TL;DR

• Monthly Costs: Individual plans range from $153-$742 for Sedera and $114-$320 for Zion, while family plans range from $378-$2,088 for Sedera and $334-$899 for Zion.
• Pre-existing Conditions: Zion covers high blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes from month one (under specific conditions) with a 24-month look-back. Sedera does not share pre-existing conditions for the first 12 months with a 36-month look-back, and full sharing begins only after 36 months.
• Initial Unshareable Amount (IUA): Zion offers $1,250, $2,500, or $5,000; Sedera offers more tiers — $500, $1,000, $1,500, $2,500, or $5,000. Zion has a 10-20% co-share, whereas Sedera has a fixed 20% co-share.
• HSA Compatibility: Zion HealthShare is HSA-compatible, whereas Sedera is not.
• Faith Requirement: Both are secular options with no church attendance requirements, though Zion describes itself as "any-faith" while Sedera is strictly secular.

Introduction to Secular Health Sharing

When searching for alternatives to traditional health insurance, many families turn to health sharing ministries. Historically, most of these communities required a statement of Christian faith. However, in recent years, the landscape has shifted. Today, individuals who do not adhere to a specific religious doctrine have options too. This guide focuses on two of the most prominent secular health sharing communities available: Sedera and Zion HealthShare.

Both organizations operate on the principle of community support rather than risk pooling. Instead of paying a premium to an insurance company, you contribute a monthly amount to share medical expenses with other members. Because they are not insurance, the rules and regulations differ significantly. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) specifically notes that health care sharing ministries operate outside standard insurance regulations, with no state guaranty fund protection and no legal guarantee of payment — a meaningful distinction when evaluating either plan.

If you are considering switching from a high-cost premium to a health sharing model, understanding the nuances between these two providers is critical. The differences in their pre-existing condition policies and HSA compatibility can save or cost you thousands of dollars over time. Let's dive deep into how Sedera and Zion HealthShare compare to help you make an informed decision.

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Monthly Costs and Initial Unshareable Amounts

The most immediate factor for most members is the monthly contribution. It is important to remember that in health sharing, these are contributions, not premiums. However, they function similarly as a recurring bill.

Individual and Family Monthly Contributions

According to verified plan data, the cost structures for Sedera and Zion differ slightly in their range and flexibility.

• Zion HealthShare: Individual monthly contributions range from $114 to $320, while family contributions range from $334 to $899.
• Sedera: Individual monthly contributions range from $153 to $742, while family contributions range from $378 to $2,088.

Sedera's upper range for family contributions is significantly higher than Zion's, which suggests a wider variance in pricing based on age or specific household configurations. Zion’s range is more compressed, potentially offering more predictable costs for families.

The Initial Unshareable Amount (IUA)

In health sharing, the Initial Unshareable Amount (IUA) functions like a deductible in insurance. It is the amount you are responsible for paying per incident before the community begins to share costs. Both plans offer multiple tiers for this amount, allowing you to balance your monthly contribution against your out-of-pocket risk.

Zion offers IUA options of $1,250, $2,500, and $5,000, while Sedera offers a wider set of tiers — $500, $1,000, $1,500, $2,500, and $5,000 — giving more granular control over the monthly-versus-out-of-pocket tradeoff. Choosing a lower IUA generally results in a higher monthly contribution, while a higher IUA lowers your monthly cost.

Co-Share Obligations

Beyond the IUA, health sharing plans often ask members to share a percentage of the remaining costs, known as co-share.

• Zion HealthShare offers a co-share range of 10-20%.
• Sedera maintains a fixed co-share of 20%.

This means that after you pay your IUA, you may still be responsible for 10% or 20% of the eligible medical bills until the total reaches a certain threshold, depending on the plan specifics. If you anticipate frequent medical care, Zion's potential for a lower co-share (10%) could result in significant savings compared to Sedera's fixed 20%.

Pre-Existing Conditions: The Major Differentiator

For many individuals, especially those with chronic health issues, the pre-existing condition policy is the deciding factor. This is arguably the most critical distinction between Sedera and Zion.

Zion HealthShare Pre-Existing Rules

Zion uses a 24-month look-back period to define a pre-existing condition (anything diagnosed or treated in the 24 months before joining). However, Zion offers a unique exception for common chronic conditions.

