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We Vetted Every Health Sharing Plan — Here Are the 6 Worth Considering
Published February 2026 | 12 min read
We started with every health sharing ministry we could find — over a dozen options. After checking financial stability, member complaints, regulatory history, and actual coverage data, we narrowed it to 8 plans we'd feel comfortable recommending to a friend. Here's how they compare.
What We Compared and Why Only 6
The health sharing space has over a dozen ministries, but many have serious problems. Liberty HealthShare faced a class-action lawsuit over unpaid bills. OneShare Health had ties to Aliera Healthcare, which was shut down by regulators. Several smaller ministries have limited financial transparency or too few members to be reliable. The NAIC specifically warns consumers that health care sharing ministry members may be responsible for medical costs if the ministry fails to pay — which is why track record and financial stability are non-negotiable screening criteria.
After vetting for reputation, financial stability, and member satisfaction, we narrowed it to 8 options across two categories: traditional health sharing ministries (Medi-Share, Samaritan Ministries, Zion HealthShare, Sedera) and a healthcare crowdfunding platform (CrowdHealth) for comparison.
Every data point was verified directly from official plan websites and enrollment documents in February 2026. For a quick personalized recommendation, try our free advisor. For head-to-head matchups, use the comparison tool.
Full Pricing Comparison Table
Monthly costs vary dramatically. CrowdHealth starts as low as $60/month for young, healthy individuals. Most health sharing plans fall in the $114 to $495/month range for individuals.
| Plan | Rating | Individual/mo | Family/mo | Sharing Cap | IUA/Deductible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zion HealthShare | 4.8/5 | $114-$320/mo | $334-$899/mo | Unlimited per need; no annual or lifetime cap | $1250 / $2500 / $5000 |
| CrowdHealth | 4.6/5 | $60-$200/mo | $240-$660/mo | None — no maximum per event | $500 |
| Medi-Share | 4.5/5 | $115-$470/mo | $390-$850/mo | None — no annual or lifetime sharing cap | $3000 / $6000 / $9000 / $12000 |
| Sedera | 4.5/5 | $153-$742/mo | $378-$2088/mo | Unlimited | $500 / $1000 / $1500 / $2500 / $5000 |
| CHM (Christian Healthcare Ministries) | 4.4/5 | $115-$299/mo | $345-$897/mo | $125,000 per illness base; CHM Plus add-on ($42/unit/mo) extends to $1M per illness (Silver/Bronze) or unlimited (Gold). | $300 / $500 / $1000 |
| Samaritan Ministries | 4.4/5 | $199-$365/mo | $699-$715/mo | $250K/need (Classic; more via Save to Share) | $300 / $500 / $1000 |
| Knew Health | 4.2/5 | $142-$379/mo | $400-$950/mo | Unlimited | $1000 / $2500 / $5000 |
| HSA Secure | 4/5 | $114-$320/mo | $334-$899/mo | Unlimited | $1250 / $2500 / $5000 |
All pricing verified from official plan websites, February 2026. Ranges reflect lowest to highest IUA/deductible options.
Coverage Breakdown: What Each Plan Includes
Monthly cost tells only half the story. A cheaper plan might save you $100/month but leave you uncovered for prescriptions, mental health, or maternity. Below is a feature-by-feature breakdown of every plan's primary tier. KFF's analysis of health sharing plans found that coverage gaps — particularly for prescription drugs, mental health, and pre-existing conditions — are the areas where members most often face unexpected out-of-pocket costs.
| Plan | Telehealth | Rx | Maternity | Mental Health | Preventive | Dental | Vision |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zion HealthShare | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| CrowdHealth | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Medi-Share | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Sedera | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| CHM (Christian Healthcare Ministries) | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
| Samaritan Ministries | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
| Knew Health | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| HSA Secure | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
Coverage shown for each plan's primary/comprehensive tier. Some plans offer additional tiers with different coverage. See individual review pages for full details.
Faith Requirements
This is one of the most misunderstood parts of health sharing. Some plans require Christian faith and regular church attendance. Others accept anyone. Here's how our 7 vetted plans break down. States regulate — or exempt — health sharing plans differently, so faith requirements also have legal implications: the ACA's individual mandate exemption for health sharing applies only to plans meeting specific criteria under federal law.
| Faith Level | Plans | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| None / Secular | Zion HealthShare, CrowdHealth, Sedera | No statement of faith, no church attendance, open to everyone |
| Christian (light) | Medi-Share | Agree to Christian principles, no church attendance verification |
| Christian (strict) | Samaritan Ministries | Signed statement of faith plus church attendance required |
For a deeper breakdown, see our guide to non-religious health sharing plans and plans with no church requirement.
