Healthshare Statements of Faith: 2025 Comparison Guide

Sedera 

– No affiliation with any religious group.
– A good option for those seeking a secular or non-denominational approach.

Sedera’s Statement of Ethical Beliefs and Principals.

The Members of the Sedera Medical Cost Sharing Community are united by a shared faith in the following beliefs and principles. As a demonstration of these beliefs and principles we have decided to come together — from all backgrounds, nationalities, ethnicities, and races — to support each other and share in eligible medical Needs according to the member sharing Guidelines.

Each Member accepts the beliefs of this community as laid out in these Ethical Beliefs and Principles:

1. We share a faith in each other and in the strength of our community.
2. We believe improving the lot of humankind, present, and future, is a virtuous goal and that it is an expression of our moral and ethical responsibility to endeavor to voluntarily support our fellow community members.
3. We believe that as a community we should care for one another and assist fellow members with each other’s medical burdens when the opportunity and resources allow. We strive to share with others as we would like them to share with us.
4. We believe in the importance of charity and benevolence as well as the social duties of voluntariness, integrity, honesty, and personal responsibility. 
5. We believe in personal accountability for our decisions and responsible stewardship of all that is entrusted to us and share faith that all members of our community will be empowered to apply these beliefs and principles in their day-to-day lives.
6. We believe that the use of illegal substances or the act of performing an illegal or unlawful activity is harmful to the community and ourselves. 
7. We believe in respecting our bodies, practicing good health measures, avoiding harmful substances and addictions, and striving for a balanced lifestyle. 
8. We believe it is a basic right to make our own health decisions and to pursue the advice of learned physicians and advisors, spiritual or otherwise, in determining our own health decisions. 
9. We believe that we have a fundamental right guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution to freely associate in the lawful exercise of our common beliefs to voluntarily share health care expenses with one another. We believe that a community of ethical and health-conscious people can most effectively encourage and care for one another by sharing each other’s medical needs directly. 
10. We believe in the power of educated, informed, and empowered healthcare consumers to generate value for themselves, the community, and the American healthcare system.

Solidarity Healthshare

– A Catholic healthshare ministry. However, you don’t have to be Catholic to join.
– Abortion, genetic testing, euthenasia, sex reassignment surgery, and certain other costs  are not eligble for sharing, to protect the consciences of all members. 

Solidarity Healthshare’s Statements of Faith

We ask that each Member affirm the following Shared Beliefs:

• We believe that our personal rights and liberties originate from and are bestowed on us by God and are not concessions granted to us by governments or men.
• We believe that every person has a right to exercise his or her religion without interference or coercion. While we do not hold that every claim made in the name of religion has equal merit or equal basis in truth, we do respect each person’s freedom of both religious worship and practice.
• We believe it is our moral and ethical obligation to be our brother’s or sister’s keeper, in recognition of the principle of solidarity, according to our God-given resources and opportunity.
• We believe in the virtue of temperance, which enables us to maintain a healthy lifestyle and avoid foods, behaviors, or habits that could produce sickness or disease.
• We believe it is our fundamental right of conscience to direct our own healthcare in consultation with Physicians, family, or other valued advisors, free from government dictates, restraints, and oversight, including federal or state contraception and abortion mandates and all unethical practices or mandates.

