Health Sharing Programs are emerging as one of the most effective and flexible alternatives to health insurance. In this updated side-by-side healthshare plans comparison guide, we rate and review the best and most affordable options that are currently available.
What Are the Best Health Sharing Plans in America?
The seven health care sharing programs that we review below (Altrua, MPB Health, Medi-Share, Liberty, Samaritan, United Refuah, and OneShare) represent the plans that are both popular with our clients and recommended by our in-house healthshare experts.
At the end, we’ll reveal our top pick for the most affordable health insurance alternative.
Compare Pricing on the Best Healthshare Plans Available
Health Sharing Plans Comparison [2023 Update]
Note: The contribution amounts have been updated for 2023. These amounts reflect the price for individual plans, and can vary depending on how you structure your plans. Adding family members to your healthshare plan will also increase the monthly cost.
Best Overall Healthshare Plan: netWell Healthshare
With affordable member contribution amounts, 24/7 telemedicine, and three compelling membership tier options providing consumers with real choice, netWell Healthshare ranks as our the best all-around performer when it comes to health care cost sharing programs. We like that netWell has a high lifetime sharing limit of $1 million. We also like that netWell offers a true affordable catastrophic-only plans, along with their higher-priced more all-inclusive plans. Many people benefit from focusing their healthsharing dollars on catastrophic care, and using membership discounts and direct primary care plans for more basic, routine and preventative services. But for those who prefer a more expansive, all-inclusive plan, netWell certainly delivers the goods!
Membership levels:
Advantage is the catastrophic option, with a monthly contribution cost of $195 per month. This tier provides protection for ER visits, hospitalization, in/outpatient surgery, and lab costs.
Superior offers primary care protection, without the ER and hospitalization. This tier does not include sharing for catastrophic health care events, but it does provide outstanding access to primary care at an affordable price. However, participants in this membership tier should arrange for some protection from catastrophic health care costs from some other source, or consider Advantage or Elite + tiers.
Elite + is the most popular plan, offering full-spectrum sharing for both primary care and emergency care, subject to a member contribution amount –– which you can select. The plan offers a $2,500, $5,000, and a $10,000 option.
Pre-Existing Conditions: 24 month waiting period for pre-existing conditions. Certain more serious conditions may have a 2-year or 4-year waiting period, or a lifetime exclusion on related hospitalizations and surgeries.
Contribution Amounts [Individual]: $144 – $269
Provider Networks: Choose any doctor you wish. Discounts are available with netWell’s exclusive provider network.
Statement of Faith: Members must sign a Statement of Religious and Ethical Beliefs including belief in God, the Bible, the Power of Prayer, and the moral responsibility to share each other’s burdens.
HSA Option: Not available
Perks: The Elite + membership comes with a large suite of discount services, including dental, vision and LASIK, diabetic supplies, gym memberships, and lots more.
Best HSA-Qualified Plan: MPB Health (Formerly MPowering Benefits)
MPB Health’s offering offers all of the essential benefits required under the Affordable Care Act. As a result, it’s a qualified High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP). Members who meet other eligibility criteria may contribute money to a Health Savings Account (HSA). This is a powerful money-saving option that allows consumers to take personal ownership of their health. They also let members use whatever health provider they want while not paying as much as they would with an unsubsidized traditional health insurance plan under the ACA.
MPB Health also offers both HSA-qualified and DPC-friendly healthshare plans. “MPB Direct” is designed to work alongside a Direct Primary Care membership to further reduce the monthly cost while adding critical preventive benefits.
Pre-Existing Conditions: Accepted
Contribution Amounts [Individual]: $170 – $295
Provider Networks: Any doctor or hospital
Statement of Faith: Not required
HSA Option: YES
Perks: Mental health counseling included. DPC and HSA- plans available
Altrua Healthshare
With four different membership levels (Diamond, Emerald, Sapphire, and Ruby) and a hyper-simple signup process, Altrua is one of the easiest ways to switch to health sharing. Altrua’s Ruby membership is only $113 per month, and includes 6 pooled doctor office visits per member.
Pre-Existing Conditions: Two to Five year waiting period
Contribution Amounts [Individual]: $113 – $297
Statement of Faith: Must sign a statement of standards
HSA Option: None
Perks: Unlimited telemedicine and 6 pooled doctor office visits per member [all membership levels].
Liberty
The most common feedback we receive about Liberty is that their support staff is prompt, attentive and friendly, three things you might never see from an insurance company.
