre-existing policy: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes are covered from month one — provided none caused a hospitalization in the prior 12 months. All other pre-existing conditions at Zion follow a phase-in schedule. CHM requires 12 months symptom/treatment-free (5 years for cancer) before a condition is no longer considered pre-existing; CHM Gold members can share maintained conditions earlier under a capped schedule. Medi-Share imposes a 36-month wait before any pre-existing condition sharing begins, and Samaritan Ministries requires 12 months with phased sharing.

CrowdHealth does not cover pre-existing conditions in years one or two, then offers up to $25K/year from year three (verify current terms at joincrowdhealth.com). For day-one coverage of any pre-existing condition with no waiting period or limits, ACA marketplace insurance is the guaranteed option.

What Counts as a Pre-Existing Condition in Health Sharing?

Each health sharing plan defines pre-existing conditions differently, but the general standard is any medical condition that was diagnosed, treated, or showed symptoms within a lookback period before enrollment. Common pre-existing conditions include diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, asthma, COPD, heart disease, cancer (current or in remission), autoimmune disorders, and mental health conditions.

Lookback periods vary: CHM uses a 12-month lookback, Zion HealthShare uses 24 months, and Medi-Share uses 36 months. A condition resolved before the lookback period may not be classified as pre-existing. Pregnancy is generally not treated as a pre-existing condition but has its own separate waiting period (typically 10–12 months from enrollment).

How Does Zion HealthShare Handle Pre-Existing Conditions?

Zion HealthShare (founded 2019, St. George, UT) offers the most member-friendly pre-existing conditions policy among health sharing plans. Three of the most common chronic conditions — high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes — are covered from month one with no waiting period, provided none of them resulted in a hospitalization in the 12 months before joining. All other pre-existing conditions are subject to Zion's phase-in schedule (detailed in their Member Guidelines).

This is a meaningful advantage: if you have managed hypertension or controlled diabetes, you're covered from day one at $114–$320/month — significantly less than unsubsidized ACA premiums ($400–$900/month). By comparison, CHM requires 12 months symptom-free for any pre-existing condition, and Medi-Share requires 36 months. Zion's IUA (Initial Unshareable Amount) options are $1,250, $2,500, or $5,000 with a 10–20% co-share.

How Does Phased Sharing Work for Pre-Existing Conditions?

Phased sharing is a graduated approach where the plan increases the amount of pre-existing condition costs eligible for sharing over time. Medi-Share doesn't use percentage-based phasing — it excludes pre-existing conditions from sharing entirely for the first 36 months. After 3 consecutive years of membership, pre-existing conditions become shareable up to $100,000 per member per year; after 5 years, that cap rises to $500,000 per member per year.

CrowdHealth takes a different approach: pre-existing conditions are not eligible for crowdfunding in years one or two at all, then become eligible up to $25,000/year from year three onward (per current published FAQ — verify at joincrowdhealth.com before enrolling). Samaritan Ministries shares 50% of pre-existing conditions in the first year (after a required 12-month symptom-free period), then 100% from year two. CHM takes a different approach entirely: a condition stops being considered pre-existing after 12 months symptom/treatment-free (5 years for cancer) — at that point it's shared like any other need. CHM Gold members can share maintained pre-existing conditions even earlier, under a capped schedule ($15,000 in year one, up to $50,000 by year three). Sedera doesn't share Existing Medical Conditions in the first 12 months, then phases in graduated annual caps through month 36, after which conditions are fully shareable.

Should I Choose Insurance Instead If I Have Pre-Existing Conditions?

ACA-compliant health insurance covers all pre-existing conditions from day one — this is federal law under the Affordable Care Act. If you have a serious condition requiring immediate, ongoing treatment (cancer treatment, dialysis, organ transplant recovery, etc.), ACA insurance provides the most guaranteed protection, with no waiting period and regulated protections.

For the three most common managed conditions (hypertension, high cholesterol, controlled diabetes), Zion HealthShare's month-one coverage at $114–$320/month can provide significant savings over unsubsidized ACA premiums. The key question is whether you need the regulatory guarantee of insurance or are comfortable with the sharing model. Health sharing is not insurance and does not guarantee payment.

Pre-Existing Condition Policy by Plan

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: May 2026. Data sourced from ministry websites and verified against plan documents. WhichHealthShare is editorially independent. Some links may be affiliate links.