Finding an alternative to traditional health insurance feels more urgent than ever. Enhanced ACA subsidies expired at the end of 2025, benchmark premiums rose 26% for 2026, and subsidized enrollees are paying 58% more on average (KFF). Health share plans are one alternative people are weighing.
But not all health shares are created equal.
Some excel at catastrophic coverage. Others win on wellness benefits. A few now pair with HSAs for tax advantages. And there's a different option worth knowing: keep ACA insurance and add a wellness membership, like Gabriel Care, for the functional medicine, peptides, and alternative therapies most plans won't touch.
This guide compares 12 health share plans on what matters most: what's shared, what it costs, faith requirements, sharing limits and pre-existing condition rules. Figures come from each organization's own 2026 guidelines, price sheets and filings where they publish them. Where a plan doesn't publish a number, we say so.
What to Compare
Coverage Breadth
What's actually shared beyond big medical bills? Look at wellness visits, preventive care, maternity, prescriptions and alternative medicine. Most health shares focus on conventional medical needs and exclude or tightly limit alternative and functional medicine.
Monthly Pricing
Prices depend on age, household size, tobacco use and the amount you pay before sharing starts (the AHP, IUA or MRA). Some plans publish rate tables; others quote only.
Faith Requirements
Health share plans originated as Christian ministries. Today, options range from strict faith statements and church-attendance pledges to non-religious models. We flag what each plan requires so you know before you apply.
Sharing Limits
Some plans have no annual or lifetime limit for eligible needs. Others cap sharing per illness, per incident, per year or for life.
Pre-Existing Conditions
Almost every plan limits pre-existing conditions at first, usually with a lookback period and a phase-in over one to four years.
Payment Speed
Few plans publish a standard turnaround. Samaritan, for example, says bills are typically shared 60 to 90 days after it receives them. Ask before you join.
Quick Comparison: All Plans Side by Side
| Plan | Monthly Cost* | Faith Requirement | Sharing Limits | Pre-Existing Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JHS Community | Quote only | Statement of religious and ethical beliefs | $250K-$1M a year; $1M-$3M lifetime | 12-month waiting period |
| Medi-Share | About $150-$250 (30s, $12K AHP) | Yes (statement of faith, church-attendance pledge) | No annual or lifetime limit for most needs | 36-month lookback; up to $100K a year after 3 years, $500K after 5 |
| HSA Secure | Quote only | No (sharing through Zion) | No annual or lifetime limit | Zion's phase-in: none in year 1, then $25K, $50K, $125K a year |
| CrowdHealth | $60 + monthly asks (about $142 average under 55) | No | Community funded, not guaranteed | None funded for 2 years, then $25K a year |
| Zion HealthShare | $175-$260 | No (higher-power attestation) | No annual or lifetime limit | None in year 1, then $25K, $50K, $125K a year |
| Sedera | $210-$336 | No (ethical-beliefs statement) | No annual or lifetime limit | None in year 1, $15K, $30K, then fully shareable |
| DPC Direct | $190+ (plus DPC fee) | No | No annual limit | None in year 1, then $25K, $50K, $125K a year |
| CHM | $115-$299 per unit (Bronze to Gold) | Yes (Christian lifestyle commitment) | $125K per illness ($1M+ with CHM Plus) | Gold only: up to $15K in year 1, rising through year 3 |
| Samaritan | From $125 (Basic) or $210 (Classic) | Yes (Christian) | $500K per need (Classic) | Shareable after 12 symptom-free months (5 years for some conditions) |
| Liberty | $87-$362 (individual) | Yes (Christian statement of beliefs) | $300K-$1M per incident | None in year 1, up to $50K total in years 2-3 |
| OneShare | Quote only | Christian sharing ministry | $150K-$500K per incident, $1M lifetime | Waiting periods and limits apply |
| Altrua | From $136 (Ruby) to $356 (Diamond) | Statement of standards | $1M-$2M lifetime | 10-year lookback; limits vary by condition |
*Individual monthly prices where published (2026), for adults roughly 30 to 39 unless noted. Prices vary by age, tier, tobacco use and the IUA or AHP you choose.