High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes are covered from month one, provided they did not result in hospitalization in the prior 12 months. This is a significant benefit for the millions of Americans managing these conditions. KFF research shows that high blood pressure and high cholesterol are among the most common pre-existing conditions in the adult population — making Zion's day-one carve-out particularly relevant for a large share of prospective members.

All other pre-existing conditions face a phase-in period. This means that if you have a condition like asthma, arthritis, or a history of cancer that does not fall into the exception categories, you must wait a certain amount of time before that specific condition becomes eligible for sharing. You should consult the Member Guidelines PDF for the exact schedule, as it varies by condition.

Sedera Pre-Existing Rules

Sedera takes a stricter approach regarding pre-existing conditions. They utilize a 36-month look-back to define a pre-existing condition. This is longer than Zion's 24-month window, meaning conditions treated up to three years ago may be excluded.

The sharing schedule for Sedera is defined as follows:

• Months 1-12: Pre-existing conditions are not shared.
• Months 13-36: Graduated annual caps apply to pre-existing conditions.
• After 36 months: Pre-existing conditions become fully shareable.

This means that if you have a significant chronic condition that was treated within the last three years, Sedera will not share those costs for the first year, and only partially share them for the next two years. This structure requires a longer timeline of self-insurance before full coverage is realized.

Faith Requirements and Community Culture

One of the primary reasons people choose secular health sharing is to avoid religious mandates. Both Sedera and Zion fit this criterion, but there are subtle differences in their cultural descriptions.

Zion HealthShare Culture

Zion HealthShare describes itself as an "any-faith" community. While they do not require a statement of faith, they also do not require church attendance. This makes it an accessible option for individuals who value the community aspect of health sharing without adhering to a specific theology.

Founded in 2019, Zion is based in Denver, CO. Despite being younger than many other providers, they have grown to serve 75,000+ members.

Sedera Culture

Sedera describes itself as a "secular" health sharing option. Founded earlier, in 2014, Sedera is headquartered in Austin, TX. Like Zion, Sedera has 50,000+ members and does not require church attendance or a statement of faith.

While both are secular, Zion's "any-faith" language suggests an inclusive approach that may resonate with those who are spiritual but not religious, whereas Sedera's "secular" label is firmly rooted in non-religious terminology. For practical purposes, neither will ask you to prove your religious attendance to access care.

Coverage and Provider Networks

When it comes to what is actually covered, both plans are quite comprehensive, especially compared to older health sharing models that excluded maternity or mental health.

Shared Benefits

Both Sedera and Zion HealthShare cover the following:

• Telehealth
• Prescriptions
• Maternity
• Mental Health
• Preventive Care
• Emergency Services
• Surgery

This breadth of coverage is impressive for a health sharing model. Historically, many plans excluded mental health or had very low caps on maternity. Both of these plans include these vital services in their standard sharing agreements.

Provider Choice

A major advantage of health sharing is the ability to choose your own doctors. Neither Sedera nor Zion HealthShare uses a restricted provider network. You can see any doctor you wish. This allows for flexibility if you have an established relationship with a specialist or if you travel frequently.

Because there is no network, you must negotiate your own bills or rely on the plan's advocacy team to help with medical bill negotiations. This requires a higher level of engagement from the member compared to traditional PPO insurance.

Sharing Caps

Both plans offer unlimited sharing caps. This means there is no lifetime limit or annual maximum on the amount of medical costs the community will share for your eligible needs. This provides significant peace of mind for catastrophic events, such as major surgeries or cancer treatments, which can easily run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

HSA Compatibility and Tax Implications

One of the most significant financial differences between these two plans is their relationship with Health Savings Accounts (HSAs).

Zion HealthShare and HSAs

Zion HealthShare is HSA-compatible. This is a distinct advantage for tax-advantaged savings. If you pair Zion with a qualified High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) structure or simply use the funds correctly within tax laws, you may be able to contribute pre-tax dollars to pay for your IUA or other eligible expenses.

For families that want to maximize their tax strategy, being able to use HSA funds for health sharing contributions or out-of-pocket medical costs (depending on specific IRS interpretations at the time) can be a powerful tool. IRS Publication 969 outlines the rules governing HSA eligibility and qualified medical expenses — review it carefully (or have a tax advisor review it) before assuming health sharing membership alone qualifies you to contribute to an HSA. You should consult a tax professional to ensure compliance with current IRS regulations.

