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Health Sharing Plans in Washington State (2026)
Health sharing is legal in Washington but does NOT satisfy the state individual mandate. WA residents may owe a penalty of up to $695/adult or 2.5% of household income. Only 4 of 7 vetted plans are available here — Zion and Sedera do not operate in WA.
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Washington State Individual Mandate — Read Before Enrolling
Washington reinstated its own individual health coverage mandate in 2020. Health sharing plans are not ACA-compliant and do not satisfy this requirement. If you enroll in health sharing without other qualifying coverage, you will likely owe a Washington state tax penalty.
Penalty: The greater of $695 per adult (indexed annually) or 2.5% of household income above the filing threshold. For a single person earning $80,000, this works out to roughly $1,600 per year.
Washington has one of the most active health sharing communities in the Pacific Northwest — Seattle and Bellevue have large concentrations of contractors, freelancers, and tech workers who pay full-price ACA premiums. The ACA benchmark premium in Washington is $609/month for 2026 (KFF data). Health sharing can still make financial sense here, but the mandate penalty changes the math significantly. This page lays out the full picture.
Is Health Sharing Legal in Washington?
Health sharing ministries can legally operate in Washington and accept WA members. The state has not banned or restricted health sharing plans from doing business here. What Washington has done is implement its own individual mandate — and health sharing does not satisfy it.
The Washington State Health Coverage Mandate (effective January 1, 2020) requires residents to maintain minimum essential coverage for every month of the year, or pay a penalty when filing state taxes. The Washington Health Benefit Exchange (wahealthplanfinder.org) is the state marketplace where ACA-compliant plans are sold.
Bottom line: you can enroll in health sharing in Washington, and it is not illegal. You just will not be exempt from the mandate penalty. Plan accordingly.
Plan Availability in Washington — Only 5 of 7
Washington residents have access to fewer plans than most states. Two of the seven vetted plans on this site do not operate in WA:
Plans NOT available in Washington
- Zion HealthShare — Does not operate in Washington state. If Zion was on your list for its secular approach and low pricing ($114+/mo), CrowdHealth (~$140/mo avg) is the closest secular alternative available in WA.
- Sedera — Washington is explicitly on Sedera's exclusion list (along with AK, HI, IL, ME, MD, NH, PA, and VT). Sedera does not accept WA members.
The 5 plans available in WA: CHM, Medi-Share, Samaritan Ministries, CrowdHealth, and Knew Health. Three of the four have Christian faith requirements — CrowdHealth is the only secular option available in Washington.
Washington's Individual Mandate — What It Actually Costs
The penalty is the greater of:
- $695 per adult (plus $347.50 per dependent child), or
- 2.5% of household income above the state filing threshold
For most people with household incomes above $50,000, the 2.5% calculation produces the larger number. A single person earning $80,000 would owe approximately $1,600/year. A household earning $120,000 would owe approximately $2,600/year.
The honest calculation for a $80K earner
If health sharing saves $400/month vs ACA ($4,800/year) but you owe a $1,600 penalty, your net savings are $3,200. That is still meaningful — but you need to factor in the penalty explicitly, not discover it at tax time.
Washington does not offer a religious or health sharing exemption from the mandate. Consult a Washington tax professional for your specific situation.
How Health Sharing Compares to ACA in Washington
The ACA benchmark (second-lowest-cost Silver plan) in Washington averages $609/month for an individual in 2026. If your income is above 400% of the federal poverty level — roughly $62,000+ for a single person — you receive no ACA subsidy and pay full price.
| Option | Monthly Cost (Individual) | Satisfies WA Mandate? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACA Silver Plan (benchmark) | $609/mo | Yes | Subsidy-eligible, pre-existing conditions |
| Medi-Share / Samaritan | $115–$470/mo | No — penalty applies | Active Christians, healthy, above subsidy cliff |
| CHM (budget Christian) | $115–$299/mo | No — penalty applies | Strict Christians, very healthy, low utilization |
| CrowdHealth (secular) | ~$140/mo avg | No — penalty applies | Non-religious WA residents, healthy, tech workers |
Check Washington Healthplanfinder (wahealthplanfinder.org) for your subsidy eligibility before committing to health sharing. If you qualify for significant subsidies, ACA likely wins on cost once the mandate penalty is included.
