Liberty HealthShare vs Zion HealthShare: An HSA for America Comparison Guide
Looking to compare healthshare memberships? In this edition of the HSA for America HealthShare Comparison series, in-house expert Lou Spatafore compares Liberty HealthShare vs Zion HealthShare, two of the most popular healthshare memberships on the market.
Just here to compare costs? Click the Instant Quote button below to run an instant quote on a healthshare membership in your area.
Q: What are HealthShare Memberships?
Medical Cost Sharing Programs, usually known simply as HealthShare Memberships, are an alternative way to pay for emergency or unexpected medical bills. It’s not health insurance, but rather a community-based system designed to share the cost of medical bills among members.
If you’re new to the concept of health sharing, you can get a crash course by reading our complete guide, All You Need to Know About HealthShare Memberships.
Liberty HealthShare vs Zion HealthShare: Quick Insights
- Choosing the best healthshare membership for you is about considering your personal needs; There is no single membership that would be best for everybody. Working with a Personal Benefits Manager can make it easier to find the right fit and get registered fast.
- Liberty HealthShare’s recent controversies, cost-increases, and leadership shake-ups have caused many members to seek a different membership.
- Zion HealthShare’s Essential Membership is specially designed (and priced) to pair with Direct Primary Care, and the Direct Membership is also available for those who want preventive sharing built in.
- Zion HealthShare is the more affordable of the two
- Maternity care is eligible for cost-sharing through both companies
Liberty HealthShare vs Zion HealthShare: Which Membership is Best?
Liberty HealthShare Review
Liberty HealthShare offers three different cost-sharing programs, each with different monthly costs, out-of-pocket responsibilities, and added perks. Liberty Essential is the most affordable membership starting at $159 per month. While this is higher than Zion HealthShare’s starting rates, many members appreciate the more Christian-focused atmosphere of Liberty.
Liberty’s recent rate increases were significant, and were unpopular for many members. In addition, a recently settled lawsuit against Liberty has caused some controversy. The result is that many existing Liberty members are now looking for another option.
However, Liberty recently appointed a new CEO, who has introduced a strategy to address these issues and improve the member experience.
Pros and Cons of Liberty HealthShare
PROS:
- Good prescription discount programs (HealthShare RX and SavNet)
- Some preventive care services are available
- Low Annual Unshared Amount (AUA) for most memberships
- Higher sharing maximum for pre-membership medical conditions (after 1 year of membership)
CONS:
- More expensive than Zion HealthShare
- Some controversy around recent lawsuits and unpaid bills
Zion HealthShare Review
Zion HealthShare is known for having some of the most affordable contribution amounts.
All Zion HealthShare members can augment their membership with low-cost upgrades, including pharmacy discounts, mental health services, and unlimited virtual care. Zion HealthShare offers small businesses a more affordable alternative to employee health insurance.
Pros and Cons of Zion HealthShare
PROS:
- Low monthly contributions
- Direct and Essential memberships available
- Low-cost additional services available
CONS:
- Fertility expenses not shareable; adoption birth expenses limited to $2,000
- Ongoing prescription sharing is limited to 12 months, so individuals with long-term medication needs should review Zion RxShare pricing first.
Compare Pricing on the Best HealthShare Memberships Available
Liberty Healthshare vs Zion HealthShare: Point by Point Comparison
Next, we’re going to look at how Liberty and Zion HealthShare compare when it comes to these critical factors:
- Monthly Contribution Amount: How much the healthshare membership costs per-month
- Out-of-Pocket Amount Before Sharing: The amount that needs to be paid out-of-pocket before medical bills become eligible for sharing. This functions similarly to a deductible, though health sharing is not insurance. Zion HealthShare calls this the Initial Unshareable Amount (IUA); Liberty HealthShare calls it the Annual Unshared Amount (AUA).
- Statement of Faith / Statement of Belief: Some healthshare memberships are faith-based, others are non-religious. In either case, all healthshare members must agree to certain community and health-based guidelines in order to join.
- Preventive Care: While healthshare memberships are not designed for preventive care, some newer memberships are offering cost sharing on select services.
- Pre-membership Conditions: Most healthshare memberships have a waiting period before pre-membership medical conditions are considered eligible for sharing.
- Maternity Care: Maternity care is available in some, but not all healthshare programs.
Out-of-Pocket Amounts Before Sharing (AUA / IUA)
*Depending on age and membership options
Liberty Healthshare “Annual Unshared Amount” (AUA):
Individual: $1,000 or $4,000
Family: $2,250, $3,000, or $10,000
Zion HealthShare (IUA): Choose from $1,250, $2,500, or $5,000. The IUA applies per medical need, not annually; no new IUA is required for the same need until the member is symptom-free for 12 months, and household memberships pay no more than three IUAs in a rolling 12-month period.
Statement of Faith
Liberty Healthshare: A ‘light’ statement of belief according to Christian principles.
