Medi-Share and Zion HealthShare couldn't be more different. Medi-Share ($115-$470/month) has been around since 1993, has 400,000+ members, and requires Christian faith. If you have pre-existing conditions, you'll wait 36 months before they're shared at all. Zion ($114-$320/month) is newer, has no faith requirement, and covers hypertension, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes from month 1 (all other pre-existing conditions have a phase-in period). Neither is insurance — the NAIC is explicit that health sharing organizations carry no regulatory guarantee of payment — so the comparison is about which voluntary sharing community gives you the best expected outcome for your situation.

Here's the simple version: If you're a healthy Christian who wants a proven plan with a huge member base, Medi-Share makes sense. If you have diabetes or high blood pressure—or you're just not religious—Zion is typically the better value.

Head-to-Head Comparison

Monthly Cost Breakdown

Both plans price by age and household size, and both let you trade a higher annual responsibility for a lower monthly contribution. The honest version: your exact number depends on your age, family size, and which tier you pick — so treat these as verified ranges, not quotes.

Medi-Share lets you choose an Annual Household Portion (AHP) of $3,000, $6,000, $9,000, or $12,000 — the higher the AHP you carry, the lower your monthly share.

• Individual: $115–$470/month
• Family of 4: $390–$850/month

Zion HealthShare offers three IUA tiers — $1,250, $2,500, or $5,000 — plus a 10–20% co-share on shared bills, with the same higher-IUA-means-lower-monthly tradeoff.

• Individual: $114–$320/month
• Family of 4: $334–$899/month

The nuance the headline numbers hide: Medi-Share's rock-bottom monthly ($115 individual) comes at its highest AHP ($12,000), where you carry far more out-of-pocket before sharing starts. Compare tiers with similar out-of-pocket exposure and Zion is usually the lower monthly — and the gap widens for families. The only way to know your real number is to price your exact age and tier.

Want to see exactly what you'd pay annually based on your age, family size, and expected health events? Our Premium Scenario Calculator runs the full cost comparison — monthly contributions, IUA exposure, and estimated out-of-pocket — for both plans side by side.

Pre-Existing Conditions: The Deciding Factor

Medi-Share's 36-Month Waiting Period

If you join Medi-Share with a pre-existing condition:

• Months 1-36: You pay monthly contributions but pre-existing conditions are NOT shareable
• Month 37+: Pre-existing conditions become shareable up to $100,000/member/year (rising to $500,000/member/year after 5 years of membership)

Real-world cost example:

Person with Type 2 diabetes joins Medi-Share at a higher AHP (representative ~$227/month for a 30–40-year-old):

• Monthly cost: ~$227
• Diabetes medications: $300/month (NOT shareable for 36 months)
• Year 1 total: ~$6,324 ($227 × 12 + $3,600 medications)
• Years 2 and 3: the same ~$6,324/year — the exclusion holds until month 36

Zion's Month-1 Coverage for Key Conditions

If you join Zion with hypertension, high cholesterol, or type 2 diabetes:

• Month 1: These conditions are shareable after IUA (provided no related hospitalization in prior 12 months)
• All other pre-existing conditions: Phase-in period applies (see Zion Member Guidelines for schedule)

Same example with Zion:

Person with Type 2 diabetes joins Zion ($5,000 IUA):

• Monthly cost: $175
• Diabetes medications: $300/month (shareable after $5,000 IUA met)
• Year 1 total: $7,100 ($175 × 12 + $5,000 IUA, then medications shared)
• Year 2 total: $2,100 + minimal medication costs

The math:

• Medi-Share Year 1: $6,324 (but higher ongoing costs)
• Zion Year 1: $7,100 (but medications shareable after IUA)
• Zion wins for anyone with ongoing medication needs

Faith Requirements

Medi-Share (Christian Required)

To join Medi-Share, you must:

• Agree to a Statement of Faith affirming Christian beliefs
• Attend church regularly
• Live according to Christian lifestyle guidelines
• Abstain from tobacco (actually, tobacco users ARE allowed as of 2026)

What happens if you don't comply:

• Claims can be denied if lifestyle doesn't align with Christian values
• Annual renewal requires reaffirmation of faith commitment

Zion HealthShare (No Faith Requirement)

As of January 2026, Zion dropped ALL faith requirements:

• No statement of faith
• No church attendance requirement
• No lifestyle restrictions
• Open to people of any faith or no faith

Why this matters:

• Secular individuals can join
• Non-Christian religious members welcome
• No risk of claim denial based on faith/lifestyle

Worth noting: the NCSL tracks state-level health sharing exemption laws. Both Medi-Share and Zion rely on state religious exemptions to operate outside insurance regulation — Zion's "any-faith" model still qualifies, but rules vary by state.

