Is Health Sharing Worth It?
For most people without ACA subsidies, yes — you'll save $200–$400/month compared to marketplace insurance. It works best if you're generally healthy and okay with the trade-off that it's not legally guaranteed coverage. Not worth it if you have serious pre-existing conditions, need comprehensive mental health coverage, or qualify for ACA subsidies that would make insurance cheaper.
Health sharing is worth it for healthy individuals and families who want to save 40-60% on monthly healthcare costs and accept the trade-off of less guaranteed coverage. It is NOT worth it for people with significant pre-existing conditions (waiting periods of 6-12 months apply at most plans), those who need comprehensive mental health or fertility coverage, or anyone who needs regulatory protections. Average savings: $200-$400/month compared to unsubsidized ACA marketplace plans.
Updated February 2026. An honest, editorial assessment based on verified plan data.
Key Facts: Is Health Sharing Worth It?
| Factor | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Average Monthly Savings | $200-$400/month vs. unsubsidized ACA |
| Annual Savings | $2,400-$4,800/year |
| Coverage Guarantee | None — sharing is voluntary, not legally required |
| Pre-Existing Conditions | 6-12 month waiting periods at most plans |
| Mental Health Coverage | Limited — only Zion, Sedera, CrowdHealth, Presidio |
| Regulatory Protection | None — not regulated as insurance in any state |
| Best Candidate | Healthy, under 55, no chronic conditions, flexible |
When Is Health Sharing Worth the Trade-Offs?
Health sharing delivers the strongest value for a specific profile: generally healthy individuals and families under 55 who rarely use healthcare beyond preventive visits and occasional urgent care. A 35-year-old paying $185/month with Zion HealthShare instead of $500/month for an unsubsidized ACA silver plan saves $3,780 per year. Over 5 years, that is $18,900 in savings — a meaningful sum that can be directed toward an HSA, emergency fund, or retirement account.
Self-employed individuals without access to employer-sponsored insurance see the highest value. Freelancers, contractors, and small business owners who do not qualify for ACA subsidies face the full cost of marketplace premiums. Health sharing cuts that expense by 40-60%. Month-to-month flexibility (especially with CrowdHealth) appeals to workers with variable income who want to avoid annual enrollment commitments.
When Is Health Sharing NOT Worth It?
Health sharing is not a good fit for several important situations. If you have pre-existing conditions requiring ongoing treatment — diabetes, heart disease, autoimmune disorders — most plans impose 6-12 month waiting periods before sharing begins. During that waiting period, you pay 100% of related costs out of pocket. Zion HealthShare is the exception with no waiting period, but even then, sharing is voluntary and not guaranteed.
Mental health coverage is sparse across health sharing plans. Only Zion HealthShare, Sedera, CrowdHealth, and Presidio Healthcare include mental health sharing. CHM, Medi-Share, and Samaritan Ministries do not. Fertility treatments, substance abuse programs, and gender-affirming care are excluded from virtually all health sharing plans. If these services are important to your healthcare needs, ACA insurance provides legally mandated coverage for most of them.
What Are the Real Risks of Health Sharing?
The fundamental risk is that health sharing is not insurance. Plans are not legally obligated to share your medical bills. While established ministries like CHM and Medi-Share have decades-long track records of consistent sharing, there is no state insurance commissioner, no guaranty fund, and no legal recourse if a plan refuses to share a bill. CrowdHealth reports that 99% of approved bills have been funded — which means 1% have not.
Catastrophic events test health sharing plans the hardest. A $500,000 hospital bill requires the plan to mobilize significant resources from the sharing pool. Plans with unlimited sharing caps (Zion, CHM, Samaritan, Sedera) theoretically cover this, but the speed and completeness of sharing depends on pool size and member contributions. Medi-Share caps sharing at $250,000 per incident, which may not cover complex surgeries, cancer treatment, or extended ICU stays.
Does the Math Actually Work Out?
