TL;DR

• Liberty HealthShare is effectively closed: As of 2026, Liberty is not accepting new members for new enrollments. Existing members face uncertainty; new applicants should look elsewhere.
• Zion HealthShare is the top modern pick: Founded in 2019, it offers flexible pricing ($114-$320 individual) and covers high blood pressure and diabetes from month one with no faith requirement.
• Medi-Share offers scale but strict rules: With 400,000+ members, it has lower rates ($115-$470 individual) but enforces a 36-month waiting period for pre-existing conditions.
• CHM is the budget option: At $115/month individual, it is the cheapest but caps sharing at $125,000 per illness unless you add CHM Plus.
• Check the dates: Always verify the latest member guidelines before enrolling; rules change frequently in this industry.

If you are reading this in 2026 hoping to sign up for Liberty HealthShare, I need to start with the hard truth. You likely cannot join. Liberty HealthShare, once a popular name in the health sharing space, stopped accepting new members around 2020/2021 due to regulatory shifts and operational challenges.

Trying to find an active referral link or enrollment form today is a dead end. While current members continue to navigate their sharing arrangements, there is no clear path for new families to enter the program. This leaves a massive hole for people looking for the flexibility and lower costs that health sharing promised.

The good news is that the market has evolved. The companies that stepped up to fill this gap are often more transparent and financially stable than the models that came before them. If you are looking for that Liberty-style experience—a shared risk model outside of traditional insurance—you have better options now.

We’ve analyzed the data for the top alternatives available in 2026. Some are faith-based, some are secular, and some operate on crowdfunding rather than traditional sharing. Here is where you should actually focus your energy.

The Liberty HealthShare Reality Check

Why are people still searching for Liberty? Historically, it was attractive because it didn't require strict church attendance and offered competitive rates. They positioned themselves as a modern alternative to the older ministries. But in the regulatory environment of 2026, that model has stalled.

Without an active enrollment window, you cannot evaluate "value" in the traditional sense. There are no new pricing tiers to compare. You cannot test their responsiveness because there are no new cases being admitted. For the sake of your family's health security, you have to treat Liberty as a closed chapter.

Instead of chasing a ghost, you need to look at the active players. The market has consolidated around a few clear leaders. To help you choose, we need to compare the current data on cost, coverage, and restrictions.

Zion HealthShare: The Modern Standard

If you are looking for the closest thing to a modern, flexible health sharing model that is actually open for business, Zion HealthShare is the primary contender. Founded in 2019, Zion has spent the last 7 years refining a model that addresses the biggest complaints people had with older ministries.

The biggest complaint used to be the faith requirement. Zion removes that barrier. You do not need to attend church or sign a statement of faith. This opens the door for families who want cost-sharing without the religious adherence.

Pricing is competitive. Monthly contributions start at $114 for individuals and $334 for families. The ranges go up to $320 for individuals and $899 for families depending on age and specific plan tier. This aligns closely with Liberty's old pricing structure but with verified stability.

The real differentiator is the pre-existing condition policy. Most ministries lock you out for years. Zion handles high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes from month one, provided you weren't hospitalized for them in the prior 12 months. This is massive for anyone managing chronic but stable conditions. Other conditions do have a phase-in period, but the transparency on the schedule is clear.

• Coverage Caps: There is no annual or lifetime cap per need.
• IUA Options: You can choose Initial Unshareable Amounts of $1,250, $2,500, or $5,000.
• Co-share: You pay 10-20% of the bill after the IUA.
• Network: None. You can see any doctor.

Read our full Zion HealthShare review to see how the claim processing stacks up in 2026.

Faith-Based Alternatives: Medi-Share and CHM

If you are part of a faith community and comfortable with the requirements, the traditional ministries still dominate the volume. Medi-Share is the giant here, and CHM is the budget king. They operate differently, and the tradeoffs are significant.

Medi-Share: Volume and Stability

Medi-Share has been around since 1993. That means 33 years of operating in 2026. They have over 400,000 members. The scale is impressive, which often translates to stability in paying out shares. However, you pay for that scale with stricter rules.

You must provide a Trinitarian statement of faith. You don't need to prove weekly attendance, but you must be an active member of a Christian church.

Costs:

• Individual: $115 to $470 per month
• Family: $390 to $850 per month

The Annual Household Portion (AHP) options are $3,000, $6,000, $9,000, or $12,000. This is your responsibility before sharing begins.

The biggest friction point is the pre-existing condition waiting period. Conditions are not shared for the first 36 months. After 36 consecutive months, they share up to $100,000 per member per year. After 60 months, the cap rises to $500,000.

If you have a chronic condition or a family history of heart disease, 36 months is a long time to gamble without coverage. However, for healthy families, the rates are very low.

Check current Medi-Share rates on our Compare page.

CHM: Lowest Cost, Lower Caps

Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM) is the oldest, founded in 1981 (45 years in 2026). They have the most members—over 2,000,000. They are often the cheapest option on the market.

Costs:

• Individual: $115 to $299 per month
• Family: $345 to $897 per month

The base plan has a $125,000 per illness sharing cap. This is dangerous for serious events like a major cancer diagnosis or accident. You can mitigate this with the CHM Plus add-on ($42/unit/month), which extends coverage to $1M or unlimited depending on the tier you choose.

Pre-existing conditions are treated better than Medi-Share. A condition is no longer pre-existing after 12 months symptom or treatment-free. Cancer requires 5 years cancer-free.

