7 Health Care Sharing Ministries: Why One of Them Might Be Right for You is a guest post from Jacquelyn Pica.
Healthcare is one of the most debated topics in the country. It can be expensive, confusing, and at times feel overwhelming. The rising costs and frustration have led many people to consider alternatives to traditional health insurance—one of the most popular being health care sharing ministries. These organizations are composed of members who share religious beliefs or common ethical values and agree to share the cost of medical expenses.
How Do Health Care Sharing Ministries Work?
Health care sharing ministries are typically run by nonprofit religious organizations. Because of their religious nature, members have historically been exempt from the Affordable Care Act individual mandate. Members contribute monthly amounts that are pooled or directed to help cover other members’ eligible medical bills, which often results in significantly lower monthly payments compared to conventional health insurance.
Each ministry has its own enrollment requirements and lifestyle expectations—common standards include abstaining from tobacco, illegal drugs, and often limiting alcohol use. Members usually choose an annual household portion (similar to a deductible) and make monthly contributions. When eligible medical bills arise, the ministry facilitates sharing of those costs. Some ministries issue ID cards and handle billing directly, while others require members to submit bills themselves for consideration.
These ministries also encourage healthy living to reduce the likelihood of costly health problems. If traditional health insurance is financially out of reach and you feel aligned with a ministry’s beliefs and community, a health care sharing plan may be a viable option.
Health Care Sharing Ministries and Costs
Below are seven well-known health care sharing ministries in the United States, with pricing and basic requirements based on a sample quote for a single 22-year-old woman where applicable. Pricing varies by age, household size, plan level, and chosen annual portion.
1. Christian Care Ministry’s Medi-Share
Medi-Share, offered by Christian Care Ministry, is a faith-based program where members share eligible medical bills and support each other spiritually. Members agree to certain lifestyle standards, including refraining from tobacco and illegal drug use and avoiding abuse of alcohol or prescription medications.
Pricing:
- Monthly quotes vary by age and household participation. A sample quote ranged from $56 to $207 per month, depending on the plan and the chosen annual household portion.
Members choose an annual household portion that replaces a traditional deductible and can range from about $1,000 to $10,500. A lower annual portion means higher monthly shares; for example, a $1,000 annual portion produced a higher monthly share in the sample quote. Once the annual portion is met, eligible medical bills may be published for sharing. Medi-Share posts bills in a secure portal so members can see which expenses are being shared.
2. Samaritan Ministries
Samaritan Ministries operates globally and emphasizes mutual aid among members regardless of location. Members must agree to a Statement of Faith and provide accountability through annual pastoral verification.
Pricing:
- Sample quotes for a young single adult showed approximately $100 per month for a basic plan and $160 for a classic plan.
Samaritan Ministries uses a “direct sharing” model: instead of pooling funds into a central account, payments are sent directly from one member to another. Members handle payments to individual members who have eligible bills.
3. Christian Healthcare Ministries
Christian Healthcare Ministries describes itself as an affordable, biblically based healthcare sharing option available across all 50 states and internationally. Members are expected to follow guidelines such as avoiding tobacco and illegal drug use and following biblical principles for alcohol use.
Pricing:
- Three participation levels are available—Gold, Silver, and Bronze—each offering different levels of cost-sharing support.
- Monthly costs typically range from about $45 to $150 per person, depending on level and age.
Under this ministry, medical providers usually bill the member directly and must provide itemized bills that the member forwards to the ministry for sharing consideration.
4. Liberty HealthShare
Liberty HealthShare is founded on Christian principles and brings together people who want to share medical costs. While it has behavioral guidelines, Liberty accepts members of all faiths who agree to its standards.
Pricing:
- Liberty offers three plan types with tiered pricing based on age and family status. A single person under 30 in the sample quote would pay between $199 and $249 per month depending on the chosen plan.
- Family plan pricing ranged roughly from $429 to $479 per month in the sample.
Members present their Liberty ID card at the doctor’s office; the provider’s bill is then sent to Liberty for eligibility review and processing.
5. Solidarity HealthShare
Solidarity HealthShare brings together members who share similar beliefs to jointly shoulder medical expenses, positioning itself as a community-focused option that welcomes people of various faiths who adhere to its Statement of Shared Beliefs.
Pricing:
- Solidarity offers three main plans—Whole, Extend, and First—each with different coverage scopes.
- Sample monthly payments for an individual ranged from about $107 to $149, while family plans commonly ranged from $345 to $499 per month.
When seeking care, members typically identify themselves as self-pay but present their Solidarity card so the provider can submit bills electronically or by mail according to instructions on the ID card.
6. Altrua Healthcare
Altrua Healthcare focuses on members who share ethical or religious beliefs and emphasizes honesty and mutual support among members.
Pricing:
- Altrua offers Standard and Advantage memberships, each broken into Gold, Silver, and Bronze tiers.
- Sample starting monthly payments were around $120 for Standard plans and about $100 for Advantage plans, depending on tier and age.
Members receive an ID card to present to providers; the card details how bills should be submitted for sharing consideration.
7. Unity Healthshare
Unity Healthshare promotes cost-sharing among a community of like-minded people and allows members of any faith to join if they agree to the ministry’s Statement of Beliefs.
Pricing:
- Unity offers several plan levels—Value, Plus, and Premium—with pricing that varies by level and age.
- Plans in the sample started at about $142 per month for a young single adult.
Members show their Unity ID card to providers, who then send bills to Unity. The ministry reviews eligible expenses and determines what portion will be shared.
Is a Health Care Sharing Ministry Right for You?
Health care sharing ministries offer notable advantages: lower monthly costs, community support, and options that can feature relatively low annual portions. However, they also have limitations. Ministries are not legally required to pay all medical expenses, so claims can be denied. Coverage rules vary—especially around pre-existing conditions and certain treatments—and ministries have behavioral and faith-based requirements that may affect eligibility.
If you value lower costs and community-based support and you align with a ministry’s beliefs and requirements, a health care sharing ministry can be an affordable alternative to traditional health insurance. As with any major decision about healthcare, review each ministry’s terms, exclusions, and member responsibilities carefully before enrolling.
Are you part of a health care sharing ministry? If not, would you consider joining one?
Jacquelyn Pica is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. You can follow her on Twitter @JacquelynTPH.