title: "Zion HealthShare vs Medi-Share: Which Plan Wins in 2026?" description: "Zion (no faith required, day-1 pre-existing coverage) vs Medi-Share (largest, most established). Here's how they compare." author: "WhichHealthShare Editorial" published: "2026-02-08" updated: "2026-02-08"

Zion HealthShare ($185–$268/month) and Medi-Share ($227–$405/month) are the two mainstream health sharing options that accommodate the broadest range of people: Zion requires no faith commitment (as of Jan 2026) and covers pre-existing conditions day 1, while Medi-Share has 500,000 members, the largest member base for stability, but imposes a 12-month pre-existing wait and requires Christian faith commitment. The choice between them hinges on whether you have a pre-existing condition and whether faith matters to you.

Head-to-Head Comparison

| Factor | Zion HealthShare | Medi-Share | |--------|-----------------|-----------| | Monthly Cost | $185–$268 | $227–$405 | | Members | 35,000 | 500,000 | | Pre-existing Wait | Immediate (day 1) | 12 months | | Coverage Cap | $250,000 | $350,000 | | Faith Required | No (changed Jan 2026) | Yes | | Tobacco Users | Accepted (higher cost) | Often excluded | | Waiting Period Costs (if pre-existing) | $0 | $1,800–$3,600+ | | Year-One Cost (with pre-existing) | $2,220–$3,216 + medical | $2,724–$4,860 + 100% medical | | Best For | Pre-existing conditions; non-religious | Largest stable pool; faith-based community |

The core difference: Zion covers you from day 1 for any condition. Medi-Share waits 12 months. For someone with diabetes, hypertension, or any chronic condition, that waiting period can cost $1,800–$3,600+ out of pocket in year one.

The Zion Advantage: Day 1 Pre-existing Coverage

Zion's single biggest advantage is the immediate pre-existing condition coverage. Join today, and eligible conditions are covered immediately—no waiting period.

This is huge for anyone with:

• Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Thyroid conditions
• Any chronic medication needs

Real cost impact: A person with diabetes averaging $300/month in medications joins Zion and pays $185–$268/month + medication sharing. Same person joins Medi-Share and pays $227–$405/month + 100% of medications for 12 months before sharing starts.

Year-1 real cost:

• Zion: $2,220–$3,216 + shared medication costs (~$300/month shared) = ~$6,000–$6,500
• Medi-Share: $2,724–$4,860 + 100% medication costs ($3,600/year) = ~$6,300–$8,500

For someone with a pre-existing condition, Zion is typically $500–$2,000 cheaper year one, and that advantage continues in year 2+.

The faith requirement drop: In January 2026, Zion eliminated its faith requirement. This makes it the only mainstream health sharing plan offering day-1 pre-existing coverage without faith restrictions—a unique market position.

The Medi-Share Advantage: Size and Standardization

Medi-Share has 500,000 members—14x larger than Zion. This matters for:

1. Pool stability. Larger pools are less vulnerable to claim spikes. If a severe medical event year hits, a 500K-member pool absorbs it better than a 35K-member pool.

2. Standardized processes. Medi-Share has been operating since 1992 and has refined claim handling, appeals processes, and member support to an industrial level. Zion is more nimble but less established.

3. Historical data. Medi-Share has 30+ years of track records. You know what to expect. Zion's track record is good, but shorter.

4. Faith-based community (if that matters to you). If you want a faith-based healthcare community, Medi-Share is more developed than Zion.

The cost trade: Medi-Share costs $42–$137/month more than Zion. For someone without a pre-existing condition, that extra cost buys you the stability of a 30-year-old, 500K-member organization.

For someone with a pre-existing condition, the 12-month waiting period makes Medi-Share economically worse despite its size advantage.

The Waiting Period Elephant in the Room

Let's be direct: if you have a pre-existing condition, Medi-Share's 12-month waiting period is its biggest weakness.

You pay full price for the first 12 months of eligible medical costs, then Medi-Share starts sharing. For people with chronic conditions requiring regular medications or doctor visits, this creates real hardship.

Can you afford it? If you have $2,000–$4,000 in savings to cover one year of medical costs out of pocket, Medi-Share becomes viable after the wait. If not, you can't afford Medi-Share despite its marketing.

Zion's day-1 coverage eliminates this problem entirely.

Coverage Cap: $250K vs $350K

Zion caps at $250,000 per incident. Medi-Share at $350,000.

For most people, this difference is theoretical. But for someone facing cancer treatment ($400K–$600K), major accident, or transplant, the $100K difference matters.

If you have serious medical risk: Choose Medi-Share for the higher cap, or skip health sharing entirely and get insurance or CrowdHealth (no cap).

If you're healthy: Either cap is acceptable—the likelihood of hitting it is low.

Faith Requirement: Zion's 2026 Game Changer

Until January 2026, both Zion and Medi-Share required faith commitments. Zion dropped the requirement; Medi-Share did not.

For secular people or those uncomfortable with faith-based healthcare, Zion is now the only mainstream option in this comparison.

For faith-based people who want the largest community, Medi-Share remains the choice due to its 500K-member base.

The Real-World Scenario Test

Scenario 1: You have Type 2 diabetes, age 40, self-employed

• Zion: $230/month × 12 + $300/month medication (shared) = $2,760 + $3,600 = $6,360/year
• Medi-Share: $335/month × 12 + $300/month medication (100% out of pocket for 12 months) + $300/month medication (shared) for months 13–12 = $4,020 + $3,600 + $1,800 = $9,420/year

Zion wins by $3,060/year.

Scenario 2: You're healthy, age 35, no pre-existing conditions

• Zion: $200/month × 12 = $2,400/year (assuming no claims)
• Medi-Share: $300/month × 12 = $3,600/year (assuming no claims)

Zion wins by $1,200/year, but Medi-Share's larger pool provides more stability if you suddenly file a claim.

Scenario 3: You have cancer diagnosed while insured elsewhere, want to join for ongoing treatment

• Zion: Covers eligible cancer-related costs day 1 (up to $250K cap)
• Medi-Share: 12-month waiting period, then covers (up to $350K cap)

Zion wins if waiting period is unacceptable; Medi-Share wins if you can absorb the 12-month wait and have a higher cap need.

The Bottom Line

Choose Zion if:

• You have a pre-existing condition (day-1 coverage is invaluable)
• You want non-religious health sharing (Zion is now the only mainstream option)
• You prioritize lower monthly costs
• You want to start coverage immediately

Choose Medi-Share if:

• You're healthy with no pre-existing conditions
• You value the largest member base and 30-year track record
• You want faith-based community alongside healthcare
• You need the higher $350K coverage cap for serious medical risk

Choose neither if:

• You need coverage above $350,000 (CrowdHealth has no caps)
• You can't absorb waiting period costs (Zion covers immediately, Medi-Share doesn't)
• You need to satisfy an insurance mandate (health sharing doesn't count)

Methodology

Comparison reflects 2026 pricing, coverage policies, and member data from official plan websites and WhichHealthShare analysis.

Want to compare other plans? See all 7 major health sharing options side-by-side. Ready to apply? Zion review | Medi-Share review