Samaritan vs MPB Health

Samaritan Ministries and MPB Health solve the same problem in different ways. Samaritan Ministries is a Christian health care sharing ministry with a distinctive direct-sharing model: members are frequently assigned to send their monthly share straight to another member with an eligible need, along with notes of encouragement. It requires a statement of faith. Like all sharing, it is not insurance, does not guarantee payment, and limits pre-existing conditions — but its community ethos is a defining feature for members. By contrast, MPB Health provides medical cost-sharing memberships often bundled with telehealth, advocacy, and wellness perks. Members choose a program tier and share eligible expenses from the community. It is not insurance, and the usual sharing considerations around pre-existing conditions and non-shareable services apply, but the bundled telehealth and member-support services are a draw for people who want more than bare-bones sharing. Below we compare them on cost, coverage, eligibility, and who each one fits best — with sources you can check.

FactorSamaritanMPB Health
Typical monthly costApprox. $150-$530/mo by household (a share, not a premium)Approx. $120-$500/mo by program and household (a share, not a premium)
Relative cost$··$··
CategoryHealth sharing organizationHealth sharing organization
Is it insurance?No — a membershipNo — a membership
ACA-compliant major medicalNoNo
Covers pre-existing conditionsLimitedLimited
EligibilityRequires a statement of Christian faith and lifestyle agreement.Open membership with lifestyle guidelines.
Best forPracticing Christian households; Members who value direct communityMembers wanting telehealth bundled in; Healthy self-employed households

Samaritan

Samaritan Ministries is a Christian health care sharing ministry with a distinctive direct-sharing model: members are frequently assigned to send their monthly share straight to another member with an eligible need, along with notes of encouragement. It requires a statement of faith. Like all sharing, it is not insurance, does not guarantee payment, and limits pre-existing conditions — but its community ethos is a defining feature for members.

Pros

  • Strong community model
  • Nationwide, no network
  • Lower cost for the healthy

Cons

  • Not insurance
  • Faith requirement
  • Direct-send process is hands-on
  • Pre-existing limits

MPB Health

MPB Health provides medical cost-sharing memberships often bundled with telehealth, advocacy, and wellness perks. Members choose a program tier and share eligible expenses from the community. It is not insurance, and the usual sharing considerations around pre-existing conditions and non-shareable services apply, but the bundled telehealth and member-support services are a draw for people who want more than bare-bones sharing.

Pros

  • Bundled telehealth/perks
  • Multiple tiers
  • Nationwide

Cons

  • Not insurance
  • Pre-existing limits
  • Guideline caps

Next step

Ready to see how Samaritan and MPB Health price out for you?

A licensed advisor can walk through both options for your household and state. Free, no obligation.

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Frequently asked questions

Is Samaritan or MPB Health cheaper?
Samaritan and MPB Health sit in a similar monthly cost range (approx. $150-$530/mo by household (a share, not a premium) vs approx. $120-$500/mo by program and household (a share, not a premium)). The better value depends on your health and whether you qualify for a subsidy.
What is the main difference between Samaritan and MPB Health?
A Christian sharing ministry where members often send shares directly to one another. A membership organization bundling medical cost sharing with telehealth and concierge extras.
Is Samaritan real insurance?
No. Samaritan is not insurance — it does not guarantee payment and typically limits pre-existing conditions. If you need the legal protections and guaranteed benefits of insurance, an ACA-compliant plan is the safer choice.

Sources