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Health Sharing Plans in Illinois (2026)

Short answer

Health sharing is legal in Illinois with no state mandate and no penalty. Sedera accepts Illinois members. Knew Health is not available in this state. 7 plans are currently vetted and available in IL.

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Illinois has no individual mandate and no penalty for skipping ACA coverage. The ACA benchmark premium in 2026 runs around $554/month for an individual — not the most expensive state, but still a steep number if you do not qualify for subsidies. Chicago has one of the largest concentrations of self-employed professionals and small business owners in the country, which is exactly the market health sharing is built for.

Is Health Sharing Legal in Illinois?

Health sharing is fully legal in Illinois. The state has no individual mandate — there is no penalty for choosing health sharing over ACA-compliant insurance. Illinois does not restrict which health sharing ministries can operate here. Sedera accepts Illinois members. Knew Health has excluded Illinois from its service area (more on that below).

Health sharing plans are not regulated by the Illinois Department of Insurance. Members agree to voluntarily share each other's eligible medical costs — there is no guaranteed payment. Read each ministry's membership guidelines carefully before enrolling.

Heads Up: Knew Health Is Not Available in Illinois

Sedera accepts members in Illinois. Sedera is unavailable in California, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Washington. Knew Health does not accept members in Illinois.

These memberships are open to Illinois residents:

  • Sedera — secular, quote-based monthly contribution
  • Zion HealthShare — secular, any doctor, from $114/mo
  • CrowdHealth — secular, ~$140/mo avg, crowdfunded model
  • CHM — Christian, starting at $115/mo
  • Medi-Share — Christian, from $115/mo
  • Samaritan Ministries — Christian, from $210/mo

How Health Sharing Compares to ACA in Illinois

The ACA benchmark (second-lowest-cost Silver plan) in Illinois averages $554/month for an individual in 2026. That is before subsidies. If your income is above roughly $62,000 for a single person — the 400% federal poverty level threshold — you get no ACA subsidy and pay full price. For Chicago-area professionals, that threshold is easy to exceed.

OptionMonthly Cost (Individual)Regulated?Best for
ACA Silver Plan (benchmark)$554/moYesSubsidy-eligible, pre-existing conditions
Medi-Share / Samaritan (mid-tier)$220–$405/moNoChristian members, established ministries
Zion HealthShare (secular)$114–$320/moNoNo faith requirement, any doctor
CHM / CrowdHealth (budget)$115–$140/moNoHealthy, low utilization expected

If you qualify for ACA subsidies, run the numbers first — subsidized ACA can be very competitive. If you do not qualify, the premium gap is significant: $3,000–$5,000 per year in most scenarios.

The Self-Employed Deduction: What IL's 4.95% Tax Rate Means

Self-employed people who pay for traditional health insurance can deduct 100% of premiums from their federal taxable income. Health sharing contributions generally do not qualify for this deduction under current IRS rules — that gap can cost several hundred dollars per year in federal taxes alone.

Illinois adds a flat 4.95% state income tax on top of that. Losing a $6,000 annual deduction means paying an extra $297 in Illinois state taxes — not devastating, but a real number to include in your comparison. A self-employed Chicago-area professional choosing health sharing should factor in roughly $900–$1,200 in lost federal + state deduction value when modeling the true annual cost difference.

Health Sharing Plans Available in Illinois

7 plans are currently vetted and accepting new members in IL. Sedera accepts Illinois members. Knew Health is not available in Illinois. Pricing shown is the starting individual monthly cost for 2026.

Zion HealthShare

No faith requirement

From
$114/mo
individual

Zion HealthShare is a modern health sharing ministry founded in 2019, based in St. George, UT, with 75,000+ members. Monthly contributions start at $114 for individuals and $334 for families, with unlimited sharing per need (no annual or lifetime cap) and no faith requirement. No provider network — members can see any doctor. Includes telehealth, prescriptions, maternity, mental health, preventive care, emergency, and surgery. Pre-existing conditions phase in over 4 years: nothing shared year 1; up to $25,000/request in year 2; up to $50,000/request in year 3; up to $125,000 per 12-month period from year 4 onward (permanent cap). Exception: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes are shareable from day one if the member was not hospitalized for them in the prior 12 months.

CrowdHealth

No faith requirement

From
$60/mo
individual

CrowdHealth is a healthcare crowdfunding platform (NOT health sharing or insurance) founded in 2021, headquartered in Austin, TX. Official homepage (2026-09-14): 37,649 people signed up since founding, 45,000+ bills funded, $101,067,742 medical costs saved, ~7.0 days average to funding YTD. Uses peer-to-peer crowdfunding where members contribute to fund each other's medical bills. Monthly advocacy fee $60 plus variable crowdfunding (published average $142.08/mo for a single member under 55). No coverage caps, no faith requirement, any doctor, month-to-month flexibility.

Medi-Share

Christian faith required

From
$/mo
individual

Medi-Share is a Christian bill-sharing ministry with nearly 350,000 members as of October 2025, founded in 1993, with over $8 billion shared and discounted, and based in Melbourne, FL. Medi-Share Complete (under 65) uses an Annual Household Portion (AHP) of $3,000, $6,000, $9,000, or $12,000 — similar to a deductible. Medi-Share does not price sharing by events or tiers. Medi-Share 65+ is a separate program with a $500 AHP. The monthly share varies by AHP, date of birth, marital status, state, and household size; WhichHealthShare does not publish a universal rate card. 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. Pre-existing conditions are not shared for the first 36 months; after 36 months shared up to $100,000 per member per year, and after 60 months up to $500,000 per member per year. The provider network is First Health (1,000,000+ providers). Out-of-network care can leave extra amounts ineligible for sharing. Telehealth and telebehavioral health are available. Maternity may be eligible for married members when conception is after membership began and the AHP is met, up to $125,000 per pregnancy. Eligible prescriptions for a new injury, accident, or illness may be shared for up to 6 months. A Trinitarian statement of faith and active church involvement are required.

