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Health Sharing Plans in Pennsylvania (2026)
Health sharing is legal in Pennsylvania with no state mandate and no penalty. One important note: Sedera is not available to PA residents. 7 plans are currently vetted and available in PA.
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Pennsylvania is a solid state for health sharing — no individual mandate, a sizeable self-employed and small-business population, and a $572/month ACA benchmark that gives alternatives room to compete. The one meaningful restriction is that Sedera does not accept PA members. Here is everything PA residents need to know.
Is Health Sharing Legal in Pennsylvania?
Health sharing is fully legal in Pennsylvania. The state has no individual mandate and no state-specific restrictions on health sharing ministries. PA residents who choose health sharing over ACA insurance face no tax penalty.
As in every state, health sharing plans in Pennsylvania are not insurance and are not regulated by the Pennsylvania Insurance Department. Members agree to voluntarily share each other's eligible medical costs — payment is not legally guaranteed. Read each ministry's member guidelines carefully before enrolling.
Sedera Is Not Available in Pennsylvania
Sedera — the secular health sharing option based in Austin, TX — excludes Pennsylvania from enrollment alongside AK, HI, IL, ME, MD, NH, VT, and WA. If you were comparing Sedera specifically, the closest alternatives in PA are:
- Zion HealthShare — secular-friendly (no faith requirement), $114/mo individual, unlimited sharing cap
- CrowdHealth — crowdfunding model (not health sharing), no faith requirement, starting ~$60–$140/mo
Sedera's state exclusion list was verified against their published enrollment data. Check directly with Sedera if you want to confirm current availability.
How Health Sharing Compares to ACA in Pennsylvania
The ACA benchmark (second-lowest-cost Silver plan) in Pennsylvania averages $572/month for an individual in 2026, according to KFF data. If your income is above 400% of the federal poverty level (~$62,000 for a single person), you receive no ACA subsidy and pay the full market rate.
| Option | Monthly Cost (Individual) | Regulated? | PA Available? |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACA Silver Plan (benchmark) | $572/mo | Yes | Yes |
| Sedera | $153–$742/mo | No | No — excluded |
| Zion HealthShare | $114–$320/mo | No | Yes |
| Medi-Share | $115–$470/mo | No | Yes |
| CHM | $115–$299/mo | No | Yes |
| CrowdHealth | $60–$200/mo | No | Yes |
If you qualify for ACA subsidies through Pennie (Pennsylvania's state exchange), run the numbers there first. Subsidized ACA can be comparable or cheaper depending on income.
Monthly figures show the full individual range across all age bands (18–64) and IUA/deductible tiers. The top of each range reflects the oldest 60–64 band — a typical working-age member (under 60) pays in the lower-to-middle of the range (e.g. Sedera runs roughly $153–$438 for ages 18–59, rising toward $742 at 60–64). CrowdHealth's figure reflects its under-55 / membership-average rate. Prices may vary depending on membership elections.
Pennsylvania-Specific Context
Pennie — Pennsylvania's ACA Exchange
Pennsylvania operates Pennie as its state ACA marketplace. If your income is below 400% FPL (~$62,000 single, ~$125,000 family of 4), check Pennie before switching to health sharing — subsidized ACA plans may be more cost-effective once the numbers are run side-by-side.
No Individual Mandate — No Penalty
Pennsylvania has no state individual mandate. Unlike California or Massachusetts, PA residents face zero penalty for choosing health sharing over ACA coverage. This makes the financial comparison straightforward: health sharing cost vs ACA cost, with no penalty adjustment required.
Self-Employed and Small Business Population
Pennsylvania has a significant self-employed and small-business population, particularly in healthcare, trades, professional services, and agriculture. Health sharing is especially popular among self-employed residents who earn too much for subsidies but find full-price ACA premiums a heavy overhead cost.
Samaritan Ministries — Lancaster, PA Connection
Samaritan Ministries, one of the vetted plans on this site, is headquartered in Lancaster, PA — making it one of the few health sharing organizations with deep Pennsylvania roots. It requires strict Christian faith and church attendance, but for PA residents who qualify, there is a local connection worth knowing.
Pre-Existing Conditions
Unlike ACA insurance, health sharing plans in Pennsylvania can impose waiting periods for pre-existing conditions — ranging from 12 months symptom-free (CHM) to phased periods of up to 24 months (Zion HealthShare). If you have ongoing conditions requiring regular treatment, ACA may be the safer financial choice regardless of premium cost.
Not Insurance
Health sharing plans are not insurance and are not regulated by the Pennsylvania Insurance Department. Members agree to share each other's eligible medical expenses — there is no guarantee of payment. Read the member guidelines carefully before enrolling.
