When it comes to health plans, some people don’t sweat the small stuff. That is, they don’t need or want to pay extra for a health plan that pays for small cuts, bruises, colds, and sprains. That’s like owning a car insurance policy that pays for oil changes and adding air to tires. In this post, we’ll compare the two best catastrophic health sharing plans on the market.
The fact is that the most cost-efficient way to purchase a health plan is to focus on large and catastrophic needs, and to be prepared to pay out of pocket for most routine, maintenance, and predictable healthcare expenses.
The first dollar of protection is always the most expensive. But the more you are willing to share in the risk of needing care, the more of your money you can keep in your own pocket every month.
That’s where this week’s two featured plans come in: Altrua’s RUBY and JHS Community Healthshare plans. Both of these options are catastrophic health share plans: They focus on protecting you against major medical expenses: Surgeries, cancers, hospitalizations, trauma center care, and the like.
With these plans, you would be responsible for picking up more of the cost of the first $10,000 to $15,000 compared to other plans. In return, however, your monthly outlays would be much, much lower than other health share options. And vastly more affordable than traditional health insurance products, especially for those in good overall health who don’t get a subsidy.
Who Needs a Catastrophic Health Share Plan?
If you want to minimize your monthly costs, you should consider one of these catastrophic-focused plans if you meet some or all of these criteria:
- You are in good overall health and you don’t expect to require much medical care in the near future.
- You can afford to cover the first $10,000 to $15,000 in medical expenses in the event you need care.
- You don’t qualify for a significant subsidy for a traditional health insurance plan under the Affordable Care Act
- You don’t have access to an employer-subsidized group health insurance plan
- You want the freedom to choose your own doctor or hospital, and not be restricted to using an HMO or PPO network of authorized care providers.
If paying the first $10,000 to $15,000 in medical costs would be a hardship, or if this would cause you to skip needed medical care or treatment or to skip your medications because of the out-of-pocket costs, a catastrophic health share plan might not be the best fit for you.
But that’s ok. We have plans that will suit your needs much better. All you need to do to get help identifying and enrolling in the best possible plan for you that’s available in your area is to make an appointment with a Personal Benefits Manager.
Now, let’s get back to RUBY, JHS Community Healthshare, and catastrophic health sharing plans.
What are Catastrophic Healthshare Plans?
Catastrophic health share plans offer lower monthly costs than traditional health insurance plans, but also provide more limited benefits, or no benefits, until your medical bills pass a certain threshold.
This is because by design they focus on protecting you against the high costs of unexpected medical emergencies and serious and catastrophic events, rather than covering routine care. In exchange for lower monthly costs, these plans have higher out-of-pocket costs, known as Initial Unshareable Amounts (IUAs).
You’ll be responsible for paying your medical expenses up to the IUA amount before the health share plan starts to contribute. These plans are a great option for healthy and responsible individuals who have some savings set aside for medical expenses.
Altrua’s RUBY vs. JHS Community Healthshare
Both Altrua’s RUBY and JHS Community Healthshare offer comprehensive coverage for catastrophic events, including hospitalization, surgery, emergency care, and cancer treatment.
Both plans have waiting periods for pre-existing conditions and for certain treatments.
Compare Pricing on the Best HealthShare Plans Available
Altrua’s RUBY Tier
Altrua’s RUBY tier is also specifically tailored for individuals who want catastrophic coverage.
It offers a range of benefits, including coverage for hospitalization, surgery, emergency care, and cancer treatment. The plan also provides maternity benefits, although it does have certain limitations.
