Orlando Harmon
Healthshare plans are a low-cost alternative to traditional health insurance. Members of healthshare plans pool their resources to help cover each other's medical expenses. Unlike standard health insurance plans, which are heavily regulated and must cover a set of essential benefits, healthshare plans operate on a cost-share basis. Members contribute monthly to cover each other's medical bills, but these plans do not guarantee payment. Healthshare plans are not for everyone, and they are not regulated on a federal level like insurance companies. However, they are 100% legal and have become a popular option for those seeking an affordable, community-based approach to healthcare.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Members | 2 million |
| Monthly Payments | Contribution amounts |
| Compared to Traditional Health Insurance | Half or less the cost |
| Pre-existing Conditions | Waiting period before sharing costs |
| Religious Component | Christian, non-denominational, or secular |
| Tax Benefits | Yes, if HSA-compatible |
| First-Dollar Doctor Visits and Preventative Care | Yes, with some plans |
| Catastrophic-focused Plan | JHS Community |
| Christian Philosophy | Medi-Share |
| No Religious Affiliation | HSA Secure, Care+, Sedera |
What You'll Learn
Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM)
CHM has four different flexible programs, each designed with its members in mind. Monthly costs range from $98 to $255, depending on which program is chosen. There are no application or annual membership fees required.
CHM shares 100% of eligible medical bills and has satisfied over $11 billion in members' healthcare costs. Members voluntarily send a monthly contribution to take care of their medical costs while helping fellow believers. There are no membership restrictions based on age, geographic location, or health history.
CHM has three participation levels: CHM Gold, CHM Silver, and CHM Bronze. The CHM Gold program is their most extensive and costs $240 per unit, per month. The CHM Silver program has a personal responsibility amount of $2,500 (maternity not included) and costs $138 per unit, per month. The CHM Bronze program is the least expensive at just $92 per unit, per month, with an annual personal responsibility of $5,000 (maternity not included).
CHM has a program for catastrophic medical expenses called CHM Plus. This program removes the $125,000 sharing limit per illness. Members who are on the CHM Gold program can receive unlimited sharing for eligible medical bills.
CHM has designed a program specifically for members aged 65 and older. Additionally, members under the age of 65 who qualify for Medicare may also participate in the program.
CHM is not insurance. It is a Christian membership-based, non-profit organization where they help facilitate the voluntary sharing between members to pay each other's medical costs.
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Liberty HealthShare
- Liberty Essential
- Liberty Connect
- Liberty Unite
- Liberty Rise (for young adults aged 18-29)
- Liberty Assist (for people 65 and older on Medicare Parts A and B)
Additional programs
Membership eligibility
Membership eligibility centres around observing Christian values, shared beliefs, and responsible choices regarding health and helping others.
Cost
Membership costs range from $159-$359 per month for individuals and $499-$1,239 per month for families, depending on the chosen program. There is also a startup fee of $135 and a yearly renewal fee of $75.
Customer reviews
While some customers have praised Liberty HealthShare for providing peace of mind and excellent customer service, there are also numerous complaints about the company's failure to pay medical bills, long delays in reimbursement, and poor communication. Some members have ended up in collections and experienced financial ruin due to Liberty HealthShare's failure to pay their medical expenses.
Controversies and legal issues
Comparison with other health sharing plans
Compared to other health sharing plans, Liberty HealthShare has been described as relatively expensive, with higher personal responsibility amounts. However, it is one of the more popular health sharing programs and has facilitated the sharing of more than $1.25 billion in eligible medical expenses since 2019.
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Medi-Share
There are seven different membership options, all with different personal responsibility amounts, which they call the annual household portion (AHP). Members pay their "share" (a fixed amount depending on the plan selected) into an account with their name on it at America's Christian Credit Union. The funds in these accounts are used to pay the member's medical bills each month.
The typical family saves about $500 per month compared to health insurance. Members are given a contribution discount of up to 20% if they meet certain health standards relating to blood pressure, abdominal circumference and body mass index.
To be accepted into the program, members must agree to a Statement of Faith and adhere to a biblical lifestyle. This includes abstaining from tobacco and illegal drugs. Abortions are not covered, nor are expenses incurred from drunk driving accidents.
Pregnancy-related expenses are covered as long as members are making their monthly contributions. Members with an Annual Household Portion (AHP) of $1,250 or higher who have been making contributions from the month of conception through the month of delivery are eligible for maternity sharing.
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Samaritan Ministries
The Save to Share program allows for sharing to continue past the maximum shareable amount. When a member who participates in the Save to Share program has an eligible need with associated medical expenses that exceeds their membership’s maximum shareable amount, the excess amount will be shared by other Save to Share participants. The Save to Share program costs $133 per year for an individual membership ($11.08 per month) or $399 per year for a family membership ($33.25 per month).
The Samaritan Classic membership with Save to Share is the best overall HealthShare membership option offered by Samaritan Ministries, especially for families.
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Zion HealthShare
There are two types of memberships: for individuals and those who sign up through their website, and for those who subscribe to a DPC provider or are signing up through their employer. The former costs $103–$268 per month for individuals and $295–$790 per month for families, while the latter costs $75–$250 per month for individuals and $250–$650 per month for families.
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Frequently asked questions
Health share plans are a low-cost alternative to traditional health insurance. While not technically insurance, health share plans allow members to protect themselves against large or unexpected medical costs.
In the beginning, health sharing plans were only offered by Health Care Sharing Ministries. Today, however, medical sharing plans are available to almost everyone. While some health share plans do have a Christian religious component, there are plenty of non-denominational plans and plans that do not have a religious component.
With health sharing plans, members make a monthly contribution towards a shared "pool" of resources. When a member incurs a qualified medical expense, they can be reimbursed from this pool.
Health share plans are a legitimate and legal alternative to health insurance. They are designed to protect people against their most critical medical costs without wasting money on extra coverage that is never used.
If you're looking for a more affordable alternative to health insurance and don't use your coverage that much, then health share plans could be a great fit. However, if you have serious or ongoing health needs, a traditional insurance plan might be a better option.
