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Sedera vs Medi-Share: Secular vs Christian Health Sharing for 2026
Sedera and Medi-Share both have strong reputations, but the gap between them starts with a single question: are you a practicing Christian? Medi-Share (4.5/5, founded 1993) requires a Christian statement of faith and is the largest health sharing ministry in the country — nearly 350,000 members, First Health PPO network, telehealth, partial prescription sharing, no annual or lifetime cap, quote-based individual cost. Sedera (4.5/5, founded 2014, 50,000+ members) is the most-established secular option — no faith requirement, HSA compatible, any doctor, individual cost $88–$413/month (most working-age members pay $88–$402; the 60–64 band runs higher), unlimited cap. Both phase pre-existing conditions in over time, and neither is the pick for an immediate managed condition. If faith is not a factor, Sedera is the natural choice; if you are Christian and want the largest community, Medi-Share is the proven option. Prices may vary depending on membership elections. Please see Membership Guidelines for full sharing rules. The Sedera Membership may not be available in all states.
Sedera and Medi-Share both have strong reputations, but the gap between them starts with a single question: are you a practicing Christian? Medi-Share (4.5/5, founded 1993) requires a Christian statement of faith and is the largest health sharing ministry in the country — nearly 350,000 members, First Health PPO network, telehealth, partial prescription sharing, no annual or lifetime cap, quote-based individual cost. Sedera (4.5/5, founded 2014, 50,000+ members) is the most-established secular option — no faith requirement, HSA compatible, any doctor, individual cost $88–$413/month (most working-age members pay $88–$402; the 60–64 band runs higher), unlimited cap. Both phase pre-existing conditions in over time, and neither is the pick for an immediate managed condition. If faith is not a factor, Sedera is the natural choice; if you are Christian and want the largest community, Medi-Share is the proven option. Prices may vary depending on membership elections. Please see Membership Guidelines for full sharing rules. The Sedera Membership may not be available in all states.
| Factor | Sedera | Medi-Share |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost (Individual) | $88-$413 | Quote-based (no published rate card) |
| Initial Unshareable Amount (IUA) | $500 / $1,000 / $1,500 / $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 | 12-36 month 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.
Sedera wins for secular members who want HSA compatibility and IUA flexibility; Medi-Share wins for Christians who want the largest, most established community.
Choose Sedera if
You are not a practicing Christian — or simply do not want a faith requirement — and want a well-established secular health sharing plan with flexible IUA tiers from $500 to $5,000 and HSA compatibility. Sedera has 50,000+ members, has operated since 2014, and is popular with self-employed members who want to dial their monthly cost to cash flow. An Existing Medical Condition phases in over 12–36 months — not ideal for an immediate need, but the plan is transparent about the timeline.
Choose Medi-Share if
You are a committed Christian who wants the largest health sharing community (nearly 350,000 members since 1993), a structured First Health PPO network, telehealth, and partial prescription sharing. Medi-Share has no annual or lifetime cap, a 36-month pre-existing wait (capped sharing begins after 3 years), and is the most-reviewed plan in the industry. Note: ongoing maintenance prescriptions are not shared, and in-person outpatient mental health is not covered.
Ready to enroll?
These go straight to the plan’s own enrollment page — no extra hops.
Sedera
4.5/5Current quote required · Members comfortable with the published Member Principles and voluntary medical cost sharing
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 Sedera require a Christian faith?
No. Sedera is fully secular — no statement of faith and no church attendance required. Medi-Share requires a Christian statement of faith, so if you are not a practicing Christian, Sedera is the only option between these two.
Is Sedera or Medi-Share cheaper?
It depends on age and the IUA you choose. Sedera starts around $88/month individual, while Medi-Share is quote-based. But Sedera's cost can be kept lower for younger members by selecting a higher IUA tier, while Medi-Share's AHP options start at $3,000. For most working-age individuals (18–59), compare Sedera's $88–$402 range with a Medi-Share quote.
Is Sedera HSA compatible?
Yes. Sedera is HSA compatible, meaning you can pair it with a Health Savings Account and use pre-tax dollars for member responsibility costs. Medi-Share is not HSA compatible.
How do pre-existing conditions compare?
Sedera phases in sharing for Existing Medical Conditions over a long runway — nothing shared the first 12 months, graduated annual caps through month 36, fully shareable after 36 months (36-month look-back applies). 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 — a comparable timeline, though Medi-Share's cap remains in place indefinitely rather than becoming fully open-ended. If you need a common managed condition covered quickly, consider Zion HealthShare (day-one for blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes) instead.
Which has more members?
Medi-Share has nearly 350,000 members — the largest health sharing ministry in the US by a wide margin. Sedera has 50,000+ members. Medi-Share has the deeper community pool; Sedera is the more established secular option.
Christian sharing community
Medi-Share
Monthly share varies · ★ 4.5
A Christian bill-sharing ministry established in 1993. Get a personalized monthly share quote and review first-month and condition-specific eligibility limits before joining.
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