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 7 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.
After vetting for reputation, financial stability, and member satisfaction, we narrowed it to 7 options across three categories: traditional health sharing ministries (Medi-Share, Samaritan Ministries, Zion HealthShare, Sedera), a healthcare crowdfunding platform (CrowdHealth), and one regulated insurance product (Presidio Healthcare) 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 quiz. 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. Presidio Healthcare (actual insurance) goes up to $600/month. Most health sharing plans fall in the $185 to $495/month range for individuals.
| Plan | Rating | Individual/mo | Family/mo | Sharing Cap | IUA/Deductible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zion HealthShare | 4.8/5 | $185-$268/mo | $555-$804/mo | Unlimited | $500 / $1000 / $2000 |
| Presidio Healthcare | 4.7/5 | $300-$600/mo | $900-$1800/mo | Unlimited | $0 / $500 / $1000 |
| CrowdHealth | 4.6/5 | $60-$200/mo | $180-$480/mo | None — no maximum per event | $500 |
| CHM (Christian Healthcare Ministries) | 4.5/5 | $115-$299/mo | $345-$792/mo | Unlimited | $300 / $500 / $1000 |
| Medi-Share | 4.5/5 | $227-$405/mo | $681-$1215/mo | $250,000 | $500 / $1000 / $2000 |
| Samaritan Ministries | 4.4/5 | $220-$495/mo | $660-$1485/mo | Unlimited | $300 / $500 / $1000 |
| Sedera | 4.3/5 | $199-$379/mo | $597-$1137/mo | Unlimited | $500 / $1000 / $2000 |
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.
| Plan | Telehealth | Rx | Maternity | Mental Health | Preventive | Dental | Vision |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zion HealthShare | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Presidio Healthcare | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| CrowdHealth | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| CHM (Christian Healthcare Ministries) | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
| Medi-Share | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
| Samaritan Ministries | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
| Sedera | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 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 6 vetted plans break down.
| 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 |
| Insurance (N/A) | Presidio Healthcare | Regulated insurance — no faith requirement, open to all |
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, Presidio Healthcare) to 12+ months. This is often the deciding factor.
| Plan | Waiting Period | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Zion HealthShare | Phase-in period applies | Pre-existing conditions (anything diagnosed/treated in the 24 months before joining) are subject to a phase-in period before becoming eligible for sharing. Exceptions: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes are covered from month one — provided none resulted in hospitalization in the prior 12 months. All other pre-existing conditions face a phase-in period (see Member Guidelines PDF for exact schedule). |
| Presidio Healthcare | None | Covered from day one (guaranteed) |
| 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. |
| CHM (Christian Healthcare Ministries) | 6 months | 50% first 6 months, 100% after |
| Medi-Share | 12 months | 25% first year, 50% second, 75% third, 100% fourth+ |
| Samaritan Ministries | 12 months | 50% first year |
| Sedera | 6 months | 50% first 6 months, 100% after |
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)
$185-$268/month for individuals. No faith requirement, unlimited sharing cap, PPO network with 950,000+ providers, 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)
$681-$1,215/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 (4.3/5)
$199-$379/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)
$220-$495/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.
Best Guaranteed Coverage: Presidio Healthcare (4.7/5)
$300-$600/month for individuals. This is actual regulated insurance, not health sharing. Pre-existing conditions covered from day one with zero waiting. Includes dental and vision. Best for anyone who needs guaranteed, regulated protections. Read our full Presidio 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, Presidio Healthcare ($300-$600/month) is the safest option. 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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