The Altrua RUBY Catastrophic Health Sharing Plan At a Glance
| Category | Member Responsibility | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1st MRA | $7,500 per person per calendar year | |
| 2nd MRA | 2nd MRA: 50% of the next $10,000 per member (maximum of $5,000 if the medical professional/facility is non-affiliated) | |
| Office/Urgent Care/Specialist Visit MRA | Up to $300 of the charges per visit applied to the 1st then 2nd MRA | |
| Maternity Benefits | Not included | |
| Cancer MRA | 1st, then 2nd MRAs apply | Subject to $150k annual and $1M lifetime maximums. Biennial screening requirements for females 40+ and males 50+. 12 month waiting period. |
| Pooled Office/Urgent Care/Specialist Visits | 6 visits annually; up to $300 of charges per visit applied to the 1st then 2nd MRA | Visits are per member, per calendar year and are pooled |
| Wellness Visits | Female members age 40+ and male members age 50+ are eligible for cost sharing for one additional office visit during the calendar year. For female members aged 40 and over, the membership will allow up to $500 to be applied towards the MRA for a mammogram. | |
| Laboratory Services | Applied towards 1st, then 2nd MRAs | Up to $4,000 per member per calendar year. 90 day waiting period unless part of wellness or preventative care visit. |
| Telemedicine | Unlimited utilization | No consultation fee |
| Prescriptions | Members are allowed discounts for name brand and generic prescriptions | |
| Flu Shot | Max of $25 per member, per calendar year | |
| Funeral Needs | Not included | Discounts are available through Dignity Memorial |
| Sharing After 1st and 2nd MRAs are Met | The membership shares 100% of eligible medical needs for the remainder of the calendar year. | |
| Maximum Amount Shared During the Lifetime of Your Membership | Lifetime Limit of $1,000,000 per member with a limit of $150,000 per calendar year. |
JHS Community Healthshare
The JHS Community Healthshare plan includes benefits for hospitalization, surgery, emergency care, and cancer treatment. JHS Community also offers maternity benefits, although they may have restrictions and waiting periods.
Similar to Altrua, JHS Community Healthshare also imposes waiting periods before it will share costs for treating pre-existing conditions.
JHS Plan Tier Levels
JHS Community Healthshare plan comes in three tiers. The lowest-cost and most popular plan is called Distinct. Diverse is their intermediate offering, and Dynamic features the highest level of benefits, though at a higher monthly membership cost.
Here’s an overview of all three plan tiers, below:
JHS Community Healthshare Plan Tiers
| Benefit | Distinct | Diverse | Dynamic |
|---|---|---|---|
| (From JHS Community, and up to date as of this writing.) | |||
| Adult and child wellness services | No visit fee. Eligible at 100% up to a maximum of $500/year. | No visit fee. Capped at $2,000 for wellness services per member per year. | No visit fee. Capped at $2,000 for wellness services per member per year. |
| Physician, specialist, and urgent care visits | $40 visit fee | $40 visit fee | $40 visit fee |
| Maximum per office visit | $400, up to 4x per member | $400, up to 8x per member | $400, up to 12x |
| MRA options | Choose $2,500, $5,000, or $10,000 per member, per member year—not to exceed 3 family members | Choose $2,500, $5,000, or $10,000 per member, per member year—not to exceed 3 family members | Choose $2,500, $5,000 or $10,000 per member, per membership year—not to exceed 3 family members |
| Additional MRAs | Capped at 50% of next $10,000 per member per membership year. Total AMRAs will not exceed $5,000/member, $10,000 for member+1, or $15,000 for a family membership year. | Shared up to $8,000 for single or multiple births. Life threatening complications for mother and/or new baby, MRA applies up to a Maximum Sharing Limit of $40,000. *Nine (9) month waiting period prior to conception. | Shared up to $12,000 for single or multiple births. Life threatening complications for mother and/or new baby, MRA applies up to a Maximum Sharing Limit of $40,000. *Nine (9) month waiting period prior to conception. |
| Imaging and lab fees | 100% shareable after MRA and AMRA are met | 100% shareable after MRA and AMRA are met | 100% shareable after MRA and AMRA are met |
| ER Visits | $400 visit fee, then shared up to $4,000/family member/year. | $400 visit fee, then shared up to $8,000 per family member/year. | $400 visit fee, then shared up to $12,000 per family member/year. |
