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Knew Health vs Medi-Share: Secular vs Christian Health Sharing for 2026
Knew Health and Medi-Share offer very different proposals. Knew Health (4.2/5, secular, founded 2017) is a wellness- and prevention-first health sharing community — no faith requirement, any doctor, individual cost $178–$379/month, unlimited cap. Medi-Share (4.5/5, Christian faith required, founded 1993) is the largest health sharing ministry in America — nearly 350,000 members, quote-based individual cost, First Health PPO network with 1,000,000+ providers, telehealth and partial prescription sharing included, no annual or lifetime sharing cap. If you are not a practicing Christian, Knew Health is the obvious fit. If you are Christian and want the largest, most established community, Medi-Share is hard to beat — though you give up secular eligibility, HSA compatibility (Medi-Share is not HSA compatible either), and Knew's wellness focus. Here is how they compare.
Knew Health and Medi-Share offer very different proposals. Knew Health (4.2/5, secular, founded 2017) is a wellness- and prevention-first health sharing community — no faith requirement, any doctor, individual cost $178–$379/month, unlimited cap. Medi-Share (4.5/5, Christian faith required, founded 1993) is the largest health sharing ministry in America — nearly 350,000 members, quote-based individual cost, First Health PPO network with 1,000,000+ providers, telehealth and partial prescription sharing included, no annual or lifetime sharing cap. If you are not a practicing Christian, Knew Health is the obvious fit. If you are Christian and want the largest, most established community, Medi-Share is hard to beat — though you give up secular eligibility, HSA compatibility (Medi-Share is not HSA compatible either), and Knew's wellness focus. Here is how they compare.
| Factor | Knew Health | Medi-Share |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost (Individual) | $178-$379 | Quote-based (no published rate card) |
| Initial Unshareable Amount (IUA) | $1,000 / $2,500 / $5,000 | $3,000 / $6,000 / $9,000 / $12,000 |
| Coverage Cap | Unlimited | No sharing limits beyond the first month of membership. Sharing is limited to $50,000 the first month of membership. See Medi-Share Guidelines for limitations on sharing of pre-existing conditions and maternity. |
| Faith Requirement | None (secular) | Christian (light) |
| Pre-Existing Wait | Phase-in | 36 months |
| Network | No network restriction | First Health |
| Prescriptions | Included | Partial |
| Mental Health | Included | Partial |
| Maternity | Included | Included |
| Processing Time | 30-45 days | 45-60 days |
Verified July 2026 from official plan materials and each plan's official website.
If you are not Christian, Knew Health is your pick; if you are Christian and want the largest, most established community, Medi-Share is the more proven option.
Choose Knew Health if
You are not a practicing Christian (or simply do not want a faith requirement), want a wellness- and prevention-first community built around direct primary care, and are comfortable with a smaller, newer plan (founded 2017). Knew Health has an unlimited cap, caps members at three IUAs per year, and covers telehealth, mental health, maternity, and preventive care. Individual cost runs $178–$379/month.
Choose Medi-Share if
You are a committed Christian who wants the largest and most established health sharing community — nearly 350,000 members with a 30-year track record. Medi-Share includes telehealth, partial prescription sharing, and TeleBehavioral health. It uses the First Health PPO network (1,000,000+ providers) and has no annual or lifetime sharing cap. Individual cost are quote-based with a 36-month pre-existing wait. Note that ongoing maintenance prescriptions are not shared and in-person outpatient mental health is not covered.
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Knew Health
4.2/5from $178/mo · Wellness-focused, non-religious individuals, families, and self-employed people seeking an affordable secular cost-sharing community
Medi-Share
4.5/5Monthly share varies · Christian families, established community with 30+ years history
How much is Medi-Share a month?
Medi-Share does not publish a universal rate card. The monthly share depends on the Annual Household Portion you choose ($3,000, $6,000, $9,000, or $12,000), date of birth, marital status, state, and household size, so a single adult needs a personalized quote. The one published starting price is $99 a month for Medi-Share 65+, for members 65 or older with Medicare Parts A and B. Our guide to how much Medi-Share costs a month walks through the AHP tiers and the costs sharing does not pick up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Knew Health require a Christian faith?
No. Knew Health is fully secular — no statement of faith, no church attendance, open to anyone. Medi-Share requires a Christian statement of faith, so if you are not a practicing Christian, Knew Health is the only option between these two.
Which is cheaper, Knew Health or Medi-Share?
Knew Health runs $178–$379/month for an individual. Medi-Share is quote-based. Your actual cost depends on age, household size, and chosen IUA, so compare a Medi-Share quote against the Knew Health band.
Does Knew Health cover prescriptions?
Knew Health includes prescription sharing for the first 120 days of a new eligible need. Medi-Share shares new acute-condition prescriptions for up to 6 months; ongoing maintenance medications are not shared by Medi-Share. Neither is a comprehensive prescription plan — if you take ongoing maintenance medications, verify each plan's specific terms.
How do pre-existing conditions compare?
Knew Health phases pre-existing conditions in over time — see the member guidelines for the exact schedule. Medi-Share does not share pre-existing conditions for the first 36 months, then shares up to $100,000/member/year after 3 years and up to $500,000/member/year after 5 years. For most common managed conditions, Medi-Share's schedule is more transparent.
Which is more established?
Medi-Share by a wide margin. Founded in 1993 with nearly 350,000 members and over 30 years of history versus Knew Health's 2017 launch. Medi-Share also rates slightly higher at 4.5/5 versus 4.2/5 for Knew Health.
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