Non-Religious Health Sharing Options: Plans With No Faith Requirement in 2026

The Faith Requirement Landscape in 2026

Health sharing ministries were originally created as faith-based alternatives to insurance, operating under an ACA exemption (Section 1402(d)) that applies to religious organizations. To qualify for this exemption, ministries must facilitate the sharing of medical expenses among members “of a similar faith.” Some interpret this broadly (any belief system), while others require strict adherence to specific Christian doctrines. Because they are not insurers, the NAIC has noted that health sharing plans — religious or secular — carry no guarantee of payment and are not subject to the same consumer-protection requirements as licensed insurance.

Here is how every major plan categorizes its faith requirement. For context on state-level rules: NCSL tracks which states have passed health sharing legislation, including whether a state requires additional consumer disclosures — which applies to both faith-based and secular plans operating within those states.

Green-highlighted rows indicate plans with no faith requirement.

Monthly figures show the full individual range across all age bands (18–64) and IUA/deductible tiers. The top of each range reflects the oldest 60–64 band — a typical working-age member (under 60) pays in the lower-to-middle of the range (e.g. Sedera runs roughly $153–$438 for ages 18–59, rising toward $742 at 60–64). CrowdHealth's figure reflects its under-55 / membership-average rate.

Non-Religious Plans Compared: Pricing, Coverage, and Trade-Offs

The three non-religious options differ significantly in how they work, what they cover, and how much they cost. Here is a direct comparison:

Monthly figures show the full individual range across all age bands (18–64) and IUA/deductible tiers. The top of each range reflects the oldest 60–64 band — a typical working-age member (under 60) pays in the lower-to-middle of the range (e.g. Sedera runs roughly $153–$438 for ages 18–59, rising toward $742 at 60–64). CrowdHealth's figure reflects its under-55 / membership-average rate.

Zion HealthShare: Best Overall Non-Religious Option

Zion HealthShare is the top-rated non-religious health sharing plan and our overall pick for most people who want to avoid faith requirements. Founded in 2019 and based in St. George, UT, Zion accepts members of any faith or no faith. There is no statement of faith, no church attendance requirement, and no lifestyle covenant beyond basic wellness commitments.

What sets Zion apart from other secular options:

• No pre-existing condition waiting period. This is Zion's biggest advantage. Every other plan (secular or faith-based) imposes 6–12 months of limited sharing for pre-existing conditions.
• HSA compatible. Zion is the only non-religious plan that works with a Health Savings Account, enabling tax-deductible contributions up to $4,300 (individual) or $8,550 (family) in 2026.
• No provider network. Zion has no network restrictions — you can see any doctor or hospital you choose, with no in-network requirement.
• Comprehensive sharing. Includes prescriptions, mental health, telehealth, maternity, preventive care, emergency, and surgery.

Zion costs $114–$320/month for individuals with IUA options of $1,250, $2,500, or $5,000 and a 10–20% co-share. For families, rates start at $334/month. Read our full Zion HealthShare review, or see how every secular and faith-based plan stacks up on price in the 2026 health sharing cost index.

Sedera: Fully Secular With Flexible Sharing

Sedera is explicitly secular — it was founded in Austin, TX in 2014 as a non-religious alternative to faith-based ministries. There is no statement of faith, no church requirement, and no religious language in its materials.

Sedera's sharing is similar to Zion's: prescriptions, mental health, telehealth, maternity, and preventive care are all shared. The main differences:

• Higher pricing. Individual plans start at $153–$742/month, compared to Zion's $114–$320/month. Family plans run $378–$2,088/month. Prices may vary depending on membership elections.
• 12–36 month pre-existing phase-in. Unlike Zion's day-1 sharing for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type-2 diabetes (other conditions phase in), Sedera shares nothing for Existing Medical Conditions in the first 12 months, with graduated/limited sharing during months 13–36, and full sharing after 36 months.
• Not accredited. Sedera is not accredited with major health sharing organizations, though it has operated reliably for 12 years.
• Any doctor. Sedera has no network restrictions, so you can see any provider. This means more flexibility but also potentially higher costs since there are no pre-negotiated rates.

Sedera is a good option for secular members who want comprehensive sharing and flexible provider choice. However, for most people, Zion HealthShare offers better value with lower pricing, HSA compatibility, and day-1 sharing for BP/cholesterol/type-2 diabetes (other conditions phase in). Read our full Sedera review.

CrowdHealth: Crowdfunding With No Faith Strings

CrowdHealth is not technically health sharing — it is a healthcare crowdfunding platform where members contribute to fund each other's medical bills. Founded in 2021 in Austin, TX, CrowdHealth is completely secular with no faith requirement of any kind.

CrowdHealth appeals to a specific type of member:

• Lowest monthly cost. At roughly $140/month average for individuals under 55, CrowdHealth is the cheapest non-religious option. The cost includes a $60/month fixed advocacy fee plus variable crowdfunding contributions.
• No coverage caps. There is no per-event or annual cap on what the community can fund. 99% of approved bills have been funded.
• Month-to-month flexibility. Cancel anytime with no long-term commitment. This appeals to freelancers and people between jobs.
• Bill negotiation. CrowdHealth's advocacy team routinely negotiates 30–60% discounts on medical bills before they go to the community for funding.

The trade-offs are significant: CrowdHealth does not offer family plans, pre-existing conditions are not funded for the first 2 years and then share up to ~$25K/year from year 3 onward, no tobacco users are accepted, and coverage is crowdfunded — meaning it relies on community funding rather than guaranteed sharing. The member base is also relatively small at 17,000+ compared to Zion (75,000+) and Sedera (50,000+).

CrowdHealth is best for healthy, tech-savvy individuals under 55 who want the absolute lowest monthly cost and are comfortable with a newer, crowdfunding-based model. Read our full CrowdHealth review or see how it compares in our CrowdHealth vs Health Sharing deep dive.

Plans With “Light” Faith Requirements: Worth Considering?

Some health sharing plans fall in a middle ground — they have a faith component but do not require strict adherence or church attendance. These “light faith” plans may work for people who are broadly spiritual or who are comfortable affirming general values without being practicing members of a specific denomination.

• Medi-Share: Requires a Christian statement of faith but does not require church attendance. The faith requirement is a checkbox during enrollment. Individual plans: $115–$470/month.

Plans with strict faith requirements — CHM and Samaritan Ministries — both require church attendance and a detailed Christian statement of faith. These are genuinely faith-centered communities, not casual checkboxes. If you are not a practicing Christian, these plans are not appropriate. Learn more in our plans without church requirements guide.

Which Non-Religious Plan Is Best for You?

If you need guaranteed coverage with regulatory protections and no faith requirement, an ACA marketplace plan is actual regulated insurance that covers pre-existing conditions from day one. HealthCare.gov explains the ACA’s pre-existing condition protections — including the guaranteed-issue and community-rating rules that don't apply to any health sharing plan.

Not sure which option fits? Take our free 2-minute quiz to get a personalized recommendation, compare all plans side-by-side, or use our cost calculator to model your exact annual costs across plans.

Frequently Asked Questions