Sedera

No faith requirement

From
$88/mo
individual

Sedera offers voluntary medical cost sharing. Members must agree and attest to its Member Principles and Commitments. WhichHealthShare's existing enrollment program is Prime+ with TRU. TRU services are separate from Sedera medical cost sharing; confirm the current services, exclusions and contributions before joining. Sedera's official website warns that some information may be outdated during maintenance. Check current availability and the Membership Guidelines with Member Services. Members remain responsible for unpaid medical bills.

CHM (Christian Healthcare Ministries)

Active Christian required

From
$115/mo
individual

CHM (Christian Healthcare Ministries) is the most affordable health sharing ministry, founded in 1981, with 300,000+ 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.

Samaritan Ministries

Active Christian required

From
$210/mo
individual

Samaritan Ministries is an established health sharing ministry founded in 1994, based in Lancaster, PA, with 250,000+ members. Monthly Classic shares are $210-$400 for individuals and $650-$760 for 2-person households (rates effective July 1, 2026, by age of oldest participant), plus a $200 startup fee, with a $250,000 per-need cap (Classic). Requires strict Christian faith and church attendance. Pre-existing conditions share at 50% for the first year; cancer, heart, and hereditary conditions require 5 years symptom-free; type-1 diabetes is permanently excluded.

HSA Secure

No faith requirement

From
$114/mo
individual

HSA Secure is purpose-built for HSA compatibility among health sharing products: it pairs Zion HealthShare (secular, founded 2019, 75,000+ members) with a MEC (minimum essential coverage) preventive insurance policy so the HDHP/MEC structure is handled in one product. Zion is also marked HSA-compatible on this site without that same bundled MEC product. Sedera membership by itself does not qualify for an HSA, per Sedera's guidelines. Monthly contributions start around $114/month for individuals. The plan covers preventive care, telehealth, prescriptions, maternity (after 6-month wait), emergency, and surgery. There are no network restrictions, no annual or lifetime sharing caps, and no faith requirement. IUA tiers are $1,250, $2,500, or $5,000 (the $1,000 tier was retired January 1, 2026). The main trade-offs: mental health is not directly shareable, and pre-existing conditions follow a phased sharing schedule (nothing shared months 1-12, up to $25,000/yr months 13-24, up to $50,000/yr months 25-35, up to $125,000/yr from month 36) — without Zion Direct's day-one chronic carve-outs.

What Illinois Residents Should Consider

No Individual Mandate — No Penalty

Illinois has no state individual mandate. You can choose health sharing with zero penalty risk. This is different from states like California and Massachusetts, which penalize residents for lacking ACA-compliant coverage.

Chicago's Self-Employed Market

Chicago is home to a large concentration of self-employed professionals, consultants, freelancers, and small business owners — exactly the people who earn too much for ACA subsidies but find $554/month premiums hard to justify. The cost-of-living gap between Chicago and downstate Illinois also means the premium pain hits Chicago residents harder relative to income. Run the annual cost comparison before deciding — our Annual Cost Projector can help.

Sedera Accepts Illinois Members

Sedera accepts members in Illinois. Knew Health is not available in Illinois. Zion HealthShare (from $114/mo, any doctor) and CrowdHealth (~$140/mo avg) are also open to Illinois residents. Both have no faith requirement.

Pre-Existing Conditions

Most health sharing plans impose waiting periods for pre-existing conditions — ranging from 12 months symptom-free (CHM) to 24 months or more (Zion HealthShare). If you have ongoing conditions that require regular treatment or medication, that waiting period is a real gap to account for before switching off ACA coverage.

Common Questions — Illinois

Is health sharing legal in Illinois?

Yes, health sharing is fully legal in Illinois. There is no state individual mandate and no penalty for choosing health sharing over ACA-compliant insurance. Illinois does not restrict which health sharing ministries can operate here.

Does Illinois have an individual mandate?

No. Illinois has no state individual mandate. Residents face no penalty for lacking ACA-compliant coverage. The federal mandate penalty was also eliminated in 2019.

Is Sedera available in Illinois?

Yes. Sedera accepts members in Illinois. Sedera is unavailable in California, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Washington. Knew Health is not available to Illinois residents. Zion HealthShare, Medi-Share, Samaritan Ministries, and CrowdHealth are also available to Illinois residents.

How much can I save vs ACA in Illinois?

The ACA benchmark premium in Illinois is approximately $554/month for 2026. Health sharing plans start as low as $115–$185/month for individuals. If you do not qualify for ACA subsidies, the annual savings can reach $4,000–$5,000. Factor in the lost self-employed deduction (roughly $900–$1,200 in combined federal + Illinois state tax value for a $6,000 annual contribution) to get the true net savings.

What are the best secular health sharing options for Illinois residents?

Sedera accepts Illinois members. Zion HealthShare (from $114/mo, any doctor, no faith requirement) and CrowdHealth (~$140/mo avg, crowdfunded model, no faith requirement) are also open to IL residents. Use our free advisor to see which fits your situation better.

Find the Right Plan for Illinois

Our 2-minute advisor filters by state availability, faith requirement, and budget. Sedera accepts Illinois members. Knew Health is not available in Illinois.

Our top pick

Zion HealthShare

from $114/mo · ★ 4.8

Our highest-rated plan (4.8/5): no faith requirement, HSA-compatible, broad coverage, and managed conditions shared from day one.

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