Created as a response to the religiously exclusive nature of many health cost sharing ministries, Zion HealthShare, based out of St. George, Utah, is a top-rated HealthShare with no religious requirements for membership. Since starting in 2019, Zion HealthShare has accrued over 61,000 members, making it the 5th largest sharing organization in the country.
How does a Zion HealthShare membership work?
Zion HealthShare does not require members to declare any particular religious beliefs. Members must adhere to their Principles of Membership and abide by the rules laid out in their guidelines in order to join the medical cost sharing community.
Zion HealthShare members benefit from a straightforward program structure. Members’ monthly contribution amount is determined by their age group, Initial Unshareable Amount (IUA), and how many members of the household are taking