Health Sharing Plans Available in Pennsylvania
7 plans are currently vetted and accepting new members in PA. Note: Sedera is not on this list — it excludes Pennsylvania. Pricing shown is the starting individual monthly cost for 2026.
Zion HealthShare
No faith requirement
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
CrowdHealth is a healthcare crowdfunding platform (NOT health sharing or insurance) founded in 2021, headquartered in Austin, TX, with 17,000+ members. Uses peer-to-peer crowdfunding where members contribute to fund each other's medical bills. Monthly advocacy fee $60 plus variable crowdfunding costs (avg $140/mo for individuals under 55). No coverage caps, no faith requirement, any doctor, month-to-month flexibility.
Medi-Share
Christian faith required
Medi-Share is the largest health sharing ministry with 400,000+ members, founded in 1993 and based in Melbourne, FL. Monthly contributions vary by age and AHP — roughly $115 to $470 for individuals and $390 to $850 for a family of four. AHP (Annual Household Portion) options are $3,000, $6,000, $9,000, or $12,000 — there is no annual or lifetime sharing cap. Requires a Trinitarian statement of faith and active church involvement. Pre-existing conditions are not shared for the first 36 months; after 36 months shared up to $100,000/member/year, and after 60 months up to $500,000/member/year. Uses the PHCS and First Health PPO networks (900,000+ providers). Includes telehealth and TeleBehavioral health, maternity coverage ($125K cap per pregnancy), preventive, emergency, and surgery. Ongoing prescription maintenance drugs are not shared; new acute condition prescriptions covered up to 6 months.
CHM (Christian Healthcare Ministries)
Active Christian required
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
Samaritan Ministries is an established health sharing ministry founded in 1994, based in Lancaster, PA, with 250,000+ members. Monthly costs range from $199-$365 for individuals and $620-$715 for 2-person households (Aug 2025 Classic rates, by age band), 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.
Knew Health
No faith requirement
Knew Health is a secular medical cost-sharing community founded in 2017, headquartered in Darien, IL, with 30,000+ members. Membership starts around $142/month for individuals, with exact rates set by age, household size, and chosen IUA ($1,000, $2,500, or $5,000). It has no annual or lifetime sharing cap for new eligible needs, and members are never responsible for more than three IUAs in a membership year. No faith requirement. Covers 24/7 telehealth, mental health, maternity (for pregnancies starting 90+ days after joining, with a due date one year or more out; note: maternity beginning Jan 1 2026 requires a $5,000 IUA), preventive/wellness care, emergency, and surgery; prescriptions are shareable for the first 120 days of a new eligible need. Any doctor — no network restriction. Pre-existing conditions are not shared in year 1, limited years 2-4, and from year 4 are shared but permanently capped at $125,000 per 12-month rolling period.
HSA Secure
No faith requirement
HSA Secure is the only health sharing plan designed specifically for HSA compatibility. It is powered by Zion HealthShare — a secular community founded in 2019 with 75,000+ members — and pairs Zion's health sharing with a MEC (minimum essential coverage) preventive insurance policy. This unique structure lets members contribute pre-tax dollars to an HSA while keeping monthly contributions affordable (from $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).
Common Questions — Pennsylvania
Is health sharing legal in Pennsylvania?
Yes, health sharing is fully legal in Pennsylvania. There are no state-specific restrictions on health sharing ministries and no individual mandate. PA residents face no penalty for choosing health sharing over ACA insurance.
Does Pennsylvania have an individual mandate?
No. Pennsylvania has no state individual mandate. There is no tax penalty for lacking ACA-compliant coverage.
Is Sedera available in Pennsylvania?
No. Sedera explicitly excludes Pennsylvania (along with AK, HI, IL, ME, MD, NH, VT, and WA). If you want a secular health sharing option in PA, consider Zion HealthShare (no faith requirement, $114/mo) or CrowdHealth (crowdfunding model, no faith requirement, starting ~$60/mo).
Should I check Pennie (PA's ACA exchange) first?
Yes, if your income is below 400% of the federal poverty level (~$62,000 single). Pennie is Pennsylvania's state ACA marketplace, and subsidized plans may be more affordable than health sharing depending on your income. If you do not qualify for subsidies, run the full-price ACA cost against health sharing to determine which makes more financial sense.
How much can I save vs ACA in Pennsylvania?
The ACA benchmark premium in Pennsylvania is $572/month in 2026. Health sharing plans available in PA start as low as $115/month (CHM) for individuals who meet faith requirements, or $114/month (Zion HealthShare) with no faith requirement. Without subsidies, annual savings can range from $4,000 to $5,500. Use our Annual Cost Projector to model your situation.
Find the Right Plan for Pennsylvania
Our 2-minute advisor filters by state availability, faith requirement, and budget. Pennsylvania residents have 6 vetted options — Sedera excluded, but strong alternatives available.
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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