The Tax Angle: No State Income Tax Helps
Self-employed individuals 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.
Washington has no state income tax — one of only nine states without one. This matters because in a state with a 9% income tax, losing a $6,000 deduction also costs an extra $540 in state taxes. Washington residents only absorb the federal portion of that lost deduction. The mandate penalty still applies, but the deduction issue is less painful here than in most other mandate states like California, Massachusetts, or New Jersey.
Health Sharing Plans Available in Washington
6 plans are currently vetted and accepting new members in WA. Pricing shown is the starting individual monthly cost for 2026.
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).
What Washington Residents Should Consider
The Mandate Penalty Is Real and Unavoidable
Washington does not offer a religious or hardship exemption that covers health sharing. If you choose health sharing as your only coverage, budget for the penalty — $695/adult minimum, and potentially $1,500–$2,500+ for higher-income households. This needs to be in your annual cost comparison before you decide.
Seattle/Bellevue Tech and Contractor Workforce
The greater Seattle area has one of the highest concentrations of independent contractors and self-employed tech workers in the country. Many earn well above the subsidy cliff and face full-price ACA premiums. Health sharing — even with the mandate penalty — can save $2,000–$4,000/year for a healthy individual in this income bracket. Use our Annual Cost Projector to model your scenario.
Secular Options Are Limited in WA
Both major secular plans — Zion HealthShare and Sedera — are unavailable in Washington. CrowdHealth is the only secular plan accepting WA members. The three Christian plans (CHM, Medi-Share, Samaritan) all require Christian faith and lifestyle statements. If you are not a practicing Christian, CrowdHealth is your only option among the vetted plans.
Check Washington Healthplanfinder First
Washington operates its own state exchange (wahealthplanfinder.org). If your income is below 400% of the federal poverty level (~$62,000 single, $125,000 family of 4), you may qualify for subsidies that make ACA competitive or cheaper than health sharing even before factoring in the mandate penalty.
Common Questions — Washington
Is health sharing legal in Washington state?
Yes, health sharing ministries can legally operate in Washington and accept WA members. However, health sharing does not satisfy the Washington State Health Coverage Mandate. Enrolling in health sharing as your only coverage will likely result in a state tax penalty.
What is the Washington state mandate penalty?
The penalty is the greater of $695 per adult (plus $347.50 per dependent) or 2.5% of household income above the state filing threshold. Most households with income above $50,000 will owe the percentage-based penalty. A single person earning $80,000 would owe approximately $1,600 per year. The penalty applies for each month without qualifying coverage.
Which health sharing plans are available in Washington?
Four of the seven vetted plans accept Washington members: CHM, Medi-Share, Samaritan Ministries, and CrowdHealth. Zion HealthShare does not operate in Washington. Sedera explicitly excludes Washington (along with AK, HI, IL, ME, MD, NH, PA, and VT).
Is CrowdHealth the only secular option in Washington?
Among the vetted plans on this site, yes. Zion HealthShare (secular, $114+/mo) and Sedera (secular, $153+/mo) both exclude Washington. CrowdHealth (~$140/mo average) is the only secular health sharing option currently available to WA residents. CHM, Medi-Share, and Samaritan all have active Christian faith requirements.
Should I check Washington Healthplanfinder before enrolling in health sharing?
Yes — especially if your income is below $62,000 (single) or $125,000 (family of 4). Subsidized ACA plans on wahealthplanfinder.org may be cheaper than health sharing once the mandate penalty is included. If you earn too much for subsidies, compare the after-penalty total cost of health sharing against full-price ACA to see which wins for your specific situation.
Find the Right Plan for Washington
Our quiz factors in state availability, faith requirement, and budget. For Washington residents, we will flag the mandate penalty in your results so you can compare total annual cost honestly.
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.
We may earn a commission if you enroll through this link — it never affects our rankings.
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