Health coverage isn't one-size-fits-all. Your values matter as much as your medical needs.
Medi-Share has served Christian families since 1993 with a faith-based approach to healthcare costs. Gabriel Care is a newer, secular option built differently: a wellness membership that works alongside your health insurance and covers functional medicine and emerging therapies.
They solve different problems. Medi-Share takes the place of insurance: members share each other's medical bills. Gabriel Care keeps your insurance in place for conventional care and covers the wellness care insurance ignores. They serve different people with different needs.
This guide breaks down what makes each unique, who they're built for, and how to choose.
Two Different Approaches
Health sharing predates modern insurance by centuries. Communities have always pooled resources to help members in need.
Faith-based health sharing grew from Christian communities supporting each other through medical crises. Members share expenses based on biblical principles of bearing one another's burdens. Organizations like Medi-Share require a statement of faith and a commitment to regular church attendance.
A wellness membership alongside insurance takes a different route. Instead of replacing insurance, Gabriel Care sits next to it: your ACA or other plan covers conventional and catastrophic care, and Gabriel Care reimburses the functional medicine, peptides, IV therapy and other care insurance won't, with no faith requirement.
The philosophical difference shapes everything. Coverage decisions, provider networks, eligible treatments, and community structure all flow from this foundation.
What Is Medi-Share?
Medi-Share is one of the largest Christian health sharing ministries in America, with more than 350,000 members, and it has served families since 1993. More than three decades of track record means it has refined its approach through experience.
How Medi-Share works: Members pay monthly contributions (called "shares") based on their household size and chosen Annual Household Portion (AHP). The AHP works like a deductible: you pay eligible medical costs up to that amount before Medi-Share starts sharing bills. Current AHP options are $3,000, $6,000, $9,000 and $12,000.
Medi-Share doesn't publish a full rate table. Its own examples put a single member in their 30s at about $150 to $250 a month with a $12,000 AHP. Families pay more based on household size.
Medi-Share advertises 98% member satisfaction, though it doesn't publish the survey behind the number.
The faith requirement is serious. You sign a statement of faith affirming Christian beliefs and pledge to regularly attend and support a fellowship of believers. There's no pastor sign-off, but this isn't a formality: it's central to how Medi-Share operates.
A national provider network. Since August 2026, Medi-Share has used the First Health network in most states, and it says more than 1 million providers participate. You get negotiated rates at participating doctors and hospitals.
What Medi-Share shares: Standard medical care including doctor visits, hospitalizations, surgeries and emergency care, plus 24/7 telehealth. There's no annual or lifetime limit for most needs, though pre-existing conditions, maternity and a few other categories have their own limits.
What Medi-Share doesn't share: Its guidelines exclude functional, integrative and regenerative medicine, acupuncture, experimental or investigational treatments, and vitamins or supplements without a diagnosed deficiency. Psychiatric and psychological care aren't shared either, though members can get counseling by phone or video. Chiropractic is shared only in place of surgery.
What Is Gabriel Care?
Gabriel Care is a secular wellness membership that works alongside your health insurance, built for people who want coverage that includes functional medicine and emerging therapies.
How Gabriel Care works: Memberships start at $249 a month. Each month you get a wellness balance of up to $500 on Emerald, $750 on Sapphire, or $1,500 on Onyx for the care traditional health coverage typically excludes. Your health plan keeps covering conventional medical care.
AI-powered from day one. Gabriel Care uses artificial intelligence to streamline claims, answer member questions, and personalize coverage recommendations. The technology handles routine tasks so humans can focus on complex medical situations.
Any licensed provider. See the functional, integrative or conventional practitioner you want for your wellness care. Gabriel Network providers are reimbursed at 100% and out-of-network providers at 50%, with prices checked against fair market rates.
Coverage philosophy: Your insurance covers catastrophic and conventional medical needs. Gabriel Care covers the full spectrum of wellness and functional medicine, including peptide therapy, IV nutrient therapy, advanced lab work, and cannabis medicine and psychedelic therapy where legal, through licensed providers.
The secular foundation means no faith requirements, no church verification, and no restrictions based on religious doctrine.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Medi-Share | Gabriel Care |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost | About $150-$250 for a single member in their 30s ($12,000 AHP) | From $249, plus your insurance premium |
| Coverage Start | After your AHP (works like a deductible) | Full wellness balance from your first month |
| Faith Requirement | Yes: statement of faith and a church-attendance pledge | No, completely secular |
| Provider Network | First Health network in most states | Any licensed provider: 100% in the Gabriel Network, 50% outside it |
| Traditional Medical | Shared after your AHP | Covered by your health insurance |
| Functional Medicine | Not shared | Covered |
| Cannabis Therapy | Not addressed | Covered where legal |
| Psychedelic Therapy | Not shared (psychiatric care excluded) | Covered where legal |
| Peptide Treatments | Experimental treatments excluded | Covered where legally prescribed |
| IV Therapy | Wellness IVs not addressed | Covered |
| Advanced Labs | Standard labs only | Advanced functional labs covered |
| Technology | App and 24/7 telehealth | AI-powered platform |
| Track Record | Since 1993, 350,000+ members | New (enrollment by waitlist) |
| Type | Christian health share | Secular wellness membership alongside insurance |
Who Medi-Share Is Best For
Medi-Share serves devout Christians who want their healthcare to align with their faith. If that's you, here's what makes it compelling.
You value faith community. Sharing medical expenses with other Christians creates spiritual connection beyond just covering costs. You're supporting people who share your beliefs and values.
You want a proven track record. More than 30 years of operation means Medi-Share has weathered economic ups and downs, and it says it has discounted and shared more than $9.4 billion in medical bills.