Maintain a Virtuous Lifestyle

• “The human person, created in the image of God, is a being at once corporeal and spiritual” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 362). Because Members believe that we are made in God’s image, we must respect and care for our bodies. Guided by the Church’s teachings, Members must maintain a lifestyle that demonstrates a profound respect for the human person in both his spiritual and physical aspects.
• To qualify as a Sharing Member, an applicant must comply with the lifestyle requirements detailed in these Guidelines. Members must also submit a thorough account of their medical history. In general, a virtuous lifestyle includes, but is not limited to:
• Exercising the virtue of temperance to avoid every kind of excess, including, but not limited to the abuse of food, tobacco, alcohol, and medicine (over-the-counter or prescription drugs) (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 2290).
• Abstaining from the use of illegal drugs. Illegal drugs include but are not limited to any banned pharmaceuticals; non- prescribed pharmaceuticals; synthetic drugs; hallucinogenic substances; barbiturates; amphetamines; cocaine, heroin, or other opiates; marijuana; illegal intravenous drugs; narcotics; and all substances declared to be illegal (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 2291).
• Intentionally incorporating exercise and good nutrition into one’s life. Solidarity HealthShare Members have a moral obligation to maintain their health so as not to place any unnecessary burdens on their fellow Members who Share in their healthcare costs.
• These beliefs form the religious and ethical basis for our interaction and community relationships. Each Member agrees to the Statement of Shared Beliefs by signing the application form. We make a solemn and significant pledge to one another that we will aid, support, and devote our resources to one another as we pursue healthcare that respects our dignity.

United Refuah Healthshare

– The first and thus far the only Jewish-based health sharing ministry organization in operation. 
– Requires pre-approval on many procedures before an expense is eligible for sharing.

United Refuah’s Statements of Faith

“…Every member of United Refuah HealthShare is expected to strive to live in accordance with the following beliefs:

1. A loving, kind, and ethical G-d wishes to reward His creations for doing the right thing.
2. G-d communicated these desires to mankind, and these Divine commandments state that there are certain values and behavioral norms that He demands of all mankind. These demands constitute a universal moral code and include, but are not limited to:We believe that personal rights and liberties that we possess are divinely ordained and not merely concessions granted to us by mankind and/or their governments. The same is true for our obligations and restrictions.We believe that every individual of Jewish religion must worship the G-d of the Torah and only the G-d of the Torah.

   We believe that every individual of Jewish religion must abide by the ethical and practical laws and lifestyles of Judaism, which is based upon the dictates of the Torah.

   We believe that it is our ethical obligation, according to the Torah, to assist our fellow man in need.We believe that we are required to maintain a healthy lifestyle and to avoid behaviors or habits that put our well-being at risk.
   We believe in the value of every moment of human life and, as such, we have a fundamental right to make our own health care decisions in consultation with medical, family, religious, and other advisors of our choosing, and that these decisions must not be dictated by the government, the insurance industry, and/or other unwelcome outsiders.

   We believe that we are accountable to G-d and to our fellow members for our use of communal resources and, as such, we will demonstrate responsibility for the sharing funds provided by other members.

3. A belief that by observing these laws, man can ever improve, obtain meaning for his life in this world, and achieve his ultimate reward in the next world. It must be emphasized that this reward is merit based. It is earned only after living in accordance with the proper moral code not merely by believing in something or someone.
4. A belief that the ideas of this universal moral code actually represent categories that include sub-categories. For example, the belief in the One G-d includes seeking to understand the nature of G-d and emulating Him. The prohibition against adultery encompasses prohibitions against incest as well. The prohibition against stealing includes all forms of robbery or theft, including the theft of intellectual property.
5. A belief that the universal moral code provides society and civilization with a strong foundation and structure for moral growth, as well as a fair, merit-based, straightforward manner in which to earn an eternal reward.”
   

Maintain a Jewish Lifestyle

Members highly value the spiritual principle that our bodies are gifts from G-d and that we must respect and care for our physical well-being. Furthermore, we have an ethical obligation to live a healthy lifestyle so as not to place an unnecessary burden on those who are sharing with us.

To qualify as a Sharing Member, an Applicant must submit a detailed account of his/her medical history and comply with the lifestyle requirements contained in these Guidelines. In general, this lifestyle includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Refraining from using all forms of nicotine (including, but not limited to: cigarettes, cigars, pipes, e-cigarettes, vaping, and dip/chew) and marijuana products regardless of legality in your local area.
• Following scriptural teachings on the use or abuse of alcohol.
• Following scriptural teachings on relationships, including, but not limited to, refraining from any form of promiscuous or out-of-wedlock relationships.
• Avoiding abuse of prescription drugs. Abuse means consuming prescription medications in a manner not intended by the prescriber that may result in bodily harm or dependency.
• Abstaining entirely from the use of illegal drugs, including, but not limited to, any hallucinogenic substance, barbiturates, amphetamines, cocaine, heroin or other opiates, marijuana, illegal intravenous drugs or narcotics.
• Engaging in regular exercise and limiting food choices that are harmful.  

