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Health Sharing Plans in Texas (2026)
Health sharing is legal in Texas with no state mandate and no penalty. 8 plans are currently vetted and available to Texas residents.
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Texas is one of the most health-sharing-friendly states in the country. No state mandate, a large self-employed workforce, and a $661/month ACA benchmark premium (KFF 2026) that makes alternatives look very attractive. Here is everything you need to know before choosing a plan as a Texas resident.
Is Health Sharing Legal in Texas?
Health sharing is fully legal in Texas. The state has no individual mandate — meaning there is no penalty for choosing health sharing over ACA-compliant insurance. Texas also has no state-level restrictions on which health sharing ministries can operate here, so the full range of vetted plans is open to TX residents.
Health sharing plans are not regulated by the Texas Department of Insurance. Members agree to voluntarily share each other's eligible medical costs — there is no guaranteed payment. Read each ministry's guidelines carefully before enrolling.
How Health Sharing Compares to ACA in Texas
The ACA benchmark (second-lowest-cost Silver plan) in Texas averages $661/month for an individual in 2026, according to KFF data. That is before any subsidies. If your income is above 400% of the federal poverty level — roughly $62,000+ for a single person in 2026 — you receive no ACA subsidy and pay full price.
| Option | Monthly Cost (Individual) | Regulated? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACA Silver Plan (benchmark) | $661/mo | Yes | Subsidy-eligible, pre-existing conditions |
| Health Sharing (mid-tier) | $185–$379/mo | No | Healthy, no mandate penalty risk |
| CHM / CrowdHealth (budget) | $60–$200/mo | No | Very healthy, low utilization expected |
If you qualify for ACA subsidies, run the numbers first — subsidized ACA may be comparable or cheaper. If you do not qualify, the savings with health sharing can exceed $400–$500/month.
The Tax Angle: No State Income Tax Matters
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 — and that gap can cost several hundred dollars per year in federal taxes.
Here is where Texas is different: there is no state income tax. In a state like California or New York with 9–10% state income tax, losing a $4,000–$8,000 annual deduction also costs $360–$800 in state taxes on top of the federal cost. Texas residents only absorb the federal portion. It does not eliminate the issue, but it softens it enough to meaningfully improve the math on health sharing for self-employed Texans.
Health Sharing Plans Available in Texas
8 plans are currently vetted and accepting new members in TX. 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. 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
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
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
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 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.
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 $178/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 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 Texas Residents Should Consider
No Individual Mandate — No Penalty
Texas has no state individual mandate. You can choose health sharing with zero penalty risk. This is different from states like California, Massachusetts, and New Jersey, which penalize residents for lacking ACA-compliant coverage.
Self-Employed and Small Business Owners
Texas has one of the largest self-employed populations in the country. Health sharing is a popular ACA alternative for sole proprietors, freelancers, and small business owners who earn too much for subsidies but find full-price ACA premiums hard to justify. Run the annual cost comparison before deciding — our Annual Cost Projector can help.
Pre-Existing Conditions
Most health sharing plans impose waiting periods for pre-existing conditions — ranging from 12 months symptom-free (CHM) to 24 months (Zion HealthShare). If you have ongoing conditions that require regular treatment, an ACA marketplace plan covers pre-existing conditions from day one as regulated insurance.
Common Questions — Texas
Is health sharing legal in Texas?
Yes, health sharing is fully legal in Texas with no state-specific restrictions. Texas has no individual mandate, so there is no penalty for choosing health sharing over ACA insurance.
Does Texas have an individual mandate?
No. Texas has no state individual mandate. Residents face no penalty for lacking ACA-compliant coverage.
Can self-employed Texans deduct health sharing contributions?
Generally no — health sharing contributions do not qualify as self-employed health insurance premiums under IRS rules. The good news is Texas has no state income tax, so you only lose the federal deduction value. In a state with a 9% income tax, losing a $6,000 deduction would cost an extra $540 in state taxes — that does not happen in Texas.
How much can I save vs ACA in Texas?
The ACA benchmark premium in Texas is $661/month in 2026. Health sharing plans start as low as $115–$185/month for individuals. If you do not qualify for ACA subsidies and are in reasonably good health, the annual savings can exceed $5,000–$6,000. Use our Annual Cost Projector to model your specific scenario.
Find the Right Plan for Texas
Our 2-minute advisor filters by state availability, faith requirement, and budget. Texas residents have the full range of vetted plans.
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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