Although they have been around since 1980, medical health sharing communities/ministries are becoming a more popular choice for hundreds of thousands of people. There is a simple reason for this popularity and growth, it’s an affordable option along with allowing consumers to feel more in control of their medical needs and expenses.
The Foundation of Health Share Organizations
The foundation of health share organizations is the concept of a community working together to help one another with medical expenses. For many, these communities consist of those who have certain religious beliefs. However, not all of them are tied to a specific set of religious beliefs but rather like-minded individuals who do believe in helping others, especially when it comes to the sharing of medical expenses. When like-minded individuals work together to help one another great things can happen, and we are seeing this more and more with the growth of these health sharing communities.
One of the important and foundational reasons these health shares can operate in this manner is because they are nonprofit. According to the National Council of Nonprofits, “Nonprofits embody the best of America. They provide a way for people to work together for the common good, transforming sharing beliefs and hopes into action.”
How Health Share Organizations Work: Monthly Contributions and Sharing Guidelines
Health share organizations facilitate the payment of eligible and approved medical expenses for members of the community. These members become a part of the community by contributing a monthly due, ranging from $100 to $600, which goes towards the eligible medical expenses of other community members. In addition to the monthly due, members will pay an initial amount towards their own eligible medical expenses ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 that is not shareable by the community. Once that initial amount has been paid, expenses related to that specific medical need that is eligible and approved for sharing with the community are shared from other community members’ contributions.
Can It Be That Simple?
Can it really be that simple? The quick answer is, absolutely. That said, it is important to understand what a health share considers an eligible vs an ineligible medical expense. This is where health shares demonstrate another difference from traditional health insurance. Health shares produce what most call Member Guidelines. These guidelines layout how their specific health share functions along with a list of what types of expenses are considered for sharing and what types of expenses are not eligible. Something that most health shares really focus on outside of helping others with medical expenses is living a healthy lifestyle.
To help promote this healthier living some health shares include, as part of their membership, options for preventive care. This becomes an important focus for the simple reason that when individuals strive to live healthier, they minimize the overall medical needs that arise. They also help the community by identifying potentially critical medical problems early allowing treatments to happen sooner and minimizing the potential for long-term care. Not only does a focus on a healthy living lifestyle help the specific health share organization and community, but it also actually helps the entire healthcare community at large.
More Than an Alternative
Health shares are truly more than an alternative to traditional health insurance, they are a much-needed option for many individuals, families, and small businesses. Health shares can help their members receive the peace of mind that comes from knowing they are not alone in carrying the burden of medical costs. They can feel empowered by getting to go to the providers that best fit their medical needs. They can have confidence in knowing their monthly contributions are helping others who have similar values in caring for others. Health shares are a community that can replace the scare in health care.
The content in this blog is meant to be informative in nature, but it shouldn’t be taken as medical advice, and it shouldn’t take the place of medical advice or supervision from a trained professional. Zion HealthShare operates as a non-profit medical cost-sharing community. We are not insurance. Please visit our website for state notices.
Current as of: December 9, 2025