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Best Health Sharing Plans for 2026 — Ranked and Compared
Health sharing plans can cut monthly costs by 30–60% compared to unsubsidized ACA premiums. But the plans are not equal, and a few are genuinely dangerous to pick without knowing the fine print.
This is our canonical ranked list for 2026. Every price, rating, IUA, and coverage detail below comes directly from the ministry's official data — nothing is estimated. We review 7 plans. We have affiliate relationships with some of them, but commissions do not change rankings. The order reflects plan quality and fit.
The short answer: Zion HealthShare is the best pick for most people. CrowdHealth wins on price for the young and healthy. Medi-Share is the strongest Christian family plan. CHM is the cheapest faith-based option. Sedera and Knew Health are the best secular alternatives. Samaritan is for committed Christians who want a peer-to-peer community.
What health sharing actually is (and isn't)
Health sharing plans are not insurance. Members pool money to share each other's medical bills — but payment is never legally guaranteed. If the pool runs short, bills may go unpaid. That is the core risk.
The upside: monthly costs are often far lower than ACA premiums, there are no networks at most plans, and you're not locked into a calendar-year enrollment period.
Health sharing plans are exempt from ACA consumer protections. Pre-existing conditions can be excluded or limited. Plans can set their own rules about what they share. Read the member guidelines before enrolling — not just the marketing page.
How we ranked these plans
Rankings are based on:
- Rating — our editorial score (1–5) reflecting coverage breadth, financial stability, member satisfaction, and transparency
- Value — monthly cost relative to what you get
- Honesty — we dock plans that make claims their guidelines contradict
We list all 7 vetted plans. We exclude plans with serious regulatory or financial history problems (Liberty HealthShare, OneShare Health, JHS Community/Jericho Share).
The ranked list
| Rank | Plan | Rating | Individual/mo | IUA options | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zion HealthShare | 4.8 | $114–$320 | $1,250 / $2,500 / $5,000 | Best overall, secular |
| 2 | CrowdHealth | 4.6 | $60–$200 | $500 | Lowest cost, healthy individuals |
| 3 | Medi-Share | 4.5 | $115–$470 | $3,000–$12,000 | Christian families |
| 4 | Sedera | 4.5 | $153–$742 | $500–$5,000 | Secular, self-employed |
| 5 | CHM | 4.4 | $115–$299 | $300 / $500 / $1,000 | Cheapest Christian plan |
| 6 | Samaritan Ministries | 4.4 | $199–$365 | $300 / $500 / $1,000 | Peer-to-peer Christian community |
| 7 | Knew Health | 4.2 | $142–$379 | $1,000 / $2,500 / $5,000 | Wellness-focused, secular |
Pricing is per month for individuals. Family costs are higher — see each plan's section below for family ranges.
#1 — Zion HealthShare: Best Overall
Rating: 4.8/5 | Individual: $114–$320/mo | Family: $334–$899/mo
Zion HealthShare is the strongest all-around pick for most people in 2026. It's secular (no faith requirement), has no annual or lifetime sharing cap, and you can see any doctor without a network restriction.
What it costs: $114–$320/month for an individual depending on age band (18–29, 30–39, 40–49, 50–64) and your chosen IUA. The IUA options are $1,250, $2,500, or $5,000. Lower IUA = lower out-of-pocket per need, but higher monthly cost. Couples run $205–$617/mo; families $334–$899/mo.
What's covered: Telehealth, prescriptions, maternity, mental health, preventive care, emergency, and surgery. No dental or vision.
Pre-existing conditions: Three conditions — high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes — are shareable from month one (provided none caused a hospitalization in the prior 12 months). All other pre-existing conditions (anything diagnosed or treated in the 24 months before joining) go through a phase-in period before sharing kicks in.
The catch: Zion was founded in 2019. It has 75,000+ members, which is solid but smaller than Medi-Share or CHM. It's newer, which means a shorter track record on large catastrophic claims.