For a healthy individual with 0-2 medical events per year: Zion HealthShare at $185/month ($2,220/year) plus one $1,000 IUA event totals $3,220/year. An unsubsidized ACA silver plan at $500/month ($6,000/year) plus a $2,000 deductible totals $8,000/year in a similar scenario. Net savings: $4,780/year with health sharing. For a family of four with Zion at $555/month ($6,660/year) versus an ACA family plan at $1,400/month ($16,800/year), the annual savings exceeds $10,000. These savings compound over time but assume generally good health and limited use of excluded services.
Health Sharing vs. ACA Insurance: Coverage Comparison
| Feature | Health Sharing | ACA Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost (Individual) | $115-$495 | $450-$700 (unsubsidized) |
| Coverage Guarantee | No — voluntary sharing | Yes — legally required |
| Pre-Existing Conditions | 6-12 month wait (varies) | Covered from day one |
| Mental Health | Limited (select plans only) | Required by law |
| Prescription Drugs | Varies (excluded at CHM, Medi-Share) | Covered (formulary varies) |
| Regulatory Protection | None | State and federal oversight |
| Tax Deductible | No (except via HSA) | Yes (self-employed deduction) |
| Network | Varies (PPO or any doctor) | HMO, PPO, or EPO |
The Bottom Line
Health sharing is worth it if you are generally healthy, comfortable with voluntary (not guaranteed) coverage, and want to save $200-$400/month on healthcare costs. It is not worth it if you have significant pre-existing conditions, need comprehensive mental health or fertility coverage, or want the regulatory protections that come with insurance. The ideal candidate is a healthy individual or family under 55, preferably self-employed or without access to affordable employer insurance. When in doubt, Presidio Healthcare offers actual regulated insurance as a middle ground between health sharing savings and ACA protections.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is health sharing worth it for a healthy person?
Yes, for most healthy individuals, health sharing delivers significant savings. A healthy 35-year-old paying $185/month with Zion HealthShare instead of $500/month for an unsubsidized ACA plan saves $3,780/year. If that person has 0-1 medical events per year, the IUA cost ($500-$1,000) still results in net savings of $2,780-$3,280. The math works when you rarely use healthcare beyond preventive visits.
Is health sharing worth it with pre-existing conditions?
It depends on the condition and plan. Zion HealthShare accepts pre-existing conditions with no waiting period, making it viable for some members. CHM has a 6-month waiting period, while Medi-Share and Samaritan require 12 months with phased sharing. For serious chronic conditions requiring ongoing treatment, ACA insurance or Presidio Healthcare (actual insurance) provides guaranteed coverage from day one with no exclusions. The savings gap narrows significantly when you factor in out-of-pocket costs during waiting periods.
What happens if my health sharing plan refuses to pay a bill?
Unlike insurance, health sharing plans are not legally obligated to pay any medical bill. Sharing is voluntary. If a plan denies a bill, your options are limited: you can appeal within the plan, negotiate directly with the provider, or pay out of pocket. You cannot file a complaint with your state insurance commissioner because health sharing is not regulated as insurance. This is the fundamental trade-off: lower cost in exchange for less certainty.
Is health sharing worth it compared to short-term health insurance?
Health sharing and short-term insurance serve different needs. Short-term insurance is actual insurance with regulatory protections, but excludes pre-existing conditions entirely and has coverage caps (typically $250K-$1M). Health sharing plans like Zion and CHM offer unlimited sharing caps and eventually cover pre-existing conditions after waiting periods. For healthy individuals, health sharing generally provides better long-term value. Short-term insurance is better as a gap solution for 3-12 months.
Can health sharing plans go bankrupt or disappear?
Yes, this is a real risk. Health sharing plans are not backed by state guaranty funds that protect insurance policyholders. If a ministry becomes insolvent, members may lose their contributions and have unpaid medical bills. To mitigate this risk, choose established ministries: CHM (founded 1981, 300,000+ members), Medi-Share (founded 1992, 400,000+ members), or Samaritan Ministries (founded 1994, 230,000+ members). Avoid newer, unaccredited plans with small membership pools.
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