Cost guide
How Much Does Health Sharing Cost?
What health care sharing memberships cost per month, how that compares to insurance, and the trade-offs behind the lower price.
Facts on this page checked Jan 15, 2026. Sources are listed at the end.
The honest answer
Sticker price vs what you pay.
Health care sharing memberships typically cost $150-$500 a month per person or family tier — often noticeably less than an unsubsidized insurance premium. That lower monthly "share" is the main reason healthy people who do not qualify for ACA subsidies consider sharing.
But the price gap comes with real trade-offs, because sharing is not insurance. There is no legal guarantee any bill will be paid, benefits follow the ministry’s guidelines rather than state insurance law, and pre-existing conditions are usually limited or excluded. Many programs also apply a per-incident amount (an IUA or AHP) you pay before sharing begins.
The fair comparison is share cost versus your net insurance premium after any subsidy — not versus the full sticker price. If you qualify for a substantial ACA subsidy, real insurance can actually cost less than sharing while giving you far stronger protection.
Side by side
What’s available nationwide.
Real insurance comes first: a Marketplace plan covers pre-existing conditions and may come with help paying. Health-sharing programs are memberships, not insurance.
| Company | Type | Faith test | Price from (one person) | You pay first | Pre-existing | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACA Marketplace planListed — no business relationship | Insurance (ACA) | No | Quote / variesas of 2026-10-15 | Deductible and a yearly out-of-pocket maximum set by the plan. | Covered from day one. Insurers cannot deny you or charge more for a condition. | All states |
| Samaritan MinistriesListed — no business relationship | Health care sharing ministry | Statement of faith, regular church attendance and pastor verification. | $98/moas of 2026-08-01 | Classic $1,000 per need; Basic $2,000 then 90% sharing. | Eligible after 12 months without symptoms; 5 years for cancer and heart conditions. Type 1 diabetes is not eligible. | All states |
| Christian Healthcare MinistriesListed — no business relationship | Health care sharing ministry | Christian statement of beliefs and regular worship. | $115/moas of 2026-10-15 | $1,250 (Gold) to $6,000 (Bronze) per incident. $125k per-illness cap without CHM Plus. | Active conditions not shared; clears after 1 year without symptoms (5 years for cancer). | All states |
| Altrua HealthShareListed — no business relationshipSee legal history | Sharing ministry (claims HCSM status) | Statement of Standards (biblical ethics); no creed to sign. | $136/moas of 2026-10-15 | Member responsibility $500 to $7,500 (unverified). | 2–5 years depending on program (unverified). | All states |
| Knew HealthListed — no business relationship | Medical cost sharing (not a ministry) | Secular ethical attestation. | $178/moas of 2026-10-15 | IUA $1,000 / $2,500 / $5,000, up to 3 per year; no annual or lifetime limit. | Year 1 $0, year 2 $25k, year 3 $50k, year 4+ $125k. | Not in WA, VT, IL, NY, PA, MD, CA, OR |
| Presidio Healthcare (FortressPlan)Listed — no business relationship | Licensed insurance (Texas only) | No | Quote / variesas of 2026-10-15 | $0 deductible; 50% coinsurance up to the out-of-pocket maximum (not published). | Reported as not covered. Not an ACA Marketplace plan. | Only TX |
| Liberty HealthShareListed — no business relationshipSee legal history | Health care sharing ministry | Statement of beliefs acknowledging Jesus Christ. | $89/moas of 2026-10-15 | Annual unshared amount $1k to $12k plus co-share, by program. | 1-year wait; months 13–36 up to $50k; then unrestricted (Essential/Connect). | Not in NM |
| Zion HealthShareListed — no business relationshipSee legal history | Medical cost sharing (not a ministry) | No | $114/moas of 2026-10-15 | IUA $1,250 / $2,500 / $5,000, up to 3 per rolling 12 months. | 24-month look-back. Year 1 $0, year 2 $25k, year 3 $50k, year 4+ $125k. Controlled hypertension, cholesterol and diabetes are exempt. | Not in WA |
| Direct Primary Care (DPC)Listed — no business relationship | Primary-care membership | No | $90/moas of 2026-10-15 | n/a — covers primary care only, not hospital bills. | Primary care for existing conditions is included. | All states |
| CrowdHealthListed — no business relationshipSee legal history | Crowdfunding (not insurance) | No | $165/moas of 2026-10-15 | $500 per event ($3,000 for pregnancy). Funding is not guaranteed. | Not fundable in years 1–2; up to $25k per year from year 3. | All states |
| Solidarity HealthShareListed — no business relationshipSee legal history | Catholic sharing ministry (claims HCSM status) | Statement of shared (Catholic) beliefs. | $72/moas of 2026-10-15 | Annual unshared amount $3k–$12k (unverified). | 24-month look-back (60 months for cancer); possible permanent waivers. | All states |
| SederaListed — no business relationshipSee legal history | Medical cost sharing (not a ministry) | Secular ethical beliefs. | $166/moas of 2026-03-01 | IUA $500 to $5,000, up to 3 per year. | 36-month look-back: year 1 $0, year 2 $15k, year 3 $30k, then full. | Not in WA, VT, PA, NM, CA |
| Medi-ShareListed — no business relationshipSee legal history | Health care sharing ministry | Statement of faith; a church leader may be contacted. | Quote / variesas of 2025-10 | Annual household portion $3k / $6k / $9k / $12k; no annual or lifetime limits. | Up to $100k per year after 36 months; $500k per year after 60 months. | All states |
| OneShare HealthListed — no business relationshipSee legal history | Sharing ministry (claims HCSM status) | Statement of beliefs. | $65/moas of 2026-10-15 | Not published. | Not published on the public page. | Not in WA, VT, WI, MD, NM |
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Questions
Good questions, short answers.
Is health sharing cheaper than insurance?
Often on monthly cost, especially without a subsidy — shares run $150-$500/month. But it is not insurance and limits pre-existing conditions, and a subsidized ACA plan can be cheaper if you qualify.
What extra costs does health sharing have?
Most programs apply a per-incident amount (an Initial Unshareable Amount or Annual Household Portion) before the community shares costs, similar in feel to a deductible.
Sources
- KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation) — health policy research · reviewed 2026-01-15
- HealthCare.gov — the official ACA Health Insurance Marketplace · reviewed 2026-01-15
- OLYRON HealthMatch editorial methodology — how we source and rate options · reviewed 2026-01-15
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