Sedera and Universal HealthShare (UHS) are two of the most popular secular health sharing options — no faith statement required, no church attendance, no religious lifestyle rules. But they're built completely differently, and choosing the wrong one could cost you thousands.

The short version: Sedera is a catastrophic coverage model designed to pair with a Direct Primary Care (DPC) doctor. You pay your own routine costs, your DPC handles everyday care, and Sedera shares the big stuff. Universal HealthShare is a more traditional health sharing plan — it includes telemedicine, 1,000+ no-cost medications, and a wellness center. More features, but a different philosophy about what health sharing is for.

Here's what each actually costs, what each covers, and who each plan makes sense for.

Head-to-Head Comparison

| Feature | Sedera | Universal HealthShare | Winner | |---------|--------|----------------------|--------| | Founded | 2014 (Austin, TX) | 2010s (Alpharetta, GA) | Sedera (longer track record) | | Monthly Cost (Individual) | ~$170–$350/mo | ~$150–$400/mo | Comparable | | Faith Requirement | None | Ethical/community-based | Tie (both secular-friendly) | | Pre-Existing Conditions | 3-year look-back, partial sharing | Program-dependent | UHF (more flexible options) | | Provider Network | None — any provider | Reduced rates with in-network | Tie (depends on preference) | | Telehealth | Not included | Free 24/7 | UHF | | Prescriptions | Not included (except incident-related) | 1,000+ no-cost medications | UHF | | Wellness Center | No | Yes (Curam Wellness Center) | UHF | | IUA Structure | Per incident | Per incident | Tie | | DPC Integration | Designed for it | Compatible, not a focus | Sedera | | Coverage Cap | Up to $1M/incident | Program-dependent | Sedera | | Maternity | Yes (waiting period) | Yes | Tie | | Agent/Broker Access | Yes | Yes (primary distribution) | Tie |

How Each Plan Actually Works

Sedera: Catastrophic-First Model

Sedera is built around a concept most health sharing plans don't emphasize: routine care shouldn't go through health sharing at all.

Their model assumes you'll handle everyday medical needs yourself — ideally through a Direct Primary Care doctor ($70–$150/month for unlimited primary care visits). Sedera then steps in for medical events that exceed your Initial Unshareable Amount (IUA), which works similarly to a deductible but applies per incident rather than annually.

Sedera IUA options:

• $500 per incident (highest monthly contribution)
• $1,000 per incident
• $1,500 per incident
• $2,500 per incident
• $5,000 per incident (lowest monthly contribution)

Key difference from standard insurance: With insurance, you hit your deductible once per year and then everything is covered. With Sedera, each new medical incident has its own IUA. If you break your arm in March and get diagnosed with appendicitis in September, you pay two separate IUAs.

For healthy people with few incidents, this is a feature — you pay less overall. For people with multiple conditions, it can add up.

Universal HealthShare: More Inclusive Coverage

Universal HealthShare (operated by Universal Health Fellowship) takes a more traditional approach. Their programs include:

• Free 24/7 telemedicine (no additional cost)
• 1,000+ no-cost medications through their pharmacy benefit
• Access to the UHF Curam Wellness Center for care coordination
• Reduced rates with in-network providers
• Maternity care
• A per-incident cost structure similar to Sedera

Unlike Sedera, UHF is sold primarily through agents and brokers — you won't typically buy directly online. This means pricing varies and isn't published on a simple table.

Monthly Cost Comparison

Exact pricing varies by age, state, and plan tier — but here are realistic ranges based on available data for 2025-2026.

Individual (Age 30–40)

Sedera:

• $500 IUA: ~$340–$380/month
• $1,000 IUA: ~$270–$310/month
• $1,500 IUA: ~$220–$250/month
• $2,500 IUA: ~$185–$215/month
• $5,000 IUA: ~$160–$185/month

Universal HealthShare:

• Entry program: ~$150–$200/month
• Mid-tier program: ~$220–$280/month
• Higher-coverage program: ~$300–$400/month

Takeaway: At similar coverage levels, the monthly costs are roughly comparable. The real cost difference shows up in what's included — UHF's telemedicine and free meds have real dollar value.

Family of 4 (Parents in 40s, 2 kids)

Sedera:

• $1,000 IUA: ~$620–$780/month
• $2,500 IUA: ~$450–$580/month
• $5,000 IUA: ~$380–$480/month

Universal HealthShare:

• Varies significantly by program — expect $450–$900/month depending on tier and ages

Important note: Sedera's family pricing can be particularly competitive because once you've hit your household IUA max for a period, additional incidents may be shared at a lower threshold. Check current plan documents for exact household limits.