Universal

Universal’s Statement of Shared Faith and Principles

• We believe in the inherent worth and dignity of every person, and that a person’s happiness, spiritual growth, and potential to do good for themselves and others is inextricably tied to their physical health, and that each person has a fundamental right to make their own health care decisions, in consultation with their family, physicians, and other chosen advisors, free from government interference.
• We believe in peace, liberty, justice, equity, and compassion in human relations, and that we improve ourselves and the world around us whenever we strive to reach that goal, whether or not we ultimately achieve it, and that those things require not just individual, but collective effort and the fostering of a true sense of community that extends beyond familiar boundaries.
• We believe in the importance of respecting the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part, and that recognizing that interdependence on a universal level first requires moving beyond individualism and experiencing interdependence on a community level.
• We believe in the importance of being open to life’s great mysteries, and that it is a sacred right and responsibility to search for the truth and meaning behind those mysteries, and that the success of such searching requires that we not be isolated and self-centered, but rather that we develop relationships and connect with other people and remain open to their viewpoints.
• We believe that the most effective way to encourage spiritual growth, respect for the interdependence of all existence, and the search for the truth and meaning is to participate in a community built on shared traditions that promotes acceptance and support by and among its members.
• We believe that we have a spiritual and ethical duty to our family and other members of our community to make responsible and healthy life choices, such as avoiding foods, activities, and behaviors that cause or exacerbate illness, disease or injury.
• We believe it is our sacred duty to assist those in need when we have the ability to do so.

Zion Health

– Welcomes members of all faiths
– Abortion costs are not eligible for sharing.
– Fertility treatment costs are not eligible for sharing.
– Genetic screening is not eligible for sharing
– HSA Secure is part of the Zion family
– Along with HSA Secure, currently the only family of Health Share plans that offers a health sharing plan eligible for health savings accounts (HSAs)
– Great to match with Direct Primary Care plans.

Zion Health’s Principles of Membership

“Each member of Zion HealthShare must comply with the following requirements to maintain membership with Zion HealthShare and remain eligible to participate in the medical cost sharing program. Adherence to the Zion HealthShare Principles of Membership minimizes medical risks, encourages good health practices, and ensures member integrity and accountability.

Zion HealthShare community members are expected to act with honor and integrity. Members should not falsify a medical need request, medical records, or use other deceptive practices. If a member abuses the trust of Zion HealthShare and its members, their membership may be revoked.

All members must agree to the following statement of principles:

• I believe that a community of ethical, health-conscious people can most effectively care for one another by directly sharing the costs associated with each other’s healthcare needs. I acknowledge that Zion HealthShare affiliates itself with, and considers itself accountable to, a higher power. I recognize that Zion HealthShare welcomes members of all faiths.
• I understand that Zion HealthShare is a benevolent organization, not an insurance entity, and that Zion HealthShare cannot guarantee payment of medical expenses.
• I have and will continue to practice good health measures and strive for a balanced lifestyle. I agree to abstain from the use of any illicit or illegal drugs and refrain from excessive alcohol consumption, acts which are harmful to the body. I understand that members who use tobacco will have an increased monthly contribution (per household) of $50.
• I am obligated to care for my family. I believe that mental, physical, emotional, or other abuse of a family member, or any other person, is morally wrong. I am committed to treating my family and others with care and respect at all times.
• I agree to submit to mediation followed by subsequent binding arbitration, if needed, for any instance of a dispute with Zion HealthShare or its affiliates.