HSA-compatible: Yes.
See Zion's full review or get a quote.
#2 — CrowdHealth: Best for Young and Healthy
Rating: 4.6/5 | Individual: $60–$200/mo | Family: $240–$660/mo
CrowdHealth is the lowest-cost option on this list. It works differently from the others — it's a healthcare crowdfunding platform, not a traditional sharing ministry. When you have a medical event, community members fund your bills directly. Bills are not guaranteed the way they are in a pooled ministry, but CrowdHealth reports that 99.8% of submitted member bills have been funded (October 2021 through November 2024).
What it costs: A flat $60/month advocacy fee plus variable crowdfunding contributions. Under-55 individual maximum is $200/mo ($60 + $140 crowdfunding cap). Average individual under 55 pays about $140/mo total. Family of 4: $240–$660/mo.
Your cost per health event: $500.
What's covered: Telehealth, prescriptions, maternity, mental health, preventive, emergency, and surgery. No dental or vision. No coverage caps per health event.
Pre-existing conditions: Not eligible for crowdfunding in years 1–2. After year 3, eligible up to $25,000/year (verify current terms at joincrowdhealth.com before enrolling — terms have changed historically).
The catch: CrowdHealth is not available in CA, DC, MA, NJ, RI, or VT. No tobacco users accepted. If predictability is more important than lowest price, a traditional ministry serves you better.
HSA-compatible: No.
See CrowdHealth's full review or get a quote.
If you're under 40, healthy, and your main concern is protection against a big unexpected bill — not routine care — CrowdHealth is worth a hard look. The math is hard to beat.
#3 — Medi-Share: Best for Christian Families
Rating: 4.5/5 | Individual: $115–$470/mo | Family: $390–$850/mo
Medi-Share is the largest health sharing ministry in the US, with 400,000+ members and over 30 years of operation (founded 1993). If you're a Christian family and want the stability of a large, long-running community, Medi-Share is the benchmark.
What it costs: Individual contributions run $115–$470/mo depending on age and AHP selection. Family rates run $390–$850/mo. The AHP (Annual Household Portion, analogous to a deductible) comes in four tiers: $3,000, $6,000, $9,000, or $12,000. No annual or lifetime sharing cap.
What's covered: Telehealth, maternity (capped at $125,000 per pregnancy; requires $3,000+ AHP), preventive, emergency, and surgery. TeleBehavioral health (mental health via telehealth) is included. In-person outpatient mental health is not. Prescriptions: new acute conditions covered up to 6 months; ongoing maintenance medications are not shared.
Faith requirement: Trinitarian Christian statement of faith required. Active church involvement expected. This is a "Christian-light" requirement — no church attendance verification required, unlike CHM and Samaritan.
Pre-existing conditions: Not shared for the first 36 months. After 36 consecutive months, shared up to $100,000/member/year. After 60 months, up to $500,000/member/year.
Network: PHCS and First Health PPO networks (900,000+ providers). Out-of-network providers also allowed.
The catch: The 36-month pre-existing waiting period is the longest on this list. If you have existing health conditions, plan for a three-year runway before they're covered. Maintenance prescriptions are never covered.
HSA-compatible: No.
See Medi-Share's full review or get a quote.
For a head-to-head, see our Medi-Share vs Zion HealthShare comparison.
#4 — Sedera: Best for the Self-Employed (Secular)
Rating: 4.5/5 | Individual: $153–$742/mo | Family: $378–$2,088/mo
Sedera is a secular health sharing community popular with freelancers, consultants, and small-business owners. No faith requirement. Pricing is quote-based — you need to get a number for your specific age, household, and IUA choice — but the range for most working-age individuals (18–59) runs $153–$438/mo.
What's covered: Telehealth, prescriptions, maternity, mental health, preventive, emergency, and surgery. No dental or vision. Unlimited sharing cap.