**2022 Update: While Liberty healthshare continues to be popular with both individuals and families, their rates have gone up as of 2022. Click here to read more about the rate changes and comparable plans.
Pre-Existing Conditions: Yes; limited to three (3) years of assistance
Contribution Amounts [Individual]: $159 – $359
Provider Networks: PHCS
Statement of Faith: Must agree to a set of 5 core values
HSA Option: NONE
Perks: Discounts on pharmacy, vision, hearing, and chiropractic costs
Medi-Share / MediShare
MediShare is the most explicitly Christian healthshare program available. They have a strongly worded faith statement, and reserves the right to check with your minister to make sure you regularly attend church.
However, they also have some of the highest member reviews and boast a 98% customer satisfaction rate year after year. Medi-Share’s 25 year track record makes them one of the most reliable healthcare sharing options available.
Pre-Existing Conditions: Considered, but not guaranteed to be accepted
Contribution Amounts [Individual]: $135 – $470
Provider Networks: PHCS network
Statement of Faith: Must sign (and possibly have verified) a statement of faith
HSA Option: NONE
Perks: Telemedicine; dental, vision and RX savings. A 98% customer satisfaction rate
OneShare Health
“The most popular program is the OneShare Classic Crown, which combines low contribution rates with a high $1,000,000 lifetime maximum, and a $500,000 sharing limit per incident. The Classic Crown membership level includes to five doctor visits with a$20 visit fee.
The OneShare Catastrophic is a less expensive option designed for major expenses, and does not include doctor visits. OneShare Catastrophic” is popular because it offers both ER and Hospital Care, in addition to a great telemedicine program that includes mental health support. This plan may be a good choice when paired with a Direct Primary Care plan that handles primary, routine, and preventive care.
Pre-Existing Conditions: Some limitations
Contribution Amounts [Individual]: $115 – $239
Provider Networks: Uses Multiplan/PHCS Network
Statement of Faith: Must sign a ‘light’ statement of faith
HSA Option: NONE
Perks: Dental discount; diabetic care and supplies; lab discount, telemedicine w/ mental health services
Samaritan
Individuals who attend church regularly should consider Samaritan. They can boast over 64,000 member households, which adds up to about $23 million per month that is eligible for sharing.
*2022 Update: Samaritan’s new “Given” plan option is currently under beta but not yet open to the public. This plan is reported to include new co-sharing options with low Annual Unshakeable Amounts.
Pre-Existing Conditions: Not eligible for regular sharing
Contribution Amounts [Individual]: $200 – $495
Provider Networks: PHCS
Statement of Faith: Strict; must attend church regularly
HSA Option: Unknown
Perks: $250,000 maternity limit; 120-day supply of medication is shareable
Sedera Health
In the individual market, Sedera Health offers two tiers, SELECT+ and ACCESS+. In addition, Sedera has a particularly well-developed and competitive offering for businesses who want to offer group healthsharing as an employee benefit.
Sedera health does not decline new members because of pre-existing conditions. However, a 36-month lookback period applies. And the shareability of expenses related to pre-existing conditions is limited for up to the first 36 months of membership.
SELECT+ has much more generous sharing provisions for pre-existing conditions than ACCESS+ in the first 36 months of membership. So if pre-existing conditions are an issue, it may be worth the extra money for a SELECT+ tier membership.
Nevertheless, Sedera is one of the more competitive healthsharing choices for those with pre-existing conditions. And expenses related to pre-existing conditions are fully shareable after 36 months of membership.
You can use Sedera with any provider, including overseas providers. There are no out-of-network penalties.
All healthsharing plans require members to shoulder a certain amount of their medical costs before most non-preventative expenses become eligible for sharing. At Sedera, you can choose an initial unshared amount of Members can choose initial unshareable amounts (IUAs) of $500, $1,000, $1,500, $2,500, or $5,000.
However, Sedera structures their IUAs a little differently than most:
IUAs are per separate need, not per year.
That means if your treatment is ongoing, even for several years, you only pay your IUA once per need.
If you or a member of your family have a new medical need, you’d pay a new IUA for that need. But you don’t pay for more than three IUAs per year.
In effect, your max out-of-pocket exposure is 3x your IUA, subject to limits on specific procedures or pre-existing conditions.
Sedera relies heavily on its excellent bill negotiation team to keep costs under control for all members. Therefore, members are generally expected to notify Sedera before receiving non-emergency care, so the bill negotiation team can negotiate the best possible pricing.
