title: "Health Sharing vs Presidio Insurance: Which Covers More?" description: "Health sharing plans (no caps, waiting periods, faith restrictions) vs Presidio short-term insurance ($250–$450/month, actual insurance protection)." author: "WhichHealthShare Editorial" published: "2026-02-08" updated: "2026-02-08"

Health sharing ministries (Zion, CHM, Medi-Share) and Presidio short-term insurance represent opposite approaches to healthcare costs: health sharing offers lower monthly premiums ($115–$405/month) with high deductibles, waiting periods, and coverage caps, while Presidio insurance costs $250–$450/month but provides actual insurance-level regulation, guaranteed coverage, no waiting periods, and predictable out-of-pocket limits. The choice hinges on whether you prioritize lowest monthly cost (health sharing) or guaranteed insurance protection (Presidio).

Core Comparison

| Factor | Health Sharing Plans | Presidio Insurance | |--------|------------|----------| | Monthly Cost | $115–$405 | $250–$450 | | Type | Unregulated pooling | Actual short-term insurance | | Pre-existing Conditions | 6–12 month wait (except Zion) | Covered day 1 | | Coverage Cap | $200K–$350K | Typically $500K–$1M | | Deductible | None (pooled cost-sharing) | $2,000–$5,000 typically | | Regulation | None (no state oversight) | Regulated by state insurance commission | | Mandate Compliance | No | Yes | | Guaranteed Coverage | No (community-dependent) | Yes (insurer obligation) | | Best For | Healthy people, low-claim years | People needing insurance-level protection |

Health Sharing: Lower Cost, Less Certainty

Health sharing costs $115–$405/month depending on the plan. This is genuinely cheap for healthy people.

The catch:

• Waiting periods delay coverage (6–12 months for pre-existing)
• Coverage caps create liability ($200K–$350K typical)
• Contributions are pooled, not legally guaranteed
• No state regulation or oversight
• Doesn't satisfy employer/mandate requirements

Who it works for: Healthy people under 50 with good savings and few expected claims.

Who it doesn't work for: People with pre-existing conditions, serious diagnoses, or low savings.

Presidio: Insurance-Level Protection at Moderate Cost

Presidio is short-term insurance, not health sharing. It costs $250–$450/month, which is higher than most health sharing plans but lower than ACA insurance.

What you get:

• Actual insurance regulation and state oversight
• Pre-existing conditions covered day 1
• High coverage caps ($500K–$1M)
• Predictable deductibles and out-of-pocket limits
• Mandate compliance (satisfies employer/state requirements)
• Guaranteed claims payment (insurer obligation)

The trade: Higher monthly cost than health sharing, formal deductibles instead of pooled cost-sharing.

Real cost scenario: Presidio $300/month × 12 + $3,000 deductible = $6,600/year if you hit the deductible. Health sharing $200/month × 12 = $2,400/year if no claims.

Presidio costs more, but only if you file claims.

Pre-existing Conditions: The Deal-Breaker

If you have a pre-existing condition:

Health sharing: 6–12 month wait (except Zion). Year-one cost for someone with diabetes: $2,000–$4,000 + 100% medical costs = $5,600–$8,600.

Presidio: Covered day 1, no waiting period. Year-one cost: $250–$450/month + medical costs = $3,000–$5,400 + deductible met = real cost depends on claims.

Presidio wins decisively for pre-existing conditions.

Mandate Compliance: Insurance vs Non-Insurance

Health sharing does not satisfy:

• Employer mandate requirements
• ACA individual mandate (some states)
• State insurance requirements
• Loan/mortgage requirements

Presidio does satisfy all mandate requirements (it's actual insurance).

If you need to satisfy any healthcare mandate: Presidio wins.

Cost Comparison: When Health Sharing Wins

Health sharing's advantage exists only for zero-claim, healthy people:

Healthy 35-year-old, zero claims:

• Health sharing: $150/month × 12 = $1,800/year
• Presidio: $300/month × 12 = $3,600/year

Health sharing wins by $1,800.

But the moment claims appear, the economics shift. A single $5,000 claim with health sharing advisory fees can quickly exceed Presidio's deductible.

Coverage Cap Risk

Health sharing caps range from $200K–$350K. You're liable for anything above.

Presidio's caps are $500K–$1M. Much higher protection.

For cancer, major accident, or chronic illness requiring expensive ongoing treatment: Presidio provides more security.

State Oversight and Recourse

Health sharing is unregulated. If a plan defaults or denies a claim unfairly, you have limited recourse. No state insurance commissioner to appeal to.

Presidio is regulated insurance. If the insurer denies a claim improperly, you can appeal to your state's insurance commissioner. This matters.

Real-World Scenario

Person: Age 50, diagnosed with hypertension, self-employed, no employer mandate

Health Sharing Path (Zion):

• Monthly: $250
• Pre-existing wait: Immediate (Zion advantage)
• Year-1 cost: $3,000 + medication sharing (assume $200/month shared) = $3,000 + $2,400 = $5,400
• Coverage cap: $250,000

Presidio Path:

• Monthly: $350
• Pre-existing: Covered day 1
• Year-1 cost: $4,200 + $3,000 deductible + medication costs (assume covered at deductible) = $7,200
• Coverage cap: $750,000

For this person:

• Health sharing is $1,800 cheaper year 1
• But if they have major medical event, Presidio's higher cap ($750K vs $250K) provides more security

Decision: If risk-averse, Presidio. If budget-conscious and healthy, Zion.

The Bottom Line

Choose health sharing if:

• You're healthy with few expected claims
• You want lowest monthly cost
• You can absorb waiting periods (Zion covers day 1)
• You don't need mandate compliance
• You have good savings for worst-case scenarios

Choose Presidio if:

• You have pre-existing conditions
• You need actual insurance protection
• You need to satisfy mandate requirements
• You want state-regulated recourse if claims are denied
• You want high coverage caps ($500K–$1M)

Choose based on health status, not just price.

Methodology

Comparison reflects 2026 health sharing and Presidio pricing and policy data.

Want more details? Presidio review | Health sharing comparison | Health sharing vs insurance guide