Best for Functional Medicine: An ACA Plan Plus Gabriel Care (Not a Health Share)
Monthly Cost: Gabriel Care from $249, plus your ACA premium after subsidies
Coverage: Insurance for conventional and catastrophic care, plus a monthly wellness balance for functional medicine and alternative therapies
Faith Requirement: None
Best For: Health-conscious people who want functional medicine, peptides, and alternative therapies covered without giving up real insurance
Gabriel Care isn't a health share, so it isn't ranked with the plans below. It's a wellness membership that works alongside your health insurance. Your plan handles conventional medical care, and Gabriel Care covers the care insurance won't.
Where health shares and insurance exclude peptides, IV therapy, and most functional and alternative treatments, Gabriel Care covers them, plus cannabis medicine and psychedelic therapy where legal, through licensed providers. Each month, members get a wellness balance of up to $500 on Emerald, $750 on Sapphire, or $1,500 on Onyx, reimbursed at 100% with Gabriel Network providers and 50% out of network, with no per-category caps. On Emerald, that's up to $6,000 a year.
The catastrophic side works differently from every plan below: it's real insurance. Your ACA plan must cover pre-existing conditions, can't put a lifetime dollar cap on essential benefits, and limits your yearly out-of-pocket costs. Gabriel Care adds an AI health advisor to help navigate care decisions.
The trade-off? Gabriel Care is new, and you pay an insurance premium on top of the membership. For people who want real insurance plus coverage for cutting-edge medicine, that's the point.
Pricing:
- Emerald from $249 a month, Sapphire from $399, Onyx from $799 (add $30 per adult if Gabriel isn't the agent on your health plan)
- Wellness balance: up to $500, $750 or $1,500 a month
- Catastrophic: covered by your ACA or other health plan
- Network: any licensed provider, 100% in the Gabriel Network and 50% outside it
What Gabriel Care Covers:
- Functional medicine visits
- Peptide therapy, where legally prescribed
- Cannabis and psychedelic therapy, where legal
- IV therapy and vitamin infusions
- Longevity labs and biomarker tracking
Surgery, ER and hospital care stay with your health insurance.
Reimbursement: target of 48 hours after complete documentation and approval, faster on Sapphire and Onyx
Technology: AI advisor, digital app, receipt submission
Bottom Line: If you're invested in functional medicine, longevity protocols, or alternative therapies, insurance plus Gabriel Care means you don't have to choose between real coverage and cutting-edge care.
Best for Budget Catastrophic: JHS Community
Monthly Cost: Not published (quote only)
Coverage: Catastrophic-focused
Faith Requirement: Statement of religious and ethical beliefs
Best For: Healthy individuals who want catastrophic-focused sharing and can handle a large out-of-pocket amount if needed
JHS Community (Jericho Health Share) is the catastrophic specialist.
If you're in good health and have savings to cover a worst-case scenario, JHS is built for you. You choose a member responsibility amount (MRA) of $2,500, $5,000 or $10,000.
Three main tiers are available:
Distinct: You pay 50% of the next $10K after your MRA, then it's shared at 100%. Max annual sharing: $250K ($1M lifetime). No maternity sharing. Lowest cost, highest out-of-pocket exposure.
Diverse: You pay 20% of the next $10K after your MRA, then it's shared at 100%. Max annual sharing: $750K ($2M lifetime). Adds maternity ($8K limit).
Dynamic: Shared at 100% after your MRA. Max annual sharing: $1M ($3M lifetime). Includes maternity ($12K limit).
Tiers include wellness benefits ($500-$2,000/year) and limited office visits (4-12/year depending on tier), with access to the First Health or PHCS network depending on your state. Pre-existing conditions have a 12-month waiting period, and maternity has a 9-month wait.
What It Won't Cover: It isn't built for alternative medicine, peptides, comprehensive primary care, or low-deductible needs. This is a catastrophic safety net, not a comprehensive health plan.
Bottom Line: A catastrophic-focused option if you're healthy and have emergency savings. Get a quote, since JHS doesn't publish prices.
