We compared Sedera against all 8 featured plans
Sedera is the most flexible secular membership in our set on IUA tiers and day-one exceptions for high blood pressure and non-insulin diabetes, with an unlimited sharing cap. The real cautions are the 12-month no-share window on other existing conditions, the 20% co-share, quote-only pricing, and the 9-state exclusion list.
Sedera is a medical cost-sharing community made up of members who voluntarily share eligible medical expenses — individual monthly contributions run $88–$413 depending on age and IUA tier, with an unlimited sharing cap, no faith requirement, and no network restriction. Health sharing is not insurance; sharing is voluntary and not guaranteed. Below, we ran Sedera's 2026 pricing, five IUA tiers, sharing cap, provider policy, and existing-condition rules against every plan we feature, then exposed the scoring algorithm we use to match people to plans. The data comes from verified 2026 rate tables; none of it is estimated.
Individual cost
$88 – $413/mo
by age band + IUA tier · quote-based
IUA options
$500 – $5,000
5 tiers — widest range in our set
Sharing cap
None
unlimited per eligible need
Our rating
4.5 / 5
tied #2 in our set
Where Sedera wins — and where it doesn't
- ✓Widest IUA selection in our set — 5 tiers: Sedera offers five Initial Unshareable Amount tiers — $500, $1,000, $1,500, $2,500, and $5,000 — more choice than any other membership we feature, which lets members tune their monthly contribution against their risk tolerance with unusual precision. (Source: sedera.json, verified vs the official ACCESS+ rate card.)
- ✓Day-one sharing for two common conditions: Sedera shares high blood pressure from day one when it is controlled by medication or diet and did not require hospitalization in the prior 3 years, and non-insulin diabetes (most Type 2) is shareable with maintenance medications excluded — the broadest day-one exceptions in our set alongside Zion HealthShare. (Source: SELECT+/ACCESS+ Guidelines, Oct 2023.)
- ✓Unlimited sharing cap: Sedera shares eligible needs with no per-incident, annual, or lifetime dollar cap, per the Membership Guidelines. That is a real catastrophic edge over CHM ($125,000/illness on the base program) and Samaritan ($250,000/need on Classic) — a major surgery is not truncated by a community-wide ceiling.
- ✓No statement of faith required: Sedera is fully secular — open to members of any faith or no faith. CHM and Samaritan require a strict Christian statement of faith. Medi-Share requires a Trinitarian statement plus active church involvement. This matters for the large share of health-sharing searchers who are not looking for a faith requirement.
- ✓HSA-compatible membership: Sedera membership is HSA-compatible per our data file — rare in this category. For self-employed members running a Health Savings Account strategy, that pairing is a genuine differentiator.
- ✓Broad sharing list, any doctor: Telehealth, prescriptions, maternity, mental health, preventive, emergency, and surgery needs are all shareable through Sedera membership, with no network restriction — members see any licensed provider.
- !12-month no-share window on existing conditions: Sedera shares nothing on existing medical conditions for the first 12 months, then applies graduated annual caps through month 36 before needs become fully shareable. Outside the two day-one exceptions (high blood pressure, non-insulin diabetes), a member with an active condition waits longer here than with memberships that phase in sooner.
- !20% member co-share: Sedera applies a 20% co-share to eligible needs — an ongoing member responsibility on top of the IUA. Several memberships in our set share 100% of eligible amounts above the member's chosen threshold.
- !Quote-only pricing: Sedera final cost is quote-based — you cannot see your exact monthly contribution from a published rate table the way you can with Zion HealthShare or CHM. The $88–$413 individual span is verified, but your number requires a quote.
- !Not available in 9 states: Sedera membership excludes Alaska, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Washington — the widest state exclusion list in our featured set.
- !Guidelines can change at the Board's discretion: Sedera's Board can amend the Membership Guidelines at any time (an advisory member vote is optional), with changes taking effect on the Board's designated date and no fixed advance-notice window described for members with an open Need. Members carry more guideline-change risk here than at ministries with formal member votes.
- !No dental or vision, smaller community: Dental and vision are not shareable through Sedera membership, and the community (50,000+ members, founded 2014) is smaller and younger than Medi-Share (1993), CHM (1981), or Samaritan (1994).
Published pricing, as of 2026-07-16.
Run the numbers for Sedera
Model an ER visit, surgery, or pregnancy with your actual household size and see exactly what you'd pay — and how the total annual cost compares across every membership we feature.
Run the Numbers →Proprietary Methodology
How we actually score plans — the algorithm, exposed
Most review sites rank plans by gut feel or commission rate. We run a deterministic scoring function with 5 weighted axes — and we're publishing it here. No other health-sharing comparison site does this.