Pre-Existing Conditions: A Key Difference

Sedera's 3-Year Look-Back

Sedera applies a 3-year look-back period for pre-existing conditions. Here's how it works:

• Conditions treated in the last 3 years: Partially shareable on a sliding scale — they share a portion, with sharing increasing each year you're a member
• After 3 years of membership: Pre-existing conditions become fully shareable like any other medical need
• Conditions untreated for 3+ years before joining: Generally treated as shareable from day one

Example: Someone joins Sedera with high blood pressure they've been managing for 5 years. In Year 1 of membership, a hypertension-related hospitalization might be shared at 25–50% of eligible costs. By Year 3, it would be shared at full rates.

Universal HealthShare's Approach

UHF's pre-existing condition handling varies by program tier and the specific condition. Their programs generally use a look-back period approach similar to Sedera, but the specific percentages and timelines differ by program.

UHF also has program options that offer more flexibility for certain pre-existing conditions — particularly relevant if you're comparing their mid-tier and upper-tier programs.

Bottom line: Neither plan is ideal for someone with expensive, ongoing pre-existing conditions in their first year of membership. If pre-existing coverage on day one is a priority, look at Zion HealthShare, which offers immediate sharing.

The DPC Question: Sedera's Secret Weapon

The biggest structural advantage Sedera has over Universal HealthShare is how well it integrates with Direct Primary Care.

What is DPC? A Direct Primary Care practice charges a flat monthly membership fee ($70–$150/month) for unlimited primary care. No copays, no insurance billing. For that fee, you can see your doctor as often as needed for routine issues — colds, checkups, blood pressure management, minor injuries, referrals.

Why it matters with Sedera:

• Your DPC handles 80–90% of your annual medical needs
• Sedera covers the large, unexpected events (surgery, hospitalization, ER, specialists)
• Together, the total cost can be $300–$500/month — less than most ACA plans

Sedera was designed with this in mind. They have a DPC Finder tool, maintain partnerships with DPC practices, and their member materials explicitly position DPC as the complementary first layer of care.

UHF's relationship with DPC: Less integrated. UHF includes telemedicine and a wellness center, which partially addresses the routine care gap — but it's a different philosophy. UHF members who also use DPC can do so, but the plan isn't built around that model.

DPC + Sedera Annual Cost Example (Individual, Age 35)

| Cost Item | Monthly | Annual | |-----------|---------|--------| | Sedera ($1,500 IUA) | ~$230 | $2,760 | | DPC membership | ~$100 | $1,200 | | Total | ~$330 | $3,960 |

Comparison: A comparable ACA plan for a 35-year-old often runs $450–$700/month with much higher deductibles.

What Each Plan Covers (and Doesn't)

Both Plans Cover

✅ Hospitalization and surgeries ✅ Emergency room visits ✅ Imaging (MRI, CT, X-ray) ✅ Lab work ✅ Specialist visits (after IUA) ✅ Maternity (after waiting period — typically 10–12 months) ✅ Accidents and injuries

Only Universal HealthShare Covers

✅ Free 24/7 telemedicine (real savings: $50–$100 per visit if you'd otherwise pay out of pocket) ✅ 1,000+ no-cost medications (includes many generics for common chronic conditions) ✅ Wellness center and care coordination (Curam Wellness Center)

Only Sedera Offers

✅ No provider network — see any doctor, hospital, or specialist anywhere in the country without network penalty ✅ Higher per-incident caps (up to $1M per incident for catastrophic events) ✅ DPC integration and finder tool

Neither Plan Covers

❌ Routine preventive care (annual physicals — though DPC handles this for Sedera members) ❌ Dental and vision ❌ Long-term care ❌ Pre-pregnancy family planning ❌ Experimental treatments

Real-World Scenarios

Scenario 1: Self-Employed Freelancer, Age 32, Very Healthy

Profile: Remote worker, no pre-existing conditions, rarely sees a doctor, wants catastrophic protection at the lowest cost

Best choice: Sedera ($2,500 IUA) + DPC

Why:

• $215/month Sedera + $85/month DPC = $300 total
• DPC covers all routine care
• Sedera handles any serious incident
• No faith requirement, no network restrictions
• At $300/month vs $550+ for ACA, saves $3,000+/year

Scenario 2: Family of 4, Parents 40s, Kids in School

Profile: Kids get frequent colds/ear infections, mom has mild hypothyroidism on medication, dad is healthy