Best for Christians: Medi-Share
Monthly Cost: About $150-$250 for a single member in their 30s with a $12,000 AHP, per Medi-Share's examples
Coverage: Broad medical sharing, faith-based
Faith Requirement: Yes (statement of Christian faith and a church-attendance pledge)
Best For: Christians who want an established health share with a track record going back to 1993
Medi-Share is one of the best-known names in faith-based health sharing.
Sharing since 1993, it has more than 350,000 members and says it has discounted and shared more than $9.4 billion in medical bills. It advertises 98% member satisfaction, though it doesn't publish the survey behind the number.
Sharing covers office visits, hospitalization, surgery, maternity (up to $125,000 per pregnancy, for married members) and emergency care, plus 24/7 telehealth. Medi-Share moved to the First Health network in most states in August 2026.
You choose an Annual Household Portion (AHP) of $3,000, $6,000, $9,000 or $12,000. After that, eligible needs are shared at 100%, with no annual or lifetime limit for most needs.
Faith Requirement: Members sign a statement of Christian faith, agree to live by biblical standards, and pledge to regularly attend a fellowship of believers. Applicants must avoid tobacco and illegal drugs and not abuse alcohol.
What Sets It Apart:
- More than 30 years of operation
- More than $9.4 billion discounted and shared
- No annual or lifetime limit for most needs
- 24/7 telehealth
Bottom Line: If you want a mature, faith-centered health share with proven longevity and Christian community, Medi-Share is a strong choice.
HSA-Focused Option: HSA Secure
Monthly Cost: Not published (quote only)
Coverage: A minimum essential coverage (MEC) insurance plan plus health sharing through Zion HealthShare
Faith Requirement: None
Best For: Self-employed people who want an HSA-focused health share setup
HSA Secure, sold by HSA for America and ColoHealth, pairs a minimum essential coverage (MEC) insurance plan with sharing through Zion HealthShare. The seller says the MEC plan's high deductible makes members HSA-eligible, and it acknowledges the health share part can't be HSA-qualified.
Treat the HSA claim with care. To contribute to an HSA, you need a qualifying high-deductible plan (in 2026, a deductible of at least $1,700 for one person and an out-of-pocket maximum of no more than $8,500) and no disqualifying other coverage. The seller doesn't publish the MEC plan's deductible or out-of-pocket limit, and the IRS hasn't addressed pairings like this. Get tax advice before contributing. If you do qualify, the 2026 HSA limits are $4,400 (individual) and $8,750 (family).
Tax Math: If you qualify and you're in the 24% bracket, maxing out a single HSA at $4,400 saves about $1,050 in federal income tax.
The sharing side uses Zion's Initial Unshareable Amounts (IUA) of $1,250, $2,500 or $5,000, with no annual or lifetime limit and Zion's pre-existing phase-in.
What's Included:
- MEC insurance plan (preventive care, screenings, immunizations)
- Health sharing through Zion (surgery, ER, hospitalization)
Eligibility: Self-employed people, independent contractors and others with self-generated income. Not available in Washington.
Bottom Line: Worth a look if you're self-employed and want an HSA-focused setup, but confirm the MEC plan qualifies before you count on the tax savings. Since 2026, a marketplace bronze or catastrophic plan is a simpler path to HSA eligibility.
Best Crowdfunding Model: CrowdHealth
Monthly Cost: $60 membership plus capped monthly asks (about $142 a month in total on average for a single member under 55)
Coverage: Member-funded crowdfunding
Faith Requirement: None
Best For: People who value transparency and prefer funding members' bills directly over pooled sharing
CrowdHealth flipped the health share model on its head.
Instead of a pooled fund, CrowdHealth runs a crowdfunding platform. Members pay a $60 monthly membership plus capped monthly asks to fund other members' bills. Each month, members can approve or decline the requests they're matched with, and the money goes straight to the member with the bill.
Bills are negotiated down first (CrowdHealth cites 30-60% off planned procedures), then crowdfunded. You see exactly where your dollars go. There's no faith statement, but there are weight and tobacco rules, and pre-existing conditions aren't funded for the first two years, then are capped at $25,000 a year.