Budget fit
High weightHow we score it: Individual floor price vs. your stated budget bucket (under $150, $150–250, $250–400, over $400). Plans whose floor undercuts your ceiling get +2; plans that match the midpoint get +2.
Why it matters: Monthly contribution is the #1 search filter. A plan that beats your ceiling on price gets the most weight here.
Faith alignment
High weightHow we score it: Christian-gated plans (Medi-Share, CHM, Samaritan) get +3 for Christian users — and –4 for secular/non-Christian users, who are hard-excluded from christian-strict plans entirely. No-preference users receive +3 for any-faith plans.
Why it matters: Being recommended a plan you can't honestly join is a bad match, not a neutral one. The penalty is asymmetric and intentional.
Pre-existing condition handling
High weightHow we score it: If you have significant pre-existing conditions and a plan accepts them with no phase-in, +3. Minor conditions with acceptance: +2. No conditions at all: +1.
Why it matters: Phase-in periods vary from 12 months (Zion HBP/cholesterol/diabetes) to 36 months (Medi-Share) to 2 full years of ineligibility (CrowdHealth). This is the most consequential variable for people who aren't perfectly healthy.
Coverage priority match
Medium weightHow we score it: Your top priority (cost, broad coverage, maternity, mental health, HSA compatibility) earns +3 if the plan delivers it. Broad coverage is measured by counting included benefits (8+ = +3, 6+ = +2).
Why it matters: A family planning a pregnancy needs to know whether maternity is included. A self-employed contractor using an HSA needs HSA-compatible plans surfaced first.
Plan rating (baseline)
Low weightHow we score it: Each plan's editorial rating (1–5) is added directly to the score as a constant baseline. Zion = 4.8, CrowdHealth = 4.6, Medi-Share = 4.5, Sedera = 4.5, CHM = 4.4, Samaritan = 4.4, Knew = 4.2, HSA Secure = 4.0.
Why it matters: Ratings reflect financial stability, member satisfaction, and claims track record — but they're a small signal that breaks ties rather than dominates the score.
What this means for Sedera:
Sedera carries a 4.5 baseline and gets the +3 faith-alignment bonus for secular and no-preference users — the largest faith bonus available. For someone who wants the widest choice of IUA tiers ($500–$5,000) and HSA compatibility, it will rank near the top. For a member with significant existing medical conditions, the 12-month no-share window pulls the pre-existing axis down versus memberships with shorter phase-ins.
The Centerpiece
Sedera vs. all 8 featured plans — 2026 verified data
The highlighted row is this review's subject. Every number traces to a ministry source file or our accuracy audit. Cap and network data are the most commonly wrong fields in health-sharing content — these are verified.
- IUA / AHP tiers
- $500 / $1,000 / $1,500 / $2,500 / $5,000
- Per-incident cap
- None (unlimited)
- Network
- None — any provider
- Faith req.
- None
- Day-1 pre-existing
- HBP + non-insulin diabetes (guideline conditions apply)
- IUA / AHP tiers
- $1,250 / $2,500 / $5,000
- Per-incident cap
- None (unlimited)
- Network
- None — any provider
- Faith req.
- None
- Day-1 pre-existing
- HBP, high cholesterol, type-2 diabetes (no prior hospitalization)
- IUA / AHP tiers
- $3,000 / $6,000 / $9,000 / $12,000
- Per-incident cap
- None (no per-incident cap)
- Network
- PHCS + First Health PPO (900,000+)
- Faith req.
- Christian statement of faith required
- Day-1 pre-existing
- None — 36-month phase-in for pre-existing
- IUA / AHP tiers
- $500
- Per-incident cap
- None (no per-event cap)
- Network
- None — any doctor
- Faith req.
- None
- Day-1 pre-existing
- None — 2-year ineligibility on pre-existing
- IUA / AHP tiers
- $1,000 / $2,500 / $5,000
- Per-incident cap
- None (unlimited)
- Network
- None — any provider
- Faith req.
- None
- Day-1 pre-existing
- None — not shared year 1
- IUA / AHP tiers
- $300 / $500 / $1,000
- Per-incident cap
- $125,000/illness (base); $1M/illness with Plus add-on
- Network
- None — any provider
- Faith req.
- Strict Christian faith + church attendance
- Day-1 pre-existing
- None — 12-month symptom-free rule applies
- IUA / AHP tiers
- $300 / $500 / $1,000
- Per-incident cap
- $250,000/need (Classic); Save to Share above that
- Network
- None — any provider (peer-to-peer)
- Faith req.
- Strict Christian faith required
- Day-1 pre-existing
- None — 50% first year on most pre-existing
- IUA / AHP tiers
- $1,250 / $2,500 / $5,000
- Per-incident cap
- None (unlimited)
- Network
- None — any provider
- Faith req.