| Hospitalization | 100% shareable after MRA and AMRA are met. 90-day waiting period for non accidental injury. | 100% shareable after MRA and AMRA are met. 90-day waiting period for non-accidental injury. | 100% Shareable after MRA and AMRA are met. 90-day waiting period for non-accidental injury. |
| Surgery | 90-day waiting period for other than accidental injuries. 100% shareable after MRA and AMRA are met. | 90-day waiting period for other than accidental injuries. 100% shareable after MRA and AMRA are met. | 90-day waiting period for other than accidental injuries. 100% shareable after MRA and AMRA are met. |
| Maternity Care | Not eligible for maternity benefits in the Distinct plan. | Shareable up to $8,000/ member for single or multiple births. Life threatening complications for mother and/or new baby, MRA and AMRA apply up to a Maximum Sharing Limit of $40,000. *Nine (9) month waiting period prior to conception. | Shareable up to $12,000/ member for single or multiple births. Life threatening complications for mother and/or new baby, MRA and AMRA apply up to a Maximum Sharing Limit of $40,000. *Nine (9) month waiting period prior to conception. |
| Maximum sharing limit | $250,000 per member/year | $750,000 per member/year | $1 million per member/year |
| Lifetime sharing limit per member | $1 million | $2 million | $3 million |
The maximum sharing limits for each plan are as follows:
- Distinct—$250,000 per member/year
- Diverse—$750,000 per member/year
- Dynamic—$1 million per member/year
Cost Considerations
Starting at just $136 per month, Altrua’s RUBY plan is less expensive compared to the Distinct tier of JHS Community, especially for older members, since RUBY’s pricing is not “age-banded.”
That is, everyone pays the same amount for a RUBY plan, regardless of age.
Get an Instant Quote for the Affordable RUBY Plan
JHS Community rates, on the other hand, do get higher as you get older, like nearly all other individual health plans. Your Personal Benefits Manager can provide you with quotes for both the RUBY plan and all three JHS Community plan tiers based on the ages of your family members, so you can make an informed decision about what plans provide you the best value while remaining affordable and sustainable for you.
And, of course, you can click the instant quote links to see your up-to-the–minute rates, and even self-enroll on the spot!
Head-to-Head Comparison
To provide a clearer picture, let’s compare Altrua’s RUBY tier and JHS Community Healthshare side-by-side:
| Feature | Altrua's RUBY | JHS Community Healthshare |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Contribution | Varies | Varies |
| IUA | $7,500, + 50% of up to 10,000 in additional medical costs. | Varies |
| Maternity Benefits | No | Yes, with limitations (depending on plan.) |
| Cancer Benefits | Yes | Yes |
| ER Charges | Shareable | Shareable |
| Exclusions | Pre-existing conditions, etc. | Pre-existing conditions, etc. |
| Annual Sharing Benefit Cap | $150,000 | $250k, $750k, or $1 million |
Both plans feature a lot of protection power against the risk of a major or catastrophic medical event at a very affordable cost. The tradeoff with these plans is you take on more of the risk of incurring out-of-pocket costs for smaller needs or more routine care.
With Altrua, you could pay up to $12,500 in out-of-pocket medical costs before your costs become 100% shareable under the RUBY tier.
With JHS Community, your out-of-pocket risk depends on the plan you select, but could go as high as $15,000.
Both plans may be a great match for you if you meet these criteria:
- You don’t expect to need much healthcare in the foreseeable future
- You have $10,000 or $15,000 to pay medical bills (if you had to), but you don’t want to be exposed to the risk of a $100,000 medical event.
- You won’t be tempted to skip chronic care management or skip medications due to out of pocket costs.
- You have no pre-existing conditions that might require medical care for several years.
- You don’t qualify for an Affordable Care Act subsidy (or only a small one), or you don’t want to be confined to a narrow network of approved providers.
However, RUBY’S $150,000 annual cap on sharing benefits is significantly lower than even the lowest-tier JHS Community Healthshare plan’s cap of $250,000.
This relatively low cap is part of why the monthly cost for the RUBY plan is so low. But it does add substantially to your potential risk in the event of a serious surgery, cancer diagnosis, or extended hospital stay.
So for truly catastrophic medical events with a total cost greater than $150,000, you’re better off with JHS Community Healthshare.
