Dave recently switched jobs, moving from a community bank to a local facility management company. At the bank, he was on a high-deductible health plan that qualified for a Health Savings Account (HSA), costing him $108 per month to cover his family. However, after taking his new position, he found that the comparable insurance options were significantly more expensive—over eight times his previous cost.
To find a more affordable solution, Dave followed a neighbor’s suggestion to explore HealthShare programs, as this particular neighbor had been with Christian HealthShare Ministries for years and had no complaints. By combining his employer’s insurance for himself and a HealthShare membership for his family, Dave managed to cut the monthly cost in half compared to what his employer’s insurance would have charged for family coverage.
This scenario is not uncommon, highlighting the challenge many face with rising healthcare costs. HealthShare membership offers individuals and families an alternative to health insurance that can alleviate the burden of large and unexpected medical expenses.
What is a HealthShare?
A HealthShare is a group-based approach to handling large healthcare costs. In this model, members make regular monthly payments that contribute to the pooled community funds, which are then available to be shared when a member has a need. Unlike traditional insurance, HealthShare membership is not based on risk, but on mutual support and shared values.
How Does It Compare to Insurance?
While the most prominent HealthShares all operate somewhat differently, the differences between them and traditional insurance include:
- Cost-Sharing: Members voluntarily pay into the community fund to share the burden of medical expenses together.
- Interest Alignment: In HealthShare membership, people have a shared interest in maintaining good and healthy habits that contribute to good health. Healthy lifestyles and habits lead to lower overall healthcare costs.
- Flexibility: This is not universal, but the preferable HealthShare organizations out there typically offer more flexibility in choosing healthcare providers and managing healthcare costs than insurance.
- Transparency: HealthShare organizations, being nonprofit organizations, are known for their transparency and direct approach to sharing. They typically have clear and understandable guidelines as related to sharing funds and membership requirements.
Because members’ interests are aligned within a HealthShare, they create an affordable alternative to insurance by actively keeping the community’s expenses low.
How do individuals benefit from HealthShares?
Just as in Dave’s situation, a typically universal experience with HealthShare membership is the cost savings compared to health insurance. Individually, members benefit from lower monthly payments, which can add up quickly. This affordability can be particularly appealing for those looking to reduce their healthcare expenses without compromising on quality.
| Zion HealthShare | Samaritan Ministries | Christian Healthcare Ministries |
| $280 | $327 | $414 |
| Family size assumed at 3 using comparable membership tiers | ||
In fact, according to our own comparison of HealthShare organizations, families can generally become members for $300-500 per month, in contrast to the average cost of family traditional health insurance coverage at $1,564 per month, per NCSL data.
Unlike typical health insurance plans that come with fixed terms and networks, HealthShares often present a far more flexible option. Some of the more prominent HealthShare organizations allow members to choose plans that best fit their individual health needs and budgets. This also means that HealthShare members are often not confined to specific provider networks of doctors or hospitals. For example, one frequent selling point used in association with Zion HealthShare is that members can receive the care they need from the providers they trust, without the restrictions commonly found in insurance.
How do families benefit from HealthShares?
HealthShare organizations understand that every family is unique. While not quite universal, the preferable HealthShare memberships can often extend to the needs of pediatric care for children, ongoing treatment for chronic conditions, or preventive care for adults.
For families that may not have access to, or cannot afford, employer-provided health benefits, as in Dave’s example, HealthShare membership can offer a practical and affordable solution. With the money saved, families may be able to find other independent healthcare options to combine with their membership to create a more well-rounded solution that meets the family’s needs.
Just as Dave and his family were able to create a blended solution combining employer-group insurance with independent HealthShare membership, another family might find a solution they need in combining their HealthShare membership with an independent prescription or telemedicine program. The number of these more independent, low-cost medical programs are growing, and families can arrive at creative solutions by using them in tandem.
Get creative with a HealthShare
HealthShare membership can hold some exciting opportunities for those finding traditional health insurance untenable or overly expensive. It is an opportunity to discover the advantages of being part of a larger community and all the smaller options out there.
HealthShare Guide’s reviews can be an insightful resource for those researching potential HealthShare organizations. We recommend starting here.