Sedera and HSAs

Sedera is not HSA-compatible. This means you cannot use pre-tax HSA funds to pay for Sedera contributions. You must pay these contributions with after-tax dollars.

While Sedera may cover eligible medical bills tax-free in some contexts, the inability to contribute to an HSA specifically for this plan limits some of the tax planning opportunities available to families with access to employer-sponsored HSA-eligible plans. For those who rely heavily on HSA contributions for retirement savings or medical planning, this is a factor to weigh against the potentially lower monthly contribution.

Community Stability and History

Choosing a health sharing community is a long-term commitment. You want to ensure the organization has the stability to pay claims as you grow older.

Founding Dates and Member Counts

• Sedera: Founded in 2014, serving 50,000+ members.
• Zion HealthShare: Founded in 2019, serving 75,000+ members.

Sedera has been operating for 12 years, which provides a longer track record of handling claims and managing a membership base. Zion, while newer, has scaled rapidly to match Sedera's member count in a shorter period. Both are based in the United States, with Sedera in Austin, TX and Zion in Denver, CO.

Ratings and Reputation

According to available data:

• Sedera holds a rating of 4.5/5.
• Zion HealthShare holds a rating of 4.8/5.

While ratings are just one metric, Zion's higher score suggests strong member satisfaction, particularly regarding customer service or claims processing. Sedera's rating is solid but indicates there may be some room for improvement in member experience.

Real-World Scenarios: Who Should Choose Which?

To visualize how these differences play out in real life, consider the following scenarios.

Scenario 1: The Family with Chronic Conditions

You have a child diagnosed with diabetes five years ago.

• Zion: If the child was not hospitalized in the prior 12 months, their diabetes is covered from month one.
• Sedera: Due to the 36-month look-back, diabetes is considered pre-existing. It is not shared for the first 12 months, partially shared for the next two years, and fully shared only after 36 months.
• Winner: Zion HealthShare provides immediate coverage for this specific condition.

Scenario 2: The Healthy Individual Saving for Retirement

You are healthy, 30 years old, and want to save money on monthly contributions and maximize tax advantages.

• Zion: Allows HSA compatibility, potentially offering tax benefits. Monthly costs start around $114.
• Sedera: Not HSA compatible. Monthly costs can start as low as $153.
• Winner: Sedera might offer a lower monthly floor, but Zion offers better tax tools if you are eligible for an HSA.

Scenario 3: The High-Risk Medical Event

You have a family history of heart disease but are currently asymptomatic.

• Zion: Requires a 24-month look-back. If you haven't been treated for this in two years, it may not be considered pre-existing.
• Sedera: Requires a 36-month look-back. If you had a check-up regarding heart issues three years ago, it could be flagged as pre-existing.
• Winner: Zion HealthShare generally has a shorter look-back window, which is more favorable for defining new conditions.

Final Verdict and Next Steps

Both Sedera and Zion HealthShare offer robust, secular alternatives to traditional insurance. They both provide access to any doctor, unlimited sharing caps, and comprehensive coverage for maternity, mental health, and emergencies.

Zion HealthShare stands out for its HSA compatibility and its more favorable pre-existing condition policy for common chronic issues like diabetes and high blood pressure. It is an excellent choice for families looking for tax efficiency and immediate coverage for common health management needs.

Sedera offers a long-established secular alternative with a 36-month phase-in for pre-existing conditions. It may suit individuals who are currently very healthy and prioritize the lowest possible monthly entry point, understanding that pre-existing conditions will require a longer waiting period before being fully covered.

Before making a final decision, you should read the Member Guidelines for each plan. Understanding the exact phase-in schedules and what constitutes an "eligible" bill is crucial.

Take our comprehensive health sharing quiz to find the best fit for your family. Compare all available health sharing plans side-by-side.

Remember, health sharing is a commitment to community and financial responsibility. Whether you choose Sedera or Zion, ensure you have a plan in place for your IUA costs and understand the sharing guidelines thoroughly. By doing your due diligence, you can secure affordable healthcare that aligns with your values and financial goals.

For more detailed breakdowns of other secular and faith-based options, explore our full directory. Finding the right fit ensures that you are protected without compromising your financial stability or personal beliefs.