- None
- Day-1 pre-existing
- None — 12-month wait on pre-existing
| Plan | Individual/mo | IUA / AHP tiers | Per-incident cap | Provider network | Faith req. | Day-1 pre-existing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SederaWidest IUA Range ★★★★½4.5 | $88–$413 | $500 / $1,000 / $1,500 / $2,500 / $5,000 | None (unlimited) | None — any provider | None | HBP + non-insulin diabetes (guideline conditions apply) |
| Zion HealthShare ★★★★½4.8 | $114–$320 | $1,250 / $2,500 / $5,000 | None (unlimited) | None — any provider | None | HBP, high cholesterol, type-2 diabetes (no prior hospitalization) |
| Medi-Share ★★★★½4.5 | $115–$470 | $3,000 / $6,000 / $9,000 / $12,000 | None (no per-incident cap) | PHCS + First Health PPO (900,000+) | Christian statement of faith required | None — 36-month phase-in for pre-existing |
| CrowdHealth ★★★★½4.6 | $60–$200 | $500 | None (no per-event cap) | None — any doctor | None | None — 2-year ineligibility on pre-existing |
| Knew Health ★★★★☆4.2 | $142–$379 | $1,000 / $2,500 / $5,000 | None (unlimited) | None — any provider | None | None — not shared year 1 |
| CHM ★★★★☆4.4 | $115–$299 | $300 / $500 / $1,000 | $125,000/illness (base); $1M/illness with Plus add-on | None — any provider | Strict Christian faith + church attendance | None — 12-month symptom-free rule applies |
| Samaritan Ministries ★★★★☆4.4 | $199–$365 | $300 / $500 / $1,000 | $250,000/need (Classic); Save to Share above that | None — any provider (peer-to-peer) | Strict Christian faith required | None — 50% first year on most pre-existing |
| HSA Secure ★★★★☆4 | $114–$320 | $1,250 / $2,500 / $5,000 | None (unlimited) | None — any provider | None | None — 12-month wait on pre-existing |
Sources: ministry data files (Sedera last verified July 2026; others June 2026). Per-incident caps and network data cross-checked against canonical audit anchors. IUA = Initial Unshareable Amount; AHP = Annual Household Portion (Medi-Share's term). Prices may vary depending on membership elections. Please see the Membership Guidelines for full sharing rules. The Sedera Membership may not be available in all states.
Frequently asked questions
Verdict
Who Sedera is right for
Strong match
- ✓Self-employed or gig workers without a faith preference
- ✓Members who want to fine-tune cost vs. risk across 5 IUA tiers
- ✓Anyone managing high blood pressure or non-insulin diabetes who wants day-one sharing
- ✓HSA users looking for a compatible membership
- ✓People who want true any-doctor freedom with an unlimited sharing cap
- ✓Households comfortable with quote-based pricing
Look elsewhere if…
- ✕You live in AK, HI, IL, ME, MD, NH, PA, VT, or WA
- ✕You have existing conditions needing sharing inside the first 12 months
- ✕You want a decades-long track record (Medi-Share, CHM, or Samaritan)
- ✕You want published rate tables instead of a quote (Zion HealthShare, CHM)
- ✕You want a faith-based community (Samaritan or CHM)
- ✕You need dental or vision shareable in-membership
Who Sedera is NOT right for
Being direct about this is the point of the review. This membership is not the right choice if you have an active existing condition — outside high blood pressure and non-insulin diabetes — that needs sharing soon: nothing is shared for the first 12 months, and full shareability takes 36 months. It is also not the right choice if you want a published rate card you can check yourself before talking to anyone — final pricing here is quote-based. And if you live in one of the nine excluded states, the community simply is not open to you.
For those situations, Zion HealthShare is the better fit: published 2026 rate tables, day-one sharing for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type-2 diabetes, and availability in 49 states. The trade-off is fewer IUA tiers (three, starting at $1,250) versus the five-tier $500–$5,000 range here. See the full Sedera vs. Zion comparison for the numbers side by side.
Our pick for flexible IUA tiers
No faith requirement · Any doctor · 5 IUA tiers ($500–$5,000) · Unlimited sharing cap · 4.5★ rating
When you enroll through one of our links, Sedera pays us a commission — at no extra cost to you. Commissions never affect rankings.
- ·You're managing a pre-existing condition and need it covered sooner than 12-36 month phase-in.
- ·Not accredited with major health sharing organizations
Head to Head
How Sedera Compares
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Find My Plan →This program is not insurance. Participation is voluntary and sharing of medical expenses is not guaranteed.
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