A different way to handle the catastrophic side.
For many of our members — especially those whose values align with a faith community — Christian healthcare-sharing ministries are a meaningful alternative to traditional insurance. Pair one of these with a Foundations membership and you have a complete picture of care: us for primary care, the ministry for the rare, expensive event. Below is an honest tour of the four most established options.
What healthcare sharing actually is.
A healthcare-sharing ministry is a not-for-profit organization where members agree to share one another's medical bills. You pay a monthly "share" — usually less than an insurance premium — and when a member has a qualifying medical need, the organization coordinates payment to that member from the pool. It is not insurance, and that distinction matters: there is no contractual promise to pay any specific bill.
Members share a common faith framework (typically Christian), agree to lifestyle standards, and commit to praying for and supporting one another. For many people, that ethos is the appeal. For others, it's the lower monthly cost. For most of our members who choose this route, it's both.
The four organizations on this page have all been operating for a decade or more, are recognized for the federal pre-2025 ACA exemption, and serve hundreds of thousands of members combined. They are not all the same — read carefully and visit each ministry's site for the latest specifics.
Insurance vs. Sharing — the honest difference
The four established ministries.
- Structure
- Direct sharing, no central pool. Personal responsibility per incident before sharing kicks in.
- Best fit
- Members who want the most explicitly faith-shaped experience and don't mind paperwork.
- Structure
- Centrally pooled. AHP (deductible-like) chosen at enrollment, $3K–$12K range. Lifestyle requirements include tobacco-free and BMI considerations.
- Best fit
- Members wanting a sharing program with a familiar feel — apps, telehealth, provider network.
- Structure
- Centrally pooled. Tiered: Bronze (lowest cost, lower limits) up to Gold. Per-incident "personal responsibility" before sharing.
- Best fit
- Members who value provider freedom (no network), or who have a manageable pre-existing condition that needs gradual coverage.
- Structure
- Centrally pooled. Initial Unshared Amount (IUA) per event rather than annual deductible. Lifestyle standards lighter than the other three.
- Best fit
- Younger / healthier members, those without a strict denominational preference, or anyone who wants modern technology in a sharing program.
At a glance.
| Feature | Samaritan | MediShare | Christian HM | Zion HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1994 | 1993 | 1981 | 2019 |
| Faith requirement | Christian — pastor verification | Christian — statement of faith | Christian — statement of faith | Open to all |
| Sharing structure | Direct member-to-member | Pooled, AHP-based | Pooled, tiered | Pooled, IUA-based |
| Provider network | None — go anywhere | PPO network | None — go anywhere | None — go anywhere |
| Pre-existing conditions | Phased over years | Limited; phased | Phased ($15K Yr1 → $125K Yr5+) | Phased |
| Telehealth included | No (members purchase) | Yes | Yes (CHM Plus add-on) | Yes |
| Pairs with DPC | Yes — naturally | Yes — confirm at enrollment | Yes — naturally | Yes — naturally |
| Best for | Faith-first, low-tech | Familiar / insurance-like | Provider freedom + pre-ex | Modern + open membership |
Is healthcare sharing right for me?
Sharing is not for everyone. The trade-off is honest: lower monthly cost and a community-of-faith framework, in exchange for fewer guarantees and lifestyle expectations. A few signals that it tends to fit:
- You're broadly healthy. Sharing handles the unexpected gracefully but treats pre-existing conditions cautiously. If you're managing complex chronic disease, traditional insurance is usually the better fit.
- Faith framework resonates. Three of the four require active Christian profession. If that's already part of your life, the lifestyle commitments aren't constraints — they're how you already live.
- You don't mind the paperwork. Sharing requests usually involve a small amount of itemized billing legwork that insurance does on autopilot. Members get used to it; some even prefer the transparency.
- You'd rather pay forward than premium. The principle of mutual support is meaningful — your share each month often goes to a specific member's bill. Some members find this far more satisfying than paying premiums to a corporation.
- You can absorb a bigger one-time hit. Most plans have a per-incident or annual amount the member pays before sharing kicks in. If a $3K–$8K bill would devastate you financially, sharing is a tougher fit.
Honest disclaimers — please read.
Healthcare sharing is not insurance. No ministry on this page guarantees that any medical bill will be paid by other members. Sharing depends on members continuing to share, the ministry's policies at the time of need, and adherence to the ministry's membership guidelines.
Foundations does not sell, endorse, or receive any compensation from these ministries. We list them because they are the established options that our Christian-leaning members most often ask about. Nothing on this page should be read as a recommendation that one is "best" — only that these four are the most reputable ones to evaluate.
Numbers, policies, and lifestyle requirements change. The figures above are accurate as of mockup creation but each ministry updates its rules regularly. Visit each ministry's site directly for the latest details, and read their guidelines documents in full before joining.
Healthcare sharing does not replace ACA-compliant insurance for those who need it. If you have significant chronic conditions, are pregnant, or are actively undergoing treatment for a major illness, ACA-compliant insurance will almost always serve you better. Talk it through with Dr. Emily during your tour visit.
Talk it through with us.
Choosing between (or pairing) traditional insurance and a sharing ministry is a personal decision shaped by your faith, your finances, and your medical history. We'll sit down with you, without selling you anything, and walk through the options that actually fit. That's part of what membership is.
Schedule a tour with Dr. Emily →