Coverage Breadth Comparison

What Both Plans Cover

✅ Emergency room visits ✅ Hospital stays ✅ Surgeries ✅ Imaging (MRI, CT, X-ray) ✅ Lab work ✅ Maternity (after waiting period) ✅ Accidents and injuries

What ONLY Zion Covers

✅ Prescription drugs (shareable) ✅ Mental health services (limited)

What NEITHER Covers

❌ Routine checkups/preventive care (you pay out of pocket) ❌ Dental ❌ Vision ❌ Pre-pregnancy maternity (must wait 10-12 months)

Real-World Scenarios

Scenario 1: Healthy Christian Family of 4

Profile:

• Parents (both 38), two kids (ages 6, 9)
• No pre-existing conditions
• Active church members
• Value community and stability

Best choice: Medi-Share (representative ~$681/month for a family of 4 at a higher AHP)

Why:

• Pre-existing wait doesn't matter (they're healthy)
• Faith requirement aligns with their values
• 400,000+ member community provides stability
• Proven 30-year track record
• Annual savings: $0 (they value stability over cost)

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Scenario 2: Self-Employed Individual with Diabetes (Age 35)

Profile:

• Type 2 diabetes ($300/month medications)
• No church affiliation
• Needs coverage immediately

Best choice: Zion at the $2,500 IUA tier (representative ~$215/month)

Why:

• Type-2 diabetes shared from day 1 — immediate medication sharing after IUA (other pre-existing conditions phase in)
• No faith requirement needed
• Generally a lower monthly than a comparable Medi-Share tier — and the day-1 diabetes sharing is the real win here
• Year 1 advantage: lower monthly cost plus immediate medication sharing (vs Medi-Share's 36-month pre-existing wait)

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Scenario 3: Young Couple Planning Pregnancy

Profile:

• Both 29, planning pregnancy in 12+ months
• Christian but not regular church attenders
• Want lowest long-term cost

Best choice: Medi-Share (representative ~$500/month for a couple at a higher AHP)

Why:

• Both plans have 10-12 month maternity wait (tie)
• Medi-Share's faith requirement is manageable
• No annual or lifetime sharing cap
• Proven maternity sharing track record

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Scenario 4: 55-Year-Old with High Blood Pressure

Profile:

• Hypertension medication $150/month
• No faith preference
• Budget-conscious

Best choice: Zion ($2,500 IUA) ($289/month)

Why:

• Immediate medication sharing after $2,500 IUA
• No faith requirement
• Monthly savings: $42-$220/month vs Medi-Share
• Annual savings: $504-$2,640

Member Community Size: Does It Matter?

Medi-Share: 400,000+ Members

Pros:

• Larger pool = more stable funding
• 30+ years of claims data = predictable costs
• Standardized processes (less variability)
• Unlikely to shut down suddenly

Cons:

• Less personal attention
• Bureaucratic processes
• Slower innovation

Zion: 75,000+ Members

Pros:

• Nimble and responsive
• Modern technology (better member portal)
• Competitive pricing to attract members

Cons:

• Smaller pool than Medi-Share
• Only 7 years of data
• Less predictable long-term

Verdict: For risk-averse people, Medi-Share's size matters. For everyone else, 50,000+ is a meaningful pool.

Claims Processing: How Fast Do You Get Paid?

Medi-Share

• Submit claims online or via mail
• Processing time: 30-45 days average
• Payment: Direct to provider OR reimbursement to member
• Member reviews: "Slow but reliable"

Zion

• Submit claims via member portal
• Processing time: 21-30 days average
• Payment: Mostly direct to provider (reference-based pricing)
• Member reviews: "Faster than Medi-Share, less paperwork"

Winner: Zion (slightly faster, better technology)

Which Plan Should You Choose?

Choose Medi-Share if:

✅ You're a practicing Christian comfortable with faith requirements ✅ You value established track record and large member base ✅ You're healthy with no pre-existing conditions ✅ Faith community and shared values matter more than coverage breadth ✅ You're willing to pay $40-$140/month more for stability and track record

Choose Zion if:

✅ You have hypertension, high cholesterol, or type 2 diabetes (month-1 coverage vs Medi-Share's 36-month wait) ✅ You're not Christian or prefer no faith requirement ✅ You want the lowest monthly cost ✅ You value prescription and mental health coverage ✅ You're comfortable with a newer plan (7 years vs 30 years)

Bottom Line

For most people: Zion is the better value. It costs less, covers more (telehealth, prescriptions), and has no faith requirement or pre-existing wait.

For committed Christians who are healthy: Medi-Share's community, stability, and track record justify the higher cost.

For anyone with hypertension, high cholesterol, or diabetes: Zion wins — month-1 coverage vs Medi-Share's 36-month wait. For other pre-existing conditions, compare both plans' phase-in schedules directly.

For anyone evaluating these as insurance alternatives: Remember that ACA marketplace plans cover pre-existing conditions from day one with no waiting period and cap your out-of-pocket spending each year. If your pre-existing conditions are serious, run the full cost comparison — the monthly savings may not offset the first-year out-of-pocket exposure.

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Take Our Quiz to Find Your Match

Not sure which plan fits your specific situation? Take our 2-minute quiz and we'll recommend the right plan based on your:

• Health status and pre-existing conditions
• Budget and household size
• Faith preferences
• Coverage priorities

Take the Quiz →

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Compare All Plans Side-by-Side

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