South Dakota · Health sharing
Health sharing in South Dakota
Looking for health sharing plans in South Dakota? Here is how this coverage lane works specifically for South Dakota residents, what it costs, and how to get it.
Facts on this page checked Jan 15, 2026. Sources are listed at the end.
How it works here
Health sharing, explained for South Dakota.
Health care sharing is available to South Dakota residents nationwide, since sharing memberships are not tied to state insurance markets. Members pay a monthly share and eligible bills are paid from a community pool.
Health sharing is NOT insurance. It does not guarantee payment, is not regulated as insurance in South Dakota or anywhere else, and typically limits pre-existing conditions. It can lower monthly costs for healthy South Dakota residents who do not qualify for ACA subsidies, but it carries real risk.
If you have an ongoing condition or expect significant care, a comprehensive South Dakota Marketplace plan is usually the safer path.
Sharing is not insurance. See ACA Marketplace vs health sharing.
South Dakota facts
- Marketplace
- HealthCare.gov
- Medicaid expansion
- Adopted
- Uninsured rate
- ~9.5%
Side by side
What’s available in South Dakota.
Real insurance comes first: a Marketplace plan covers pre-existing conditions and may come with help paying. Health-sharing programs are memberships, not insurance. Programs that do not accept South Dakota residents are left out.
| 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 |
| 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 |
Open enrollment 2027
When South Dakota can enroll.
- Opens
- Nov 1, 2026
- Sun
- Enroll by, for Jan 1 coverage
- Dec 15, 2026
- Tue
- Last day to enroll
- Jan 15, 2027
- Fri
South Dakota residents enroll at HealthCare.gov. Enroll after Dec 15 and coverage usually starts February 1. Outside this window, a qualifying life event (a move, a new baby, losing other coverage) can open a Special Enrollment Period.
Medicare is different.Medicare’s annual enrollment runs Oct 15 to Dec 7, 2026. For Medicare help, visit our sister site OLYRON Medicare or Medicare.gov.
Dates checked Oct 15, 2026. Sources: HealthCare.gov: dates and deadlines; CMS statement, Jul 27, 2026.
More in this state
Other coverage in South Dakota.
- ACA Marketplace plansSubsidy-eligible major-medical plans sold on the exchange.
- Short-term plansTemporary coverage to bridge a gap — limited benefits.
- MedicareOriginal Medicare, Advantage, and Medigap for 65+ and eligible.
- MedicaidFree or low-cost coverage based on income and household.
- DentalStandalone and bundled dental coverage options.
- VisionEye exams, glasses, and contacts coverage.
- TelehealthVirtual primary and urgent care memberships.
Questions
Good questions, short answers.
Is health sharing legal in South Dakota?
Yes, health care sharing ministries operate nationwide including South Dakota, but they are not insurance and are not regulated as such. Read the guidelines carefully.
Does health sharing count as insurance in South Dakota?
No. It does not satisfy the definition of insurance and offers none of the ACA's legal protections, though it can still reduce monthly costs for the healthy.
Sources
- KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation) — health policy research · reviewed 2026-01-15
- OLYRON HealthMatch editorial methodology — how we source and rate options · reviewed 2026-01-15
Before the rush
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