Sharing may be limited for members who don’t use the bill negotiation service.
Sedera does not share costs for alternative medicine, including ayurvedic, acupuncture, homeopathy, naturopathy, functional/integrative medicine, most use of CBD and all marijuana, and any practice that promotes insufficiently proven methods.
Not available in Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, or Washington.
Pre-Existing Conditions:
No prospective member is turned away for having Pre-Existing Medical Conditions, and Sedera does provide a path to sharing medical expenses associated with a Pre-Existing Medical Condition. The Sedera Community, however, does have a look-back period of 36 months that applies to all Pre-Existing Medical Conditions for Sedera applicants.
Terms: 3-year look back (anything diagnosed, had symptoms of, or treated for, including medication)
SELECT+
1ST year: no sharing
2ND year: $25k
3RD year: $50k
4TH year: Fully shareable, subject to the IUA
ACCESS+
1ST year: no sharing
2ND year: $15k
3RD year: $30k
4TH year: Fully shareable, subject to the IUA
Contribution Amounts [Individual and Family]:
- $161 for member only plan with $5,000 IUA
- $186 for member only plan with $2,500 IUA
- $226 for member only plan with $1,500 IUA
- $251 for member only plan with $1,000 IUA
- $258 for member only plan with $1,000 IUA
Member + spouse plans run from $288 to $481 depending on IUA.
Member + children plans run from $280 to $463 depending on IUA.
Family plans run from $412 to $692 depending on IUA.
Contribution Amounts [Group]
- Under 30: As low as $126 per month for single plan (with $5,000 IUA)
- 30 and up: As low as $158 per month for single plan (with $5,000 IUA)
Some employers provide additional assistance via a health reimbursement arrangement (HRA), which can help with IUA and other uncovered charges.
Contact a Personal Benefits Manager for inquiries regarding group/ business healthsharing.
Pricing information is current as of November 2022. Pricing subject to change.
Provider Networks: No provider network restrictions, and no out-of-network penalties.
Statement of Faith: Sedera has a secular approach. There is no religious component to Sedera’s Statement of Ethics and Principles, which you can read here.
Lifetime maximum: There is no annual maximum dollar amount or lifetime maximum limits per Member, though certain dollar amounts and/or visit limits apply to specific types of medical care and therapies. Sharing is only limited by the amount available for sharing by the Community.
HSA Option: Not available.
Maternity Benefits:
SELECT+ will share maternity if the pregnancy begins after their 1st day of membership. Subject to their IUA x2.
ACCESS+ will share maternity ONLY when the “expected due date” is at least 1 year after the membership start date. Subject to a $5,000 IUA.
Perks:
- Group/business plan fully supports list billing.
- Telehealth services for basic healthcare needs.
- Expert second opinions
- Wellness support.
- Educational resources.
United Refuah Healthshare
The first Jewish Health Sharing Organization, established with a mission to provide affordable, flexible reimbursement options with Torah values. United Refuah has a more limited program selection than other health sharing companies, but also offers lower average contribution rates.
Pre-Existing Conditions: Eligible after 1 year of membership, with a $25,000 share cap in years 2 and 3.
Contribution Amounts [Individual]: $209 ($199 with direct bank debit program)
Provider Networks: Open (No network limitations)
Statement of Faith: Strict; must attend synagogue regularly
HSA Option: NONE
Perks: Open-network means you can choose any doctor or hospital; 24/7 tele-medicine practitioners are not subject to PreShare amounts
Zion Health
Zion Health’s Direct plan is designed to work alongside a Direct Primary Care (DPC) membership. By pairing a Zion healthshare with an existing DPC membership, consumers can get a more comprehensive version of health sharing that is still significantly less expensive than insurance.
Zion Health does require a Statement of Faith; All applicants are accepted for cost-sharing as long as the monthly contribution is being met.
Pre-Existing Conditions: Accepted
Contribution Amounts [Individual]: $170-295
Provider Networks: Any doctor or hospital
Statement of Faith: Not Required
HSA Option: YES
Perks: Annual preventive care services, 24/7 telemedicine, and access to LifeWorks mental health resources at a very low additional cost
Universal Healthshare
One of the newer healthcare sharing companies, Universal Healthshare has seven different cost sharing programs to choose from. All Universal Healthshare programs include unlimited 24-hour telemedicine consultations, all with $0 fees.
Member Non-Shareable Amounts (NSA) can be as low as $1000 for an individual. This makes Universal Healthshare a good choice for someone who wants to be protected against steep out-of-pocket costs in case of an incident.
