CHM (Christian Healthcare Ministries) Review 2026
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CHM (Christian Healthcare Ministries)
2,000,000+
Best for Strict Christians seeking lowest cost option, most affordable ministry
Monthly Cost
from $115/mo
Coverage Cap
$125,000 per illness base; CHM Plus add-on ($42/unit/mo) extends to $1M per illness (Silver/Bronze) or unlimited (Gold).
Pre-Existing Wait
12 months
Faith Requirement
Christian (Strict)
CHM (Christian Healthcare Ministries) is a well-regarded plan (4.4★). If you're still comparing, these rate higher in our review and are open to people of faith:
Full transparency: we may earn a commission if you enroll through the higher-rated plans above (at no cost to you), and we earn nothing on CHM (Christian Healthcare Ministries). Our ratings are editorial and set before any monetization. How we make money →
Overview
About CHM (Christian Healthcare Ministries)
CHM (Christian Healthcare Ministries) is the most affordable health sharing ministry, founded in 1981, with 2,000,000+ members based in Barberton, OH. Monthly contributions start at $115 for individuals and $345 for families, with a $125,000 per-illness sharing cap. The optional CHM Plus add-on ($42/unit/month) extends coverage to $1M per illness (Silver/Bronze) or unlimited (Gold). Strict Christian faith requirement including church attendance. Pre-existing conditions are no longer pre-existing after 12 months symptom/treatment-free (cancer requires 5 years cancer-free). Covers maternity, preventive, emergency, and surgery with any doctor — no network.
At a Glance
Key Facts
- Monthly cost: $115-$299 (individual), $230-$598 (couple), $345-$897 (family)
- $125,000 per-illness base cap; CHM Plus add-on ($42/unit/mo) extends to $1M per illness (Silver/Bronze) or unlimited (Gold)
- Strict Christian faith + church attendance required
- 12-month pre-existing waiting period (symptom/treatment-free); cancer requires 5 years cancer-free
- Any doctor — no network restriction
- Founded 1981 (oldest ministry)
- 2,000,000+ members
- Covers: maternity, preventive, emergency, surgery
The Honest Take
Pros and Cons
What we like
- Most affordable option — starting at $115/month
- $125,000 per-incident cap ($1M/illness with the optional CHM Plus program)
- Established since 1981 — oldest ministry
- Any doctor — no network restriction
- Maternity coverage included
- Pre-existing conditions eligible after 12 months symptom/treatment-free
Watch out for
- Strict Christian faith requirement + church attendance required
- No telehealth coverage
- No prescription drug coverage
- Most restrictive faith requirements
Coverage
What's Covered
telehealth
prescriptions
maternity
mental Health
dental
vision
preventive
emergency
surgery
Run the numbers for CHM (Christian Healthcare Ministries)
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Want to see where CHM (Christian Healthcare Ministries) sits on price vs every other plan? See the 2026 cost index.
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HSA Secure
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How CHM Membership Actually Works
CHM (Christian Healthcare Ministries) is the oldest health sharing ministry in the country — operating since 1981, with 2,000,000+ members. It is not insurance: members send in monthly financial gifts, and eligible medical bills are shared among the membership. You can see any doctor or hospital, because there is no network — you are a self-pay patient who submits itemized bills to CHM for sharing, with typical processing taking 30–45 days.
Individual membership runs $115–$299/month depending on the tier you choose, with couples at $230–$598 and families at $345–$897. Your Initial Unshareable Amount (the portion you cover yourself per incident) is $300, $500, or $1,000 depending on tier. The base program shares up to $125,000 per illness; the optional CHM Plus add-on ($42 per unit per month) extends that to $1 million per illness on Silver and Bronze, or unlimited on Gold.
What CHM Shares — and What It Never Shares
CHM shares eligible bills for surgery, emergency care, maternity, and preventive care. That maternity inclusion at CHM’s price point is a large part of why budget-focused Christian families pick it.
Just as important is what CHM does not share, because these gaps surprise people: prescriptions, telehealth, mental health care, dental, and vision are all outside the program. If you take ongoing medications, you will pay cash for them (most members pair CHM with discount programs like GoodRx) — that recurring cost belongs in any honest comparison against insurance or against plans like Zion HealthShare and Sedera, which include more of these categories.
CHM’s Faith Requirement Is the Strictest of Any Major Ministry
CHM requires a genuine Christian commitment AND regular church attendance — the most restrictive faith requirement among the major ministries. Medi-Share requires a Christian statement of faith without the attendance requirement; Zion HealthShare and Sedera have no faith requirement at all. If the faith fit is right, CHM’s price is hard to beat; if it isn’t, the requirement is enforced, not a formality.
On pre-existing conditions: CHM accepts members regardless of health history, but a condition only stops being "pre-existing" for sharing purposes after you have been 12 months symptom- and treatment-free — and cancer requires 5 years cancer-free. Verify your specific situation directly with CHM before enrolling; their program guidelines control.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does CHM (Christian Healthcare Ministries) cost per month?
CHM (Christian Healthcare Ministries) individual plans start at $115/month and go up to $299/month depending on your IUA selection. Family plans start at $345/month. These are 2026 verified rates.
Does CHM (Christian Healthcare Ministries) cover pre-existing conditions?
CHM (Christian Healthcare Ministries) does accept members with pre-existing conditions. A waiting or phase-in period applies before pre-existing conditions become fully eligible for sharing. A condition is no longer pre-existing after 12 months symptom/treatment-free; cancer requires 5 years cancer-free.
Does CHM (Christian Healthcare Ministries) have a faith requirement?
CHM (Christian Healthcare Ministries) faith requirement: Strict Christian faith and church attendance required. You must meet the faith criteria to become a member.
Is CHM (Christian Healthcare Ministries) legitimate?
CHM has operated continuously since 1981 — the oldest health sharing ministry in the US — and reports 2,000,000+ members. It is a real, established cost-sharing ministry, but it is not insurance: sharing is voluntary, there is no legal guarantee a bill will be paid, and no state guaranty fund backs it.
What does CHM not cover?
CHM does not share costs for prescriptions, telehealth, mental health care, dental, or vision. Members pay those out of pocket. It does share eligible bills for surgery, emergency care, maternity, and preventive care, up to $125,000 per illness on the base program (more with the CHM Plus add-on).
How long does CHM take to pay a bill?
Typical processing is 30–45 days from submitting an itemized bill. As a CHM member you are a self-pay patient: you submit bills to CHM, and eligible amounts are shared back to you rather than paid directly to the provider in most cases.
Is CHM HSA-compatible?
No. CHM membership contributions are not HSA-qualified expenses, and membership alone does not make you HSA-eligible the way a high-deductible health plan does. If HSA compatibility matters to you, compare plans specifically designed for it, like HSA Secure.
How does CHM compare to Medi-Share?
CHM is usually cheaper ($115–$299/month individual) and includes maternity, but requires church attendance and shares nothing for prescriptions or telehealth. Medi-Share costs more, has a lighter faith requirement, and includes telehealth. See our full CHM vs Medi-Share comparison for the line-by-line breakdown.
Head to Head
How CHM (Christian Healthcare Ministries) Compares
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