How It Works:
- Member pays the first $500 of a health event ($3,000 for a pregnancy)
- CrowdHealth negotiates the bill with the provider
- Members are asked to fund it and can approve or decline
- Funds go directly to the member with the bill (never pooled)
What's Covered: Eligible health events after the first $500: ER visits, surgery, hospitalization, imaging, labs. Virtual primary care, urgent care and talk therapy are funded in full, and one preventive visit a year up to $300.
What Sets It Apart:
- Transparency (you see the bills you help fund)
- No faith requirements
- A published cap on monthly asks
- Modern app
Pricing: $60 membership plus monthly asks; about $142 a month on average for a single member under 55 in 2026, more from age 55, and membership ends at 65
Bottom Line: If traditional health shares feel like black boxes and you want full transparency, CrowdHealth is the modern alternative. Works best for people comfortable with crowdfunding dynamics.
Top Ranked in 2026: Zion HealthShare
Monthly Cost: $175-$260 (single member, age 30-39)
Coverage: Traditional medical sharing with no annual or lifetime maximum
Faith Requirement: No statement of faith; members attest that Zion is accountable to a higher power
Best For: People who want traditional health sharing without a church requirement
Zion HealthShare has grown fast. It says it passed 75,000 members and shared $91.1 million in 2025, and HealthShareGuide.org ranked it first on its 2026 list. It can reimburse you, prepay, issue a virtual card, or pay the provider directly after your IUA.
Sharing covers the usual medical needs: office and urgent care visits, ER, hospitalization, surgery, maternity, labs and imaging. There are no network restrictions.
Choose an Initial Unshareable Amount (IUA) of $1,250, $2,500 or $5,000 per need, with at most three IUAs in a rolling 12 months. There's no annual or lifetime maximum. Pre-existing conditions phase in: nothing in year one, then up to $25,000, $50,000, and $125,000 a year from year four.
What's Included:
- Office and urgent care visits
- ER and hospitalization
- Surgery (inpatient and outpatient)
- Maternity (conception after six months of membership)
- Labs and imaging
- A preventive office visit, up to $175
Faith Requirement: No statement of faith. Members attest that Zion considers itself accountable to a higher power, and all faiths are welcome.
Pricing (single member, age 30-39, 2026): $175 to $260 a month, depending on the IUA. Tobacco users pay $50 more.
Bottom Line: A popular, well-reviewed option for traditional health sharing without a church requirement. It can't operate in Washington, where the insurance commissioner and a state appeals court found it was acting as an unlicensed insurer.
Best for Secular Coverage: Sedera
Monthly Cost: $210-$336 (single member, age 30-39)
Coverage: Non-religious, flexible IUA, clear pre-existing policy
Faith Requirement: None (members agree to an ethical-beliefs statement)
Best For: People who want a non-religious health share with predictable costs and a clear path for pre-existing conditions
Sedera is the established secular option, founded in 2014.
No statement of faith and no church attendance; members agree to Sedera's ethical-beliefs statement. Sedera now operates as a benevolent fund of Covenant HealthShare, a Christian sharing ministry, but it doesn't require members to share that faith.
Pre-Existing Conditions: A 36-month lookback. Nothing is shared in your first year, up to $15,000 in year two, up to $30,000 in year three, and then pre-existing conditions are fully shareable.
Coverage: Large medical needs after your IUA, with no annual or lifetime cap, plus telehealth and expert second opinions. No provider network (use any doctor or hospital). IUA options of $500, $1,000, $1,500, $2,500 and $5,000.
What's Included:
- ER and hospitalization
- Surgery (inpatient and outpatient)
- Imaging and labs
- Maternity (births after your first 12 months; a flat $5,000 maternity IUA, or $7,500 for an elective C-section)
- Telehealth
- Expert second opinions
Pricing (single member, age 30-39, 2026): $210 to $336 a month, depending on the IUA. Tobacco and vape users pay $75 more.