You need traditional medical cost sharing. If your health needs are straightforward (doctor visits, surgeries, emergency care), Medi-Share shares them after your AHP, with negotiated rates through its provider network.
You're comfortable with faith-based guidelines. The lifestyle requirements aren't just paperwork. You agree to live according to Christian principles and pledge to attend church regularly. This accountability is a feature, not a bug, for people who want their healthcare community to reflect their values.
You want lower monthly costs for traditional coverage. Depending on your age and chosen AHP, Medi-Share can be significantly cheaper than traditional insurance for standard medical needs.
Who Gabriel Care Is Best For
Gabriel Care built something different for people with different needs.
You're secular or non-religious. No faith requirements means no philosophical barriers. Your healthcare shouldn't require religious commitments you don't hold.
You use functional medicine. If you work with naturopaths, functional medicine doctors, or integrative practitioners, Gabriel Care covers it. Traditional health coverage usually doesn't.
You use cannabis medicine. Whether for pain management, sleep, anxiety, or other conditions, Gabriel Care recognizes cannabis as legitimate medicine and covers it where legal, through licensed providers. Most traditional insurance doesn't cover it at all, and Medi-Share's guidelines don't list it as shareable.
You're interested in psychedelic therapy. For treatment-resistant depression and other conditions, ketamine care is available at clinics and through telehealth, and psilocybin through state-licensed programs. Gabriel Care covers them where legal. This is cutting-edge medicine that traditional coverage excludes.
You want peptide treatments. BPC-157, thymosin alpha-1 and other physician-supervised peptide protocols for healing, performance, and longevity, where legally prescribed and dispensed. Gabriel Care covers what most health coverage considers "experimental."
You value technology. The AI-powered platform means faster claims processing, instant answers to coverage questions, and personalized recommendations based on your health profile.
You want provider freedom. See the practitioners you choose for your wellness care, with Gabriel Network providers reimbursed at 100% and others at 50%.
Can You Use Both?
Nothing stops you, but they're built for different setups. Medi-Share is designed to take the place of insurance for your medical bills. Gabriel Care is designed to sit alongside ACA or other compliant health insurance, which handles conventional and catastrophic care. Most people pick one setup: Medi-Share on its own, or insurance plus Gabriel Care.
The real question is which one fits your life. This comes down to three factors:
1. Your values. If Christian faith is central to your life, Medi-Share integrates that into healthcare. If you're secular or prefer separation of faith and medicine, Gabriel Care fits better.
2. Your medical needs. Traditional medical care only? Medi-Share has the track record. Functional medicine, emerging therapies, and a wellness focus, with insurance underneath? Gabriel Care covers what you actually use.
3. Your provider relationships. If you're established with doctors in Medi-Share's First Health network, Medi-Share works seamlessly. If you work with functional medicine practitioners, integrative doctors, or specialized therapists, Gabriel Care reimburses any licensed provider, at 100% in the Gabriel Network and 50% outside it.
Most people know which category they fall into. Trust that instinct.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is health sharing legal?
Yes. Health care sharing ministries like Medi-Share have operated in the United States for decades. They aren't insurance companies, and about 30 states exempt qualifying ministries from insurance regulation. Gabriel Care isn't a health share at all: it's a wellness membership, and your ACA or other health plan provides your insurance.
Q: What happens with a large medical bill?
With Medi-Share, eligible bills above your AHP are shared among members, with no annual or lifetime limit for most needs, but Medi-Share isn't insurance and doesn't guarantee payment. With Gabriel Care, a large medical bill goes to your health insurance, which must pay covered claims and caps your yearly out-of-pocket costs. After a covered emergency, Gabriel may help offset your deductible, but that help is discretionary.
Q: Can I switch from Medi-Share to Gabriel Care or vice versa?
Yes, though you'll want to time it carefully. Moving from Medi-Share to insurance plus Gabriel Care usually means enrolling in an ACA plan during open enrollment, because leaving a health share doesn't qualify you for a special enrollment period. Don't cancel current coverage before new coverage starts. Going the other way, Medi-Share may apply waiting periods for pre-existing conditions. Review both programs' policies before making the switch.
Q: Does Gabriel Care require any lifestyle commitments?
No faith-based or lifestyle requirements. Members agree to the Member Agreement's rules, like submitting honest, documented expenses for their own care. The focus is on wellness and responsible health management, not religious doctrine.
Q: Will my doctor accept health sharing?
Most doctors don't "accept" health sharing the way they accept insurance. Medi-Share's provider network gives you negotiated rates at participating doctors and hospitals. With Gabriel Care, your insurance works as usual for conventional care. For wellness care, you pay the provider, submit the receipt, and Gabriel reimburses eligible costs from your monthly balance: 100% with Gabriel Network providers and 50% out of network. Many practitioners offer self-pay discounts.
Making Your Decision
Medi-Share built something remarkable over more than 30 years. It has served Christian families faithfully and proved health sharing works at scale.
Gabriel Care built something different for people with different needs. Secular values, emerging therapies, and technology-first approach serve a community that traditional coverage leaves behind.
Neither is better or worse. They're built for different people.
The right choice comes down to your values, your medical needs, and the healthcare community you want to be part of.
If Christian faith shapes your life and you need solid traditional medical coverage, Medi-Share has earned trust over decades.
If you're secular, use functional medicine, or need coverage for emerging therapies, insurance plus Gabriel Care gives you exactly what you've been missing.
Both represent something important: healthcare that serves the whole person, not just a transaction. That's worth supporting, whatever form it takes for you.
See everything Gabriel Care covers at gabrielcare.co/coverage-list
Last updated: September 2026