Maternity Considerations
If you or your spouse may become pregnant soon, you should choose JHS Community Health Share’s Diverse or Dynamic tiers. Neither the JHS Distinct tier nor Altrua’s RUBY plan include maternity benefits.
Choosing the Right Plan for You
The best catastrophic health share plan for you will depend on your individual needs and financial situation.
If you’re healthy, responsible, and have some savings, a plan like Altrua’s RUBY or JHS Community Healthshare could be a good fit.
However, it’s essential to carefully review the plan details—including the IUA, exclusions, annual and lifetime benefits caps, and waiting periods—to ensure it meets your healthcare needs.
Both Altrua’s RUBY and JHS Community Healthshare offer a range of benefits, including coverage for hospitalization, surgery, emergency care, and cancer treatment.
Additionally, only JHS Community Healthshare provides maternity benefits (except for the Distinct tier. , although it may have certain limitations, it would be a better option for those that may get pregnant in the future.
Pricing
Let’s take a look at the pricing of the RUBY plan versus the lowest-cost JHS Community Healthshare tier, DYNAMIC, with a $10,000 MRA. These are the two most budget-friendly options on a monthly basis (assuming you don’t need medical care).
| Altrua RUBY Plan Rates | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| AGE | MEMBER | MEMBER +1 | FAMILY |
| 0-39 40-49 50-59 60-64 | $136.00 $136.00 $136.00 $136.00 | $200.00 $200.00 $200.00 $200.00 | $265.00 $265.00 $265.00 $265.00 |
| JHS Community Healthshare DISTINCT Tier ($10,000 MRA) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age 18-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-64 | Member $126.95 $141.95 $163.95 $228.95 $294.95 | Member+S $147.95 $173.95 $212.95 $335.95 $466.95 | Member+C $138.95 $160.95 $189.95 $283.95 $378.95 | Family $168.95 $207.95 $258.95 $433.95 |
This is a good “apples-to-apples” comparison because neither of these plans includes a maternity benefit. All rates shown are for non-tobacco users.
Note that the RUBY plan has no age banding. The pricing is the same at all ages through age 64. In contrast, JHS Community Healthshare plans are age-banded every ten years. They get higher as you get older.
As you can see, the RUBY plan is the cheaper option for individuals above the age of 29. Above that age range, the RUBY plan has an increasing price advantage.
For members plus spouses, the JHS Community DISTINCT tier is cheaper per month up through age 49, then is $12.95 more per month for the next ten years, up through age 49. After that, DISTINCT is much pricier compared to the RUBY plan, but has a higher annual cap on benefits.
If you have the monthly budget, and you want to lower your risk exposure, you can choose the JHS Health Care DISTINCT option with the $5,000 MRA instead of the $10,000 MRA.
In that case, the monthly pricing looks like this:
| JHS Community Healthshare DISTINCT Tier ($5,000 MRA) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age 18-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-64 | Member $153.95 $176.95 $207.95 $307.95 $388.95 | Member+S $198.95 $237.95 $299.95 $486.95 $639.95 | Member+C $177.95 $210.95 $255.95 $398.95 $515.95 | Family $241.95 $282.95 $383.95 $874.95 $672.95 |
The pricing is favorable compared to RUBY’s for couples and families with the primary member in his or her 20s, and slightly higher for individuals in that age group.
At ages 30 and up, the DISTINCT tier $5,000 MRA option is more expensive per month compared to RUBY. But it also leaves you less exposed to the risk of high medical bills.
These three options are great plans if your priority is on keeping your monthly costs low and you are willing to take on a higher risk of out-of-pocket costs and you don’t need or want maternity benefits.
In contrast, let’s take a look at the most robust JHS Community Healthshare plan, The DYNAMIC plan, with a $5,000 MRA.
This plan has the most generous sharing benefits of all the JHS Community Healthshare catastrophic plans––and unlike the plans above, it also includes maternity sharing benefits.