Bottom Line: A strong non-religious option if you want predictable monthly costs, no annual or lifetime cap, and a clear three-year path for pre-existing conditions.
Best for Direct Primary Care: DPC Direct
Monthly Cost: $190+ (plus separate DPC membership)
Coverage: Pairs DPC membership with catastrophic sharing
Faith Requirement: None
Best For: People already enrolled in Direct Primary Care who want catastrophic protection layered on top
DPC Direct is a specialized, non-religious sharing program for people in Direct Primary Care (DPC) programs. It's sold by HSA for America and run by MPB Health.
DPC is a membership-based primary care model where you pay $50-$150/month directly to your primary care doctor for unlimited visits, same/next-day appointments, extended consultations, and most labs. DPC doesn't cover ER, hospitalization, or surgery. That's where DPC Direct comes in.
Pair your DPC membership ($50-$150/mo) with DPC Direct ($190+/mo) for comprehensive coverage:
- DPC: Covers primary care, preventive visits, most labs, chronic disease management
- DPC Direct: Covers ER, hospitalization, surgery, imaging, catastrophic events
IUA Options: $1,000, $2,500, or $5,000 per need, with at most three per household a year. After your IUA, eligible needs are shared at 100% with no annual limit.
What's Covered by DPC Direct:
- ER visits
- Hospitalization
- Surgery (inpatient and outpatient)
- Imaging and labs outside your DPC
Pre-Existing Conditions: A 24-month lookback. Nothing is shared in year one, then up to $25K in year two, $50K in year three and $125K a year after that.
Total Monthly Cost Example:
- DPC membership: $80-$120/mo
- DPC Direct: from $190/mo
- Total: from about $270/mo for primary care plus catastrophic sharing
New for 2026: A DPC membership of up to $150 a month ($300 when it covers more than one person) no longer blocks HSA eligibility, and you can pay DPC fees from an HSA. The health share side still doesn't count as an HSA-qualifying plan.
Bottom Line: If you love your DPC doctor and want catastrophic protection, DPC Direct is a natural pairing. Best for people who value relationship-based primary care and want to layer sharing on top.
How to Choose: Decision Tree
Start here: Do you need functional medicine, peptides, or alternative therapies?
- Yes → An ACA plan plus Gabriel Care (health shares generally don't cover these)
- No → Continue
Do you want HSA tax advantages?
- Yes → A marketplace bronze or catastrophic plan, which counts as HSA-compatible from 2026. Self-employed? HSA Secure is another option, but confirm eligibility first.
- No → Continue
Is faith community important to you?
- Yes, I'm Christian → Medi-Share (sharing since 1993, 350,000+ members)
- No → Continue
Are you healthy with $10K+ in savings?
- Yes → JHS Community (catastrophic focus)
- No → Continue
Do you already have a DPC membership?
- Yes → DPC Direct (pairs perfectly with DPC)
- No → Continue
Do you want full transparency and to fund bills directly?
- Yes → CrowdHealth (crowdfunding model, modern app)
- No → Continue
Do you have pre-existing conditions?
- Yes → Sedera (fully shareable after three years, secular)
- No → Continue
Do you want no church requirement and no lifetime limit?
- Yes → Zion HealthShare (not available in Washington)
- No → Continue
Default recommendation:
- Secular, comprehensive, modern → Sedera or CrowdHealth
- Faith-based, comprehensive, proven → Medi-Share
- Catastrophic focus → JHS Community or OneShare
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are health share plans the same as health insurance?
No. Health share plans are not insurance. They're voluntary communities where members share medical costs. Because they aren't insurance, ACA rules don't apply to them, so they don't have to cover pre-existing conditions, preventive care, or essential health benefits. In exchange, they often cost less than unsubsidized ACA plans and offer more provider flexibility.
Q: Do health share plans cover pre-existing conditions?