IUA options: $500, $1,000, $1,500, $2,500, or $5,000 — the widest range of IUA choices on this list, which gives you more control over the monthly/out-of-pocket tradeoff.
Pre-existing conditions: Not shared in the first 12 months. Graduated annual caps in months 13–36. Fully shareable after 36 months. A 36-month look-back defines what counts as pre-existing.
The catch: Sedera is not accredited with major health sharing organizations, and has a smaller membership (50,000+) than Medi-Share or CHM. Founded 2014 — shorter track record than the legacy ministries.
HSA-compatible: Yes.
See Sedera's full review or get a quote.
Self-employed? We have a dedicated guide: Best Health Sharing Plan for the Self-Employed in 2026.
#5 — CHM (Christian Healthcare Ministries): Cheapest Christian Plan
Rating: 4.4/5 | Individual: $115–$299/mo | Family: $345–$897/mo
CHM is the oldest ministry on this list (founded 1981) and the largest by membership (2,000,000+). It's also one of the cheapest. For committed Christians who want low monthly costs and are comfortable with strict faith requirements, CHM is hard to beat on price.
What it costs: $115–$299/mo for individuals, $345–$897/mo for families. IUA options: $300, $500, or $1,000.
Coverage cap: $125,000 per illness at the base level. The optional CHM Plus add-on ($42/unit/month) extends coverage to $1,000,000 per illness (Silver/Bronze) or unlimited (Gold). If you skip Plus and have a serious illness, that $125K cap matters.
What's covered: Maternity, preventive, emergency, and surgery. Any doctor — no network restriction. No telehealth. No prescriptions. No mental health coverage.
Faith requirement: Strict Christian statement of faith required plus church attendance.
Pre-existing conditions: A condition is no longer pre-existing after 12 months symptom/treatment-free. Cancer requires 5 years cancer-free.
The catch: No telehealth and no prescription coverage are real gaps compared to the other plans. The $125K per-illness cap (without Plus) is a meaningful risk if you face a serious diagnosis.
HSA-compatible: No.
See CHM's full review or visit CHM's website.
For a direct comparison: CHM vs Samaritan Ministries.
#6 — Samaritan Ministries: Best Peer-to-Peer Christian Community
Rating: 4.4/5 | Individual: $199–$365/mo | Family: $699–$715/mo
Samaritan Ministries has been operating since 1994 and has 250,000+ members. The model is distinctly peer-to-peer: members send their monthly share directly to another member with a need, by name, often with an encouraging note. For Christians who want a genuine community experience baked into their healthcare, there's nothing quite like it.
What it costs: Individual contributions run $199–$365/mo (August 2025 Classic rates, by age band). Two-person households: $620–$715/mo. Families of 3+: $699–$715/mo.
Coverage cap: $250,000 per need (Classic). The Save to Share program handles amounts above that.
What's covered: Maternity, preventive, emergency, and surgery. Any doctor — no network. No telehealth. No prescriptions. No mental health coverage.
Faith requirement: Strict Christian statement of faith plus active church attendance required.
Pre-existing conditions: 12-month waiting period; shares at 50% during year one. Cancer, heart conditions, and hereditary conditions require 5 years symptom-free. Type-1 diabetes is permanently excluded.
The catch: No telehealth, no prescriptions, and type-1 diabetes permanently excluded are significant limitations. Monthly cost for couples and families is among the highest on the list for what's offered.
HSA-compatible: No.
See Samaritan's full review or visit Samaritan's website.
#7 — Knew Health: Wellness-Focused Secular Option
Rating: 4.2/5 | Individual: $142–$379/mo | Family: $400–$950/mo
Knew Health is a secular medical cost-sharing community founded in 2017, with 30,000+ members. It's built around a whole-health philosophy — the emphasis on preventive care and wellness makes it stand out from plans that treat members purely as cost-sharing units.
