A Guide to Healthcare Alternatives
Health care sharing ministries let people of shared faith help pay one another's medical bills — often for far less per month than a marketplace plan. But they work very differently from insurance. This guide explains how they compare, what they do well, and where to be careful, so you can decide what fits your family.
Start reading ↓In a health care sharing ministry (HCSM), members pay a set monthly amount — usually called a “share” rather than a premium — and that money is used to help pay other members' eligible medical bills. Most are faith-based and built around mutual aid: the community agrees to carry one another's costs.1 When you have an eligible need, your bills are submitted and the community's shares help cover them.
It's often presented as an alternative to an ACA marketplace plan or employer insurance — but the most important thing to understand up front is this:
You enroll in a ministry and typically agree to a statement of faith and healthy-living guidelines.
You pay a monthly share — often well below a comparable insurance premium.
When you have an eligible bill, you submit it and members' shares are applied toward it.
You first cover an “unshared amount” (like a deductible) before sharing begins for that need.
For healthy households that don't qualify for ACA subsidies, sharing can be much cheaper — sometimes roughly half the cost of comparable coverage, or less.1 Consumer guides commonly cite monthly shares in the $300–$500 range versus $1,000+ for family premiums, though real numbers vary widely.
Most sharing programs have no networks and no referrals — you see the doctor or hospital you want and submit eligible bills afterward.
There's no open-enrollment window and no employment requirement, which appeals to the self-employed, early retirees, and stay-at-home parents.
Members' shares aren't pooled toward procedures the community objects to on faith grounds — a key reason many choose this model.
Comparison summarized from the cited sources below; specifics differ by ministry, plan, and state.
Established organizations offer different communities and membership levels. Among the most recognized:
A nonprofit health share open to people of all beliefs — no religious requirement to join. Memberships include preventive care, 24/7 telemedicine, and prescription discounts, with your choice of initial unshareable amount (IUA).
A long-established ministry with several tiered programs for individuals and families.
A member-to-member model in which shares are often sent directly between members.
A community-based program with several membership levels.
Listed for education only. Insure Health is not affiliated with, and does not endorse, any specific ministry. Always confirm a program's current guidelines directly.
No. Ministries aren't insurance companies, and the programs aren't insurance. Members voluntarily share eligible costs, and payment isn't guaranteed.3
Usually yes — most programs have no networks, so you choose your providers and submit eligible bills afterward.
Often it's limited or excluded, particularly in the first year or two. Each ministry sets its own rules, so review them closely.1
It can be, for healthy people who don't qualify for subsidies. But if you're subsidy-eligible, a marketplace plan may cost less and is real insurance.
Comparing a sharing program against an ACA plan side by side is the clearest way to decide. If you'd like a hand — with no pressure — a licensed advisor can walk you through both.
Compare Your Options