Pre-Existing Conditions: The Biggest Differentiator
If you have any health condition diagnosed in the past few years, the pre-existing condition policy will likely matter more than monthly cost. Waiting periods among our vetted plans range from zero (Zion HealthShare, for its three covered conditions) to 12+ months. This is often the deciding factor. Unlike regulated insurance, where the ACA prohibits charging more or denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions, health sharing plans set their own rules — and those rules vary dramatically.
| Plan | Waiting Period | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Zion HealthShare | 12 months (then phased in over 4 years) | Pre-existing conditions (anything diagnosed/treated before joining) are not shared in year 1. Phase-in: Year 2 up to $25,000/request; Year 3 up to $50,000/request; Year 4+ up to $125,000 per 12-month period (permanent cap). Exceptions: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes (types 1 and 2) are shareable from day one — provided the member was not hospitalized for these conditions in the 12 months before joining and can manage them through medication or diet. Source: Zion Member Guidelines, January 1, 2026. |
| CrowdHealth | 2 years ineligible | Years 1-2: not eligible for crowdfunding | Year 3+: up to $25K/year (per current published FAQ). Note: Prior schedules showed higher Year 3+ limits — verify directly with CrowdHealth before enrolling. |
| Medi-Share | 36 months | Pre-existing conditions are 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. |
| Sedera | 12-36 month phase-in | 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 a pre-existing condition. |
| CHM (Christian Healthcare Ministries) | 12 months | A condition is no longer pre-existing after 12 months symptom/treatment-free; cancer requires 5 years cancer-free. |
| Samaritan Ministries | 12 months | 50% first year. 5 years symptom-free for cancer, heart, and hereditary conditions; type-1 diabetes is permanently excluded. |
| Knew Health | Phase-in | Not shared year 1; Year 2 up to $25,000; Year 3 up to $50,000; Year 4+ up to $125,000 per 12-month rolling period (permanent cap on pre-existing conditions). |
| HSA Secure | 12 months | Not shared months 1-12; up to $25,000/yr months 13-24; up to $50,000/yr months 25-35; up to $125,000/yr from month 36. |
Read our full guide on pre-existing conditions and health sharing for detailed advice on choosing a plan when you have an existing diagnosis.
Our Top Picks by Category
Best Overall: Zion HealthShare (4.8/5)
$114–$320/month for individuals. No faith requirement, unlimited sharing cap, no provider network (see any doctor), no pre-existing condition waiting period. Covers telehealth, prescriptions, maternity, mental health, preventive care, emergency, and surgery. Read our full Zion review.
Best for Healthy People: CrowdHealth (4.6/5)
Healthcare crowdfunding starting at $60/month (average ~$140/month with crowdfunding). No coverage caps, no faith requirement, month-to-month flexibility. Best for healthy individuals and families who want the lowest possible cost. Pre-existing conditions limited for first two years. Read our full CrowdHealth review.
Best for Families: Medi-Share (4.5/5)
$390-$850/month for families. Largest ministry with 400,000+ members and 30+ years of operation. Christian faith requirement (light). Covers maternity, telehealth, preventive, emergency, and surgery. Read our full Medi-Share review.
Best Secular Alternative: Sedera (4.5/5)
$153-$742/month for individuals. No faith requirement, unlimited sharing cap, and a solid track record. Good middle ground if you want broader coverage than CrowdHealth but without the faith commitment of Medi-Share or Samaritan. Read our full Sedera review.
Best Christian Plan: Samaritan Ministries (4.4/5)
$199-$365/month for individuals. The most community-oriented model — members send money directly to each other. Strong faith community, peer-to-peer accountability, 40+ years of operation. Requires church attendance and statement of faith. Read our full Samaritan review.
The Bottom Line
There's no single best health sharing plan. The right choice depends on your faith background, health status, budget, and risk tolerance. That said, if we had to pick one plan for the average person exploring health sharing for the first time, it'd be Zion HealthShare for its combination of broad coverage, no faith requirement, no pre-existing condition waiting period, and competitive pricing.
If you want the lowest possible cost and you're healthy, CrowdHealth (~$140/month) is hard to beat. If you have pre-existing conditions and need guaranteed coverage, an ACA marketplace plan is the safest option — it's the only route with a legal guarantee that pre-existing conditions are covered from day one. If faith community matters to you, Samaritan Ministries offers the deepest member-to-member connection. Want to see how costs really stack up over a full year including deductibles and assessments? Our cost modeling tools project your total annual spend for any plan.
Not sure where to start? Take our free 2-minute quiz to get a personalized recommendation, or compare all plans side-by-side.
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Our top pick
Zion HealthShare
from $114/mo · ★ 4.8
Our highest-rated plan (4.8/5): no faith requirement, HSA-compatible, broad coverage, and managed conditions shared from day one.
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