Best choice: Universal HealthShare (mid-tier)

Why:

• Telemedicine covers most pediatric illness visits ($0 vs $150 urgent care)
• 1,000+ free medications likely includes thyroid meds
• Family telemedicine visits alone could offset a significant portion of the monthly cost
• Sedera doesn't include medication sharing for ongoing prescriptions

Scenario 3: Traveling Consultant, Age 45, Works in Multiple States

Profile: Travels 3 weeks/month, needs care accessible anywhere, relatively healthy, values simplicity

Best choice: Sedera ($1,000 IUA)

Why:

• No network restrictions — see any provider in any state
• Network-restricted plans create friction when traveling (out-of-network bills)
• Sedera's "go where you go" model is ideal for nomadic members
• Higher cap ($1M/incident) for peace of mind

Scenario 4: Recent College Grad, Age 25, Budget Tight

Profile: Healthy, rarely sick, just left parents' insurance, needs the lowest cost option

Best choice: Sedera ($5,000 IUA) OR Universal HealthShare entry program

Why Sedera: At $160–$185/month, it's catastrophic coverage at the lowest price. Combine with $75/month DPC for $235–$260 total.

Why UHF: If they want telehealth included (convenient for young people who use virtual care), UHF's entry program at $150–$200/month may include more for the price.

Verdict for this scenario: Compare quotes side by side. UHF may be the better value if telehealth and free medications are important.

Faith and Community: More Similar Than You'd Think

Neither Sedera nor UHF requires a religious confession. But both are built on community principles — members voluntarily share each other's costs, which is different from insurance.

Sedera positions itself as a community of people committed to health and taking responsibility for their care. No faith statement required.

Universal HealthShare uses language around "ethical, spiritual, and religious beliefs" and "community aid" — but doesn't specify Christianity or require church attendance. Members come from various faith backgrounds and secular backgrounds.

Practical implication: If you're completely non-religious and uncomfortable with any faith-adjacent language, Sedera's materials are more neutral. UHF's community is broad, but their stated principles have more community/values framing.

Claims Process: How You Get Reimbursed

Sedera

1. Get care at any provider
2. Ask for the self-pay or cash-pay rate (often 40–60% lower than insurance rates)
3. Submit your bill through Sedera's member portal
4. Sedera reviews and processes eligible amounts above your IUA
5. Payment goes directly to the provider or to you

Timeline: 30–60 days is typical. Cash-pay discounts can dramatically reduce the cost Sedera needs to share.

Universal HealthShare

1. Use in-network providers for reduced rates when possible
2. Submit medical bills through the member portal
3. UHF processes eligible amounts above your IUA
4. Payment to provider or member

Timeline: 30–45 days typical for in-network; slightly longer for out-of-network.

Sedera advantage: Because there's no network, you can negotiate cash-pay prices upfront (which are often much lower than insurance billing rates). This reduces your IUA spend and what Sedera needs to share — a genuine financial advantage for cost-conscious members.

Which Plan Should You Choose?

Choose Sedera if:

✅ You're pairing with a Direct Primary Care doctor (DPC) ✅ You're healthy, self-employed, and want the lowest total monthly cost ✅ You travel frequently and need care anywhere without network restrictions ✅ You want the highest catastrophic coverage cap (up to $1M/incident) ✅ You're comfortable self-managing routine care costs ✅ You want the most transparent, straightforward cost structure

Choose Universal HealthShare if:

✅ You want telemedicine included (frequent virtual care user) ✅ You're on one or more regular prescriptions that might be in their 1,000+ free medication list ✅ You prefer a more comprehensive plan that feels closer to traditional insurance ✅ You want care coordination support through a wellness center ✅ You're not planning to use DPC

Bottom Line

These two plans are solving for different members.

Sedera is for the self-directed, health-conscious person who wants to be in control of their care, keep costs as low as possible, and has (or wants) a DPC doctor handling day-to-day health. It's the most elegant system for healthy people who want catastrophic protection and hate insurance complexity.

Universal HealthShare is for someone who wants a more complete package — telemedicine, free medications, wellness support — and is less interested in the DPC model. It's health sharing that behaves a little more like traditional coverage.

Neither is right for everyone. Both fill gaps that traditional insurance creates, especially for self-employed people, contractors, and anyone priced out of ACA plans.

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Compare All 6 Plans Side-by-Side

See how Sedera and UHS stack up against Medi-Share, Zion, Samaritan, and CrowdHealth in our full comparison.

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