Pre-Existing Conditions: One year waiting period, $50,00 sharing cap during years 2 and 3
Contribution Amounts [Individual]: Starting at $186 per month
Provider Networks: Non-emergency visits must be scheduled through Multiplan / PHCS network
Statement of Faith: Statement of Shared Faith and Principles including belief in spiritual growth, peace, compassion, and community building
HSA Option: None
Perks: UHS Smart Share is a uniquely structured healthshare that sets fixed-rate sharing limits on specific medical events. This allows for an even lower monthly cost for members.
Top Healthshare Plans FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions About Healthcare Cost Sharing, HCSMs, and More
Q: What is a Health Sharing Program?
A: One of the reasons that health sharing programs are so affordable is because they are not technically insurance, which makes them unbound by the strict (& expensive) regulations of the Affordable Care Act.
By paying a monthly ‘contribution’ to a Health Care Sharing Ministry, members can receive affordable coverage at about half the cost of an ACA insurance plan.
However, health sharing is not for everyone. Many of them have restrictions on pre-existing conditions, for example, and a statement of faith is required in many cases.
The best plan for your needs will depend on your age, zip code, smoking status, and whether you choose a healthshare that only shares on catastrophic expenses, or a more comprehensive program.
Q: Healthshare Plans vs. Insurance: What is the Difference?
A: Because health sharing plans are not the same as health insurance, the rules are a bit different. Here are some of the primary differences between health share plans and health insurance that you need to be aware of:
- Health share plans are not required to cover the same minimum essential benefits as ACA health insurance plans. This makes them more affordable, but less comprehensive than traditional insurance.
- Health sharing organizations can make their own rules on what medical costs are shared and how the money is distributed. Every health sharing plan is a little bit different in how it works.
- Many health share plans have restrictions or waiting periods for pre-existing conditions. You might need to pay into the plan for 1 or more years before certain medical costs are shared.
- Health care cost sharing is usually about half the cost of unsubsidized health insurance. This has encouraged hundreds of thousands of Americans to make the switch in recent years.
Q: Are Healthshare Plans Legitimate?
A: Healthcare sharing plans are a legitimate and legal alternative to health insurance. Unlike insurance, healthshare plans are designed to protect people against their most critical medical costs. Meanwhile, they’re not wasting your money on all the extra coverage that is never being used.
Q: Which is Better Medi-Share or Liberty Healthshare?
A: In general, Liberty Healthshare has lower monthly contribution amounts. Meanwhile, MediShare plans tend to have better protection and no lifetime sharing limits. The best healthshare plan for you will depend on a few things, including your budget and health needs.
Q: Is HealthcareSharing Right for Me?
A: If you’re looking for a more affordable alternative to health insurance, and you don’t use your coverage that much, then healthcare sharing programs could be a great fit.
If you have serious or ongoing health needs, on the other hand, then a traditional insurance plan might be the better option. ACA health insurance can have better overall rates if you factor in ongoing prescriptions drugs, chronic conditions, tobacco use, and more.
Q: What is the Top Healthshare Plan in 2023 according to member ratings?
A: MediShare has a 98% member satisfaction rate. Not all healthshare programs publish their member satisfaction rates. This makes it difficult to confirm that MediShare is the best reviewed healthshare plan, but it does seem likely.
We’ll also note that member ratings for MPB Health have gone up dramatically over the last few years. Some experts are crediting this to their new specialized plan options designed to work with HSAs and DPCs.
Learn More About Healthshare Plans
At about half the cost, it is no surprise that millions of Americans have already ditched their insurance. Switching to a health care sharing program can be an ideal way to save money on monthly health care costs.
However, not every plan is right for every person. Choosing the wrong plan can lead to unexpected coverage gaps that might end up costing you in the end. Picking the best health sharing plan, on the other hand, can end up saving you thousands of dollars a year on monthly health care costs.
If you are interested in learning more about health care sharing, or are curious whether you are currently signed up for the best plan, give us a call. You can also click over to our website and get a healthshare instant quote to review your options.
Here are some additional articles on healthsharing programs: What is Christian Health Insurance? | Do Health Sharing Plans Work for Businesses? | Why Are Insurance Agents Enrolling More People in Medical Cost Sharing Plans? | Healthshare Statements of Faith: 2023 Carrier Comparison Guide
Here are some additional pages related to this article: Healthshare Plans | Healthshare FAQ
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.