Zion HealthShare: None; No faith-based statement is required. However, Zion HealthShare does have Principles of Membership.
Preventive Care
Liberty Healthshare: Annual wellness visits are shareable up to a maximum of $400. Mammograms, prostate exams, and Cologuard are eligible for sharing after two months of membership.
Zion HealthShare: With the Direct Membership, or the Preventive Sharing additional service added to the Essential Membership, an annual provider visit is eligible for sharing up to $175 starting at the membership start date. Mammograms are eligible for sharing up to $600 beginning at age 40, and screening colonoscopies up to $5,000 every 10 years beginning at age 45, each after 6 months of continuous membership. Youth immunizations and well child visits are eligible after a 6-month wait. (Note: By pairing Zion Essential with a DPC membership, members can add extensive routine and preventive care through their DPC practice alongside medical cost sharing).
Waiting Period of Pre-Membership Medical Conditions
Liberty Healthshare: 1 year waiting period, $50,000 sharing maximum during years 2 and 3.
Zion HealthShare: A pre-membership medical condition is anything where an individual member has experienced one or more of the following: been examined, been diagnosed, taken medication, had symptoms, a personal history of or known increased risk of conditions that may arise or worsen in pregnancy, or received medical treatment, within the 24 months prior to their membership start date. Sharing requests related to pre-membership medical conditions are only eligible for sharing if the condition was regarded as cured or did not require treatment or present symptoms for 24 months prior to the membership start date. Sharing phases in as follows: Year One, $0 (waiting period); Year Two, up to $25,000 per sharing request; Year Three, up to $50,000 per sharing request; Year Four, up to $125,000 per sharing request. After four years of membership, pre-membership medical conditions are eligible for sharing up to $125,000 in a 12-month period, resetting each membership year. Sharing is based on date of service. Exception: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes (types 1 and 2) are not considered pre-membership medical conditions provided the member has not been hospitalized for the condition in the prior 12 months and controls it through diet or medication.
Maternity Care
Liberty Healthshare: Six month waiting period (not available with the Liberty Select membership option)
Zion HealthShare: Maternity expenses are eligible for sharing when conception occurs after six months of continuous membership, as confirmed by medical records. (Memberships that started before April 1, 2025, and memberships enrolled through an employer are exempt from the six-month wait, though conception must still occur after the membership start date.) Maternity sharing requests use a standard maternity IUA: households with a $1,250 IUA have a $2,500 maternity IUA, $2,500 households have a $2,500 maternity IUA, and $5,000 households have a $5,000 maternity IUA.
The Verdict: Liberty Healthshare vs Zion HealthShare
In terms of price and versatility, Zion HealthShare has more to offer.
In addition, recent cost increases and legal controversies have driven some members away from Liberty, and towards some of the younger healthshare companies.
This isn’t to say that Liberty isn’t still providing a viable cost sharing option for many people. There’s no question that their more explicitly faith-based structure is important for many, and some of their membership options are more comprehensive than what is available with Zion HealthShare.
Healthshare Comparison FAQ [How to Choose / Compare Healthshare Memberships]
Q: Which health sharing program is best?
A: When comparing Liberty HealthShare vs Zion HealthShare, many choose Zion HealthShare as the better membership due to its lower cost and better reputation. However, Liberty HealthShare offers higher sharing limits for pre-membership medical conditions during early years of membership.
Q: Are healthshare memberships legitimate?
A: While not the same as ACA health insurance, healthcare sharing memberships are a viable way to cut monthly costs while keeping support for eligible medical expenses in place. Healthshare memberships and Health Care Sharing Ministries (HCSMs) are both 100% legal and available to everyone.
Q: Is Zion HealthShare faith-based?
A: Unlike some healthcare sharing ministries, Zion HealthShare has no faith or religion-based membership requirements.
Q: Does Zion HealthShare share maternity expenses?
A: Members must meet the standard maternity Initial Unshareable Amount (IUA) before maternity costs are shared, and conception must occur after six months of continuous membership (memberships started before April 1, 2025, and employer-enrolled memberships are exempt from the six-month wait, though conception must still follow the membership start date).
Q: What are the biggest Liberty Healthshare complaints?
A: In recent years, some Liberty Healthshare members have complained about turnaround times for cost sharing and slower customer service.
Catch Up on the HSA for America Healthshare Comparison Series
Start Your Healthshare Membership Today
There are no enrollment periods for health sharing memberships. That means that you won’t need to wait long to have your new membership in place.
If you’re ready to sign up, the next step is making an appointment with your Personal Benefits Manager (no-cost). We can make sure that you’re getting the best rates possible, and answer any lingering questions you have about your membership.
Zion HealthShare is not an insurance company. Neither this publication nor membership in Zion HealthShare are offered by an insurance company. Visit zionhealthshare.org to view your state-specific notice.