The faith requirement is strict. You must attend church. If you are not in a regular congregation, you cannot join.

Verdict: If you are healthy, in a strict faith community, and want the lowest bill possible, CHM is hard to beat. Just ensure you get the Plus add-on for catastrophic protection.

Read our CHM review for details on the add-on tiers.

Secular Options: Sedera, Knew, and CrowdHealth

Not everyone wants a faith-based model. The secular market has matured. These plans operate similarly to sharing but remove the religious tests.

Sedera: The Secular Veteran

Sedera launched in 2014. They have 50,000+ members. They position themselves as a direct cost-sharing model without the religious adherence.

Pricing is quote-based, but ranges generally fall between $153-$742 for individuals and $378-$2,088 for families based on age and tier. They have higher costs for older members (60-64 band runs significantly higher).

The IUA options are flexible: $500, $1000, $1500, $2500, or $5000.

Pre-existing conditions have a 12-36 month phase-in. They are not shared in the first 12 months. From months 13-36, there are graduated annual caps. Fully shareable after 36 months.

They do not have a network. You can see any provider. This is crucial for people who don't want network restrictions.

Knew Health

Knew launched in 2017 (9 years in 2026). They have 30,000+ members. They market themselves as "medical cost-sharing."

Costs:

• Individual: $142 to $379 per month
• Family: $400 to $950 per month

The IUA options are $1,000, $2,500, or $5,000.

Their pre-existing policy is unique. They do not share in year one. Years 2-4 have limits. From year 4 onward, they are shared but permanently capped at $125,000 per 12-month rolling period. This permanent cap is a major risk factor for anyone developing chronic issues after year 4.

Maternity coverage requires a pregnancy starting 90+ days after joining, with a due date one year or more out.

CrowdHealth: A Different Model

CrowdHealth is distinct. It is not health sharing; it is crowdfunding. Founded in 2021 (5 years in 2026), it has 17,000+ members.

You pay a monthly advocacy fee ($60) plus variable crowdfunding costs (averaging $140/month for individuals under 55).

Costs:

• Individual: $60 to $200 per month (plus variable costs)
• Family: $240 to $660 per month (plus variable costs)

Pre-existing conditions are ineligible for crowdfunding in years 1-2. Year 3+ are eligible up to $25,000/year (verify directly with CrowdHealth as schedules have changed).

The risk here is unpredictability. Because it relies on other members donating to your specific need, a rare, high-cost event might not get fully funded. There is no guarantee of payment like there is with a sharing ministry. Use this only if you understand the risk.

Explore our CrowdHealth review to understand the crowdfunding mechanics.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Here is how the top active plans stack up in 2026. This table helps you visualize the tradeoffs between cost, risk, and restrictions.

Note: Rates vary by age, location, and IUA selection. Contact the plans for exact quotes.

Understanding the Tradeoffs

When you move away from insurance, you trade guarantees for cost. With Liberty out of the picture, you need to know what you are getting into with the survivors.

The IUA Factor: In traditional insurance, this is your deductible. In health sharing, it is the Initial Unshareable Amount. A lower IUA means higher monthly contributions but lower out-of-pocket when something happens. If you have a healthy family, a higher IUA makes sense. If you have kids or a chronic condition, a lower IUA is safer.

The Pre-existing Trap: This is where most people get burned. If you have high blood pressure or diabetes, Zion is currently the safest bet because they cover these from month one. Medi-Share and Sedera force you to pay out of pocket for years before they share those costs.

The Cap Risk: CHM and Samaritan have per-illness caps. If you get cancer, you need the add-on (CHM Plus) or you are liable for anything over $125,000. Medi-Share and Zion generally offer unlimited sharing per need once pre-existing conditions clear.

The Secular Risk: Knew and CrowdHealth offer freedom from faith requirements but come with structural limitations. Knew permanently caps pre-existing conditions at $125,000 after year 4. CrowdHealth has no guarantee of payment. These are best for people who want to save money on routine care and are willing to self-insure for catastrophic events.

Who Should Choose What?

There is no single "best" plan. There is only the best plan for your specific risk profile.

Choose Zion HealthShare if: You need coverage for chronic conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure immediately, or if you want a secular alternative that still functions like a sharing ministry. It balances flexibility and protection best for 2026.

Choose Medi-Share if: You are a large family, in a strong Christian community, and have no pre-existing conditions. Their AHP structure allows for massive savings if you stay healthy.

Choose CHM if: Budget is your #1 priority and you are active in church. The base rates are unbeatable, but only if you add the coverage extension.

Choose CrowdHealth if: You are under 55, healthy, and want to try a different model. Keep in mind the $25k yearly limit on older conditions and the reliance on peer donations.

Choose Sedera if: You want a secular model with unlimited sharing caps and don't mind the quote-based pricing or 3-year waiting period for pre-existing conditions.

Final Thoughts

Liberty HealthShare isn't worth it in 2026 because it isn't available. You cannot build a financial plan around a company that isn't accepting members. The market has shifted toward providers that are compliant and transparent.

Zion stands out because it solved the "pre-existing condition" problem that plagued the industry for a decade. If you can join them, it is often the logical choice for the average family. If your faith is central to your decision, Medi-Share or CHM remain the giants for a reason.

Before you sign anything, read the guidelines. Health sharing rules change. A condition that is covered today might not be tomorrow. Use our resources to verify the latest data.

Find the right plan for you on our Advisor page to get a personalized comparison based on your family size and health needs.