Here’s what the monthly cost breakdown looks like for DYNAMIC ($5,000 MRA):
| JHS Community Healthshare DYNAMIC Tier ($5,000 MRA) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age | Member | Member+S | Member+C | Family |
| 18-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-64 | $222.95 $267.95 $313.95 $450.95 $565.95 | $332.95 $418.95 $506.95 $772.95 $993.95 | $279.95 $344.95 $411.95 $613.95 $781.95 | $433.95 $556.95 $681.95 $1,063.95 $1,380.95 |
As you would expect, the monthly sharing contribution for the DYNAMIC tier with the lowest available MRA is higher. But you get a much higher annual sharing limit, as well as maternity benefits and other benefits under this plan tier.
The DIVERSE tier represents a happy medium between the DIVERSE and DYNAMIC tiers. So you can choose which plan works best for your family’s needs and budget. However, we normally recommend choosing the best plan you can easily afford.
Get a personalized quote for any of the JHS Community health share plans. Or for free personalized assistance, analysis and recommendation from a live person, contact one of our experienced Personal Benefits Managers.
Do You Qualify for an Affordable Care Act Subsidy?
In some cases, you may be better off choosing a traditional health insurance plan with a high deductible, rather than one of these health sharing plans. This may be the case if your income is low enough to qualify you for subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. This effectively makes your premiums more affordable.
Plus, you can combine a qualified high deductible health plan (HDHP) with a health savings account (HSA) for additional savings and flexibility.
Who Should Choose JHS Community Healthshare?
In our view, most people who want a catastrophic-focused health share plan should choose the highest-tier JHS Community Healthshare plan they can afford, in most situations.
This is primarily because of the better protection the JHS Community family of plans offers on high-cost, catastrophic events with a cost of more than $150,000, which is the whole purpose of a catastrophic-focused plan.
Being under-protected means you have a small chance of still owing tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket costs in medical bills. Physicians and hospitals could potentially sue you for the balance, and even potentially seize assets, levy your bank account, or garnish your wages to collect, unless you declare bankruptcy.
This is why it’s important to have a serious safety net in place for catastrophic medical needs. You can solve a $10,000 problem. It’s much more difficult to solve a $200,000 problem, which can take a serious chunk out of your income and your retirement nest egg.
Who Should Choose the Altrua RUBY Plan?
Consider the RUBY plan if you are very cost-sensitive, you’re on a tight monthly budget, and you don’t have many assets that aren’t protected against creditors.
Generally, assets you own in your own name, such as bank accounts, brokerage accounts, stocks, bonds, automobiles, personal possessions, your own business assets, and your personal residence are subject to the claims of creditors. If much of your wealth is potentially collectible, then you should try to stretch your budget to afford a JHS Community Health Share plan with a higher annual limit.
On the other hand, pensions, IRAs, 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and life insurance and annuities (depending on the state) have much more protection against creditor claims. Some states, including Florida and Texas, protect an unlimited amount of home equity in your personal residence, depending on how long you’ve lived there.
These factors and other bankruptcy protections available in your state can help limit your risk in the event you have a medical need that overwhelms the $150,000 annual cap on sharing benefits under RUBY. But these rules vary by state.
HSA for America does not provide legal advice. For information specific to your state, you should consult a qualified bankruptcy or asset protection attorney.
Also, if your income is very low, you may be better off choosing an Affordable Care Act-qualified traditional health insurance plan
Let us help you find the best plan with a free consultation today!
Remember, if you might end up skipping necessary medical care because you can’t afford it, a catastrophic health share plan may not be right for you. Your health and well-being should always be your top priority.
Take Action Today!
If you’re ready to enroll in a catastrophic health share plan, you can self-enroll in minutes online or contact a Personal Benefits Manager for personalized assistance.
Don’t wait until it’s too late to protect yourself from unexpected medical expenses.
For Further Reading: Best Catastrophic-Only Health Share Plan on the Market in 2025: The JHS Community DIVINE Plan | What Does Medi-Share NOT Cover? | JHS Health Share’s DIVINE vs. netWell Healthshare: Which is Better For You?
Wiley is President of HSA for America. He believes that consumers should have choice and price transparency, so they can make the best healthcare decisions for their needs. Read more about Wiley on his Bio page.
