Rising Healthcare Costs: How Zion HealthShare Provides an Affordable Solution

by Zion HealthShare Editorial Team | Apr 2, 2025

Article Highlights

  • U.S. healthcare spending reached $4.867 trillion in 2023, averaging $14,570 per person, with rising costs causing financial strain for millions of Americans.
  • Key drivers of high costs include medical debt, administrative inefficiencies, rising prescription drug prices, unnecessary spending, and expensive procedures such as MRIs.
  • Zion HealthShare is a nonprofit, community-driven health share that allows members to share eligible medical expenses and reduce overall healthcare costs.
  • Members have freedom of choice for any healthcare provider, lower monthly contributions than health insurance, no enrollment periods, and access to additional services like preventive care, prescription discounts, and mental health support.
  • Real member experiences highlight how Zion HealthShare provides financial relief and comprehensive support during serious medical events, such as strokes and hospitalizations.
Healthcare costs in the United States are spiraling out of control. No matter what option individuals choose, the financial burden continues to grow. Families are forced to make difficult choices, whether to skip essential care or take on overwhelming medical debt. While avoiding healthcare costs all together isn’t an option, there is a better to way to manage them.

Zion HealthShare offers a smarter, more affordable solution that puts you in control. As a community-driven, non-profit healthshare, Zion HealthShare allows members to share medical expenses and enjoy greater control over their healthcare journey. To understand why Zion HealthShare is the better way, let’s examine some of the biggest challenges with traditional health insurance.

 

The Harsh Reality of U.S. Healthcare Costs

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reported that in 2023, national healthcare spending surged by 7.5%, reaching a staggering $4.867 trillion. That’s an average of $14,570 per person. To put that into perspective, 17.6% of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is now devoted to healthcare. Yet, despite this enormous investment, millions of Americans are still struggling with high costs and inefficiencies.

Here’s what’s driving these skyrocketing costs:

    • Medical Debt Leading to Bankruptcy

      Around 100 million Americans are affected by medical debt, making it a significant factor of bankruptcy in the U.S. Imagine losing everything—not because of reckless spending, but because a medical emergency wiped out your savings. Sadly, a study published in the American Journal of Public Health (2019), co-authored by Dr. David Himmelstein, found that this is the harsh reality for 65% of the 2 million Americans who face bankruptcy each year.

    • Administrative Waste

      According to a 2019 study published in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association), about 25% of U.S. healthcare costs are attributed to administrative expenses, compared to just 10-15% in other countries. This inefficiency drives up costs and adds unnecessary complexity to the system.

    • Rising Prescription Drug Costs

      Data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) shows thatAmericans are forced to spend an average of $1,026 per person on prescription drugs—nearly double what people in other countries pay. This escalating cost puts life-saving medications out of reach for too many, leaving families struggling to afford the care they desperately need.

    • Unnecessary Healthcare Spending

      The Institute of Medicine reveals that a staggering $750 billion is wasted each year on avoidable costs, including unnecessary services and inefficient care. This is not just a number—it’s a heartbreaking reality. While millions of Americans go without the care they need, billions are being squandered on a broken system that fails to prioritize people over profits.

    • High-Cost Procedures

      Medical procedures in the U.S. are priced so high that they’ve become a financial barrier for countless families. According to the International Federation of Health Plans (IFHP), an MRI costs around $1,000 in the U.S.—three times what it costs in Canada. This puts life-saving care out of reach for too many, forcing people to choose between their health and their financial future.

With Zion HealthShare, you don’t have to be part of this broken system. Discover how you can take back control and protect your family from financial disaster.

 

Here’s how Zion HealthShare works:

With Zion HealthShare, you have an affordable alternative that helps you take control of your medical expenses. Our approach is simple: members contribute a set amount each month, and when a medical event arises, eligible expenses are shared within the community. By cutting out unnecessary overhead and focusing on what matters, care and support, healthcare starts becoming more affordable and accessible.

 

Benefits of Zion HealthShare

  • Cost Efficiency: Zion HealthShare offers lower monthly contributions compared to traditional insurance. By collecting members’ contributions and sharing medical expenses, the health share community provides significant savings.
  • Freedom of Choice: Zion HealthShare empowers members to choose any healthcare provider without network restrictions. This flexibility allows individuals and families to manage their healthcare on their own terms, avoiding the limitations often imposed by traditional insurance networks.
  • No Enrollment Periods: Unlike traditional insurance, Zion HealthShare doesn’t limit membership to specific enrollment periods. You can join anytime, giving individuals and businesses the freedom to manage their healthcare in a way that fits their needs.
  • Transparent & Simple: Zion HealthShare is committed to transparency, ensuring members know how their contributions are used. As a non-profit, we operate with integrity, and 990 forms are available upon request.
  • Additional Services: In addition to assisting with larger medical expenses, Zion HealthShare provides additional services such as preventive care, prescription discounts, and mental health support.

 

Real Stories: How Zion HealthShare Supports Members in Their Time of Need

At Zion HealthShare, we’re committed to supporting our members through life’s toughest challenges. But you don’t have to take our word for it, hear firsthand how Zion HealthShare makes a difference in the lives of our members when it matters most!

“On Saturday evening, June 17th, I suffered a stroke. It came as quite a shock. I eat healthy, exercise regularly, and had just been to the doctor for my physical exam, where I was told to ‘keep doing what you’re doing.’ Despite this encouragement, I was rushed to the hospital with what proved to be a blood clot in the right side of my brain. After administering a drug, the doctors described as ‘a blood thinner on steroids,’ they sent me by helicopter to another hospital specializing in neurological issues. As I lay on my back in the helicopter, watching the lights below, I thought to myself, ‘How am I going to pay for all of this?’

Thankfully, I’m a member of Zion HealthShare. Zion HealthShare has proved to be incredible every step of the way. My oldest daughter quickly communicated with Zion HealthShare and connected with one of their extended care representatives. Zion HealthShare shared not only the helicopter ride, and the blood thinner on steroids, but other expenses related to my hospital stay, as well as my time in the rehabilitation hospital. The staff at the rehabilitation hospital was amazed at how gracious Zion HealthShare was in covering my time there.

Many of them asked for information about Zion HealthShare. They were used to other companies rushing people out the door before they had a chance to improve. Because Zion HealthShare allowed for such a lengthy stay in rehab, I have made amazing progress. I will be forever grateful to Zion HealthShare for how they stood and continue to stand with me and my family during such a challenging season.” 

-Dave S.

Don’t Let Rising Healthcare Costs Drag You Down

With Zion HealthShare, you’re part of a community that puts you first, helping you regain control of your healthcare and protect your family from financial disaster. Ready to experience a better way to manager your healthcare? See how it works now!

 

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.

 

 Current as of: December 15, 2025