What it costs: Starts around $142/mo for individuals; final pricing is quote-based by age, household size, and IUA. IUA options: $1,000, $2,500, or $5,000. Members are never responsible for more than 3 IUAs per membership year.
What's covered: Telehealth, prescriptions (for the first 120 days of a new eligible need), maternity, mental health, preventive, emergency, and surgery. No dental or vision. No annual or lifetime sharing cap for new eligible needs. Maternity starting January 1, 2026 requires a $5,000 IUA.
Pre-existing conditions: Not shared in year 1. Limited in years 2–4. From year 4, shared but permanently capped at $125,000 per 12-month rolling period. That permanent cap is the biggest limitation.
The catch: The permanent $125,000/year cap on pre-existing conditions is unique and meaningful — if you have a chronic condition that generates ongoing large claims, that cap will matter. Prescription sharing limited to first 120 days of each new need (not ongoing maintenance).
HSA-compatible: No.
See Knew Health's full review or get a quote.
How to pick based on your situation
No faith requirement, want the broadest coverage: Zion HealthShare. Unlimited sharing cap, any doctor, three common conditions covered month one.
Lowest possible cost and you're healthy: CrowdHealth. Hard to beat at $60–$200/mo, but read the pre-existing terms carefully.
Christian family, largest community, 30+ year track record: Medi-Share. Expect the 36-month pre-existing wait.
Secular, self-employed, comfortable with a quote-based price: Sedera. Good track record, HSA-compatible.
Christian, want the lowest monthly bill: CHM. Oldest ministry, 2 million members, but add the Plus program if you're worried about the $125K cap.
Christian, want a true community experience: Samaritan Ministries. Peer-to-peer sharing model unlike any other plan.
Secular, wellness-focused, don't have major pre-existing conditions: Knew Health. Whole-health emphasis, 3 IUA cap per year.
Deeper dives by situation
These posts go further on specific angles:
- Self-employed: Best Health Sharing Plan for the Self-Employed in 2026
- No faith requirement: Best Secular Health Sharing Plans for 2026
- Families on a budget: Cheapest Health Sharing for Families 2026
- Direct Primary Care pairing: Best Health Sharing Plans for DPC 2026
- California residents: California Health Sharing Plans 2026
Comparison table: all 7 plans side by side
| Plan | Rating | Individual/mo | Faith req? | Pre-existing wait | Sharing cap | No-network? | HSA? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zion HealthShare | 4.8 | $114–$320 | None | Phase-in (3 conditions month-one) | Unlimited | Yes | Yes |
| CrowdHealth | 4.6 | $60–$200 | None | 2 years ineligible | None per event | Yes | No |
| Medi-Share | 4.5 | $115–$470 | Christian (light) | 36 months | None | PPO (or any) | No |
| Sedera | 4.5 | $153–$742 | None | 12–36 months | Unlimited | Yes | Yes |
| CHM | 4.4 | $115–$299 | Christian (strict) | 12 months | $125K/illness* | Yes | No |
| Samaritan Ministries | 4.4 | $199–$365 | Christian (strict) | 12 months | $250K/need | Yes | No |
| Knew Health | 4.2 | $142–$379 | None | Years 1–3 limited; $125K cap after | Unlimited (new needs) | Yes | No |
*CHM base plan; CHM Plus add-on extends to $1M or unlimited.
A note on methodology and transparency
We earn commissions when readers enroll through links on this site. That is how we pay for research and site maintenance — readers pay nothing. Commissions do not change rankings. Plans are ranked by editorial judgment: coverage breadth, financial stability, member satisfaction, and value. We exclude plans with serious regulatory history.
Health sharing is not insurance. It does not meet ACA minimum coverage requirements in most states. If you have serious pre-existing conditions and need guaranteed coverage from day one, an ACA marketplace plan is the only option with that legal guarantee.
Not sure where to start? Try our free 2-minute advisor for a personalized recommendation, or compare plans side-by-side at the comparison tool.
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