Medi-Share and Zion HealthShare couldn't be more different. Medi-Share ($227-$405/month) has been around since 1992, has 500,000 members, and requires Christian faith. If you have pre-existing conditions, you'll wait 12 months before they're covered. Zion ($185-$268/month) is newer, dropped its faith requirement in January 2026, and covers pre-existing conditions immediately—no waiting.

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, high blood pressure, or anything else pre-existing—or you're just not religious—Zion's your pick.

Head-to-Head Comparison

| Feature | Medi-Share | Zion HealthShare | Winner | |---------|------------|------------------|--------| | Monthly Cost (Individual) | $227-$405 | $185-$268 | Zion (-$42 to -$137/mo) | | Monthly Cost (Family of 4) | $681-$1,215 | $560-$804 | Zion (-$121 to -$411/mo) | | Members | 500,000+ | 35,000+ | Medi-Share (14x larger) | | Years in Operation | 30+ years (since 1992) | 7 years (since 2017) | Medi-Share | | Faith Requirement | Christian (required) | None (as of Jan 2026) | Zion | | Pre-Existing Wait Period | 12 months | Immediate (day 1) | Zion | | Coverage Cap | $350,000/incident | $250,000/incident | Medi-Share (+$100K) | | Annual Household Portion (IUA) | Varies by program ($1,250-$10,500) | $1,000-$5,000 (max 3 incidents) | Zion (lower, capped) | | PPO Network | No (any provider) | Yes (Cigna 950K+ providers) | Zion | | Telehealth | Not included | Included | Zion | | Prescriptions | Not shareable | Shareable after IUA | Zion | | Mental Health | Not shareable | Shareable (limited) | Zion | | Maternity | Yes (after 12-month wait) | Yes (after 10-month wait) | Tie | | Tobacco Users | Allowed | Allowed | Tie |

Monthly Cost Breakdown

Individual Costs (Age 30-40)

Medi-Share:

• Gold Program: $405/month (IUA $1,250)
• Silver Program: $310/month (IUA $2,700)
• Bronze Program: $227/month (IUA $5,000)

Zion HealthShare:

• Select Plan: $268/month (IUA $1,000)
• Standard Plan: $215/month (IUA $2,500)
• Basic Plan: $185/month (IUA $5,000)

Annual savings with Zion: $504-$1,644/year

Family of 4 Costs (Parents 40s, 2 kids under 18)

Medi-Share:

• Gold: $1,215/month ($14,580/year)
• Silver: $930/month ($11,160/year)
• Bronze: $681/month ($8,172/year)

Zion HealthShare:

• Select: $804/month ($9,648/year)
• Standard: $645/month ($7,740/year)
• Basic: $560/month ($6,720/year)

Annual savings with Zion: $1,452-$4,932/year

Pre-Existing Conditions: The Deciding Factor

Medi-Share's 12-Month Waiting Period

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

• Months 1-12: You pay monthly contributions but pre-existing conditions are NOT shareable
• Month 13+: Pre-existing conditions become shareable

Real-world cost example:

Person with Type 2 diabetes joins Medi-Share Bronze ($227/month):

• Monthly cost: $227
• Diabetes medications: $300/month (NOT shareable for 12 months)
• Year 1 total: $6,324 ($227 × 12 + $3,600 medications)
• Year 2 total: $2,724 + medication sharing

Zion's Immediate Coverage

If you join Zion with a pre-existing condition:

• Day 1: Pre-existing conditions are shareable after IUA
• No waiting period

Same example with Zion:

Person with Type 2 diabetes joins Zion Basic ($185/month, $5,000 IUA):

• Monthly cost: $185
• Diabetes medications: $300/month (shareable after $5,000 IUA met)
• Year 1 total: $7,220 ($185 × 12 + $5,000 IUA, then medications shared)
• Year 2 total: $2,220 + minimal medication costs

The math:

• Medi-Share Year 1: $6,324 (but higher ongoing costs)
• Zion Year 1: $7,220 (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

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

✅ Telehealth visits (included) ✅ Prescription drugs (shareable) ✅ Mental health services (limited) ✅ PPO network discounts (Cigna)

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 Bronze ($681/month)

Why:

• Pre-existing wait doesn't matter (they're healthy)
• Faith requirement aligns with their values
• 500K member community provides stability
• Proven 30-year track record
• Annual savings: $0 (they value stability over cost)

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 Standard ($215/month, $2,500 IUA)

Why:

• No pre-existing wait (immediate medication sharing after IUA)
• No faith requirement needed
• Lower monthly cost ($215 vs $310)
• Year 1 savings: $1,140 in monthly costs + medication sharing

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 Bronze ($500/month for couple)

Why:

• Both plans have 10-12 month maternity wait (tie)
• Medi-Share's faith requirement is manageable
• Slightly higher coverage cap ($350K vs $250K)
• Proven maternity sharing track record

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

Profile:

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

Best choice: Zion Basic ($185/month)

Why:

• Immediate medication sharing after $5,000 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: 500,000 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: 35,000 Members

Pros:

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

Cons:

• Smaller pool = higher risk if pool strains
• Only 7 years of data
• Less predictable long-term

Verdict: For risk-averse people, Medi-Share's size matters. For everyone else, 35,000 is still plenty large.

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 (via Cigna network)
• 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 ✅ You want the highest coverage cap ($350K vs $250K) ✅ You're willing to pay $40-$140/month more for stability

Choose Zion if:

✅ You have ANY pre-existing condition (saves you 12-month wait) ✅ You're not Christian or prefer no faith requirement ✅ You want the lowest monthly cost ✅ You value modern features (telehealth, prescriptions, PPO network) ✅ 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 pre-existing conditions: Zion wins by default—12 months is too long to wait for coverage.

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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