Most limit them at first. Sedera phases them in over three years (nothing in year one, then $15K and $30K) before making them fully shareable. Zion and DPC Direct phase in to $125K a year by year four. Samaritan shares a condition after 12 months without symptoms or treatment (five years for some conditions). CrowdHealth funds nothing for two years, then caps them at $25K a year. Medi-Share uses a 36-month lookback, with limits that rise after three and five years. Gabriel Care isn't a health share, but it doesn't limit wellness benefits for pre-existing conditions, and ACA plans must cover them from day one.
Q: Can I use a health share plan with my doctor?
Most plans let you use any licensed provider. Some use networks for negotiated rates: Medi-Share uses First Health in most states, and JHS uses First Health or PHCS depending on the state. Sedera, Zion and CrowdHealth have no network. With Gabriel Care, your insurance's network applies to conventional care, and for wellness care you can see any licensed provider (100% in the Gabriel Network, 50% outside it).
Q: How do health shares handle maternity?
Rules vary. Zion requires conception after six months of membership, JHS has a nine-month wait (Diverse shares up to $8K, Dynamic $12K, Distinct none), and Sedera shares births after your first 12 months with a flat $5,000 maternity IUA. Medi-Share shares up to $125,000 per pregnancy for married members. CrowdHealth members pay the first $3,000 of a pregnancy. With an ACA plan plus Gabriel Care, your ACA plan covers maternity and childbirth with no waiting period, and Gabriel Care can reimburse eligible midwife, doula and other holistic pregnancy care after review.
Q: What happens if the health share goes bankrupt?
This is the biggest risk. Health shares aren't regulated like insurance or backed by state insurance guaranty funds, and some have failed: Aliera and Trinity HealthShare ended in bankruptcy. Medi-Share (since 1993), Samaritan (since 1994) and CHM (since 1981) have long track records. Liberty settled an Ohio attorney general investigation in 2021, and a members' class action against it was still pending in 2025. Newer plans like CrowdHealth have less history. Always research financial stability before joining, or keep ACA insurance for big bills and avoid the risk entirely.
Q: Can I pair a health share with an HSA?
Not on its own. A health share isn't a high-deductible health plan, so it doesn't make you HSA-eligible, and IRS rules proposed in 2020 (never finalized) said membership would block HSA contributions. Some programs pair sharing with a minimum essential coverage plan and market it as HSA-compatible, so confirm that the plan meets the IRS test before you contribute. What does work in 2026: any bronze or catastrophic plan bought through the marketplace counts as HSA-compatible, and a direct primary care membership of up to $150 a month ($300 for more than one person) no longer blocks HSA eligibility and can be paid from the HSA.
Final Verdict
Health share plans aren't one-size-fits-all.
Best for Functional Medicine: An ACA plan plus Gabriel Care. It isn't a health share, but if you're invested in peptides, cannabis, psychedelics, or functional medicine, it covers what these plans leave you paying out of pocket.
Best for Budget Catastrophic: JHS Community, if you're healthy and want catastrophic-focused sharing.
Best for Christians: Medi-Share. Sharing since 1993, 350,000+ members, and more than $9.4 billion discounted and shared.
HSA-Focused: HSA Secure, for self-employed people, if its MEC plan qualifies. Since 2026, a marketplace bronze plan is the simpler route to an HSA.
Best for Transparency: CrowdHealth. Modern and secular, and you see the bills you help fund.
Top Ranked in 2026: Zion HealthShare. No statement of faith and no lifetime limit, outside Washington.
Best for Secular + Pre-Existing: Sedera. No faith requirement, and pre-existing conditions become fully shareable after three years.
Best for DPC Members: DPC Direct. Pairs with Direct Primary Care for catastrophic sharing.
The right plan depends on what you prioritize: coverage breadth, cost, sharing limits, faith alignment, or specialty needs like functional medicine. Use the decision tree above to narrow your options, then request quotes from your top 2-3 choices.
Health sharing isn't perfect. But with enhanced subsidies gone and premiums up in 2026, it's a real alternative for people who can't make insurance premiums work. If you can, keeping ACA insurance and adding a wellness membership gives you both real protection and coverage for the care insurance ignores.
Choose wisely. Your health and wallet depend on it.
See everything Gabriel Care covers at gabrielcare.co/coverage-list
Last updated: September 2026