Zion HealthShare Newsroom
Updates, announcements, and expert commentary on what’s shaping healthcare today
Healthcare Costs Double for Farmers and Other Self-Employed Workers, Adding Pressure to Already Tight Budgets
What I am seeing for 2026 is that the worst of the sticker shock lands on households just over the subsidy cutoff, where a few thousand dollars of extra farm income can swing a premium by hundreds a month.Recent reporting highlights that many rural Americans are...
Healthcare Innovator, Dr. Justin Voris, Joins Zion HealthShare Board
Article Highlights
- Justin Voris joins Zion HealthShare Board, bringing over a decade of experience in family medicine.
- His background in Direct Primary Care (DPC) supports a focus on simplifying care and strengthening physician–patient relationships.
- Dr. Voris currently serves as President of the Arkansas Academy of Family Physicians and contributes leadership experience in multiple medical and community organizations.
As Medical Debt Fears Grow, Illinois Moves to Protect Patients’ Homes From Liens
Article Highlights
- Illinois HB 4461 would prohibit hospitals from placing liens on a patient’s primary residence due to unpaid medical debt.
- The bill advanced through the Illinois Senate and would amend both the state’s Fair Patient Billing Act and Code of Civil Procedure.
- Supporters argue that healthcare debt should not jeopardize housing stability, especially when medical expenses are often unexpected.
- The legislation was introduced following reports of aggressive debt collection practices, including liens on homes for medical debts as low as $2,000 after the acquisition of St. Margaret’s Hospital by OSF HealthCare.
- The bill reflects broader concerns about healthcare affordability and transparency, as more Americans explore alternatives such as self-pay healthcare, direct primary care, cash-pay arrangements, and health sharing communities.
Business After Hours Networking Event Brings Healthcare Innovators Together in Littleton
Article Highlights
- Pinnacle Advanced Primary Care and Smith Medical Direct Specialty Care hosted the Business After Hours networking event on May 13 in Littleton, Colorado.
- The event brought together healthcare providers, business leaders, and organizations focused on alternatives to traditional healthcare.
- Zion HealthShare attended to share information about medical cost sharing and connect with healthcare innovators in the region.
- Participants emphasized shared values of transparency, affordability, accessibility, and patient-centered care.
- The event also supported the local nonprofit Symphony of the Rockies while fostering partnerships that can improve healthcare options for patients and employers.
Kansas Approves Tax Deduction for Health Sharing Organization Members
Article Highlights
- Kansas passed the Health Care Sharing Ministries Tax Deduction Act, effective for the 2027 tax year.
- Individuals can deduct up to $5,000, while married couples filing jointly can deduct up to $10,000.
- The deduction applies to members of nonprofit health sharing ministries, not insurance plans.
- Laura Kelly vetoed the bill, but lawmakers overrode the veto to pass it into law.
- The law expands financial flexibility and access to alternative health care options for Kansas residents.
Zion HealthShare Becomes Official Medical Assistant Industry Partner with Dixie Technical College
Article Highlights
- Zion HealthShare has been designated as an official Medical Assistant Industry Partner with Dixie Technical College.
- The partnership includes participation on the Occupational Advisory Council to help guide curriculum development.
- Students gain exposure to alternative healthcare and benefits models beyond traditional insurance.
- Zion HealthShare serves as a recruiter and employer resource through mock interviews, job fairs, and career readiness programs.
- The collaboration supports workforce development and strengthens connections between education and real-world healthcare careers.
Direct Primary Care Grows as Patients and Providers Look for a Better Way
Article Highlights
- Direct Primary Care (DPC) offers a more personal healthcare model.
- Rising costs and system frustration are driving people to alternatives.
- DPC is growing nationwide.
- Healthshares and DPC can work well together.
- This approach isn’t one-size-fits-all and requires informed participation.
Healthcare Innovator and Patient Advocate Camila Guerrero Joins Zion HealthShare Board
Article Highlights
- Camila Guerrero brings deep experience in healthcare operations, innovation, and patient advocacy to the Zion HealthShare Board.
- Her background includes leadership in a rural health clinic and co-founding a Direct Primary Care practice focused on patient-first care.
- She launched the nation’s first 24/7 mobile urgent care plan within a DPC model, reshaping access to care in her community.
- As a Zion HealthShare member, Camila personally experienced a pregnancy and childbirth through the health sharing community, becoming a strong advocate for its model.
- In her Board role, Camila will focus on community outreach, enhancing member experience, and advancing affordable, transparent healthcare solutions.
Zion HealthShare Recognized Among Top HealthShare Programs for 2026
Article Highlights
- Independent healthcare review organizations have ranked Zion HealthShare among the top healthshare programs for 2026.
- HealthShare Guide named Zion HealthShare the number one healthshare overall, citing transparency, accessibility, and broad healthcare support.
- HealthSharing Reviews recognized Zion HealthShare in its 2026 Health Share Hall of Fame for consistency and member-focused operations.
- HealthShare101 ranked Zion HealthShare as the best overall and leading secular healthshare, highlighting flexibility and operational stability.
- These rankings reflect growing consumer interest in transparent, community-based alternatives to traditional health insurance.
Zion HealthShare Announces Member Guideline Updates Effective January 1, 2026
Article Highlights
- New categories were added for adoption related birth expenses, hormonal deficiencies, and high-risk testing to expand clarity around eligibility.
- Adopted children are considered the same as biological children, some medical expenses may be eligible for sharing.
- Several existing guidelines including maternity care, end of life assistance, tobacco use, and neurodivergent disorders received major clarifications.
- Tobacco and cannabis updates reiterate surcharge rules, disclosure requirements, and $50,000 sharing limits for certain related conditions.
- Diagnostic testing eligibility now requires FDA-approved testing, with non-validated labs being ineligible for sharing.
Big 2026 Update: HSA Funds Can Now Be Used for Direct Primary Care Memberships
Article Highlights
- Starting January 1, 2026, individuals with High-Deductible Health Plans (HDHPs) can use Health Savings Account (HSA) funds to pay for Direct Primary Care (DPC) memberships.
- This update, part of H.R. 1 – One Big Beautiful Bill Act, removes restrictions that previously prevented HSA contributions for DPC members.
- Members may use up to $150 per individual or $300 per family each month from their HSA for DPC fees, with annual inflation adjustments.
- The change expands access to affordable, relationship-based primary care and supports nontraditional health models like Healthshares.
- Combining DPC memberships with Healthshares allows members to cover preventive care through DPC and major medical needs through the sharing community—creating a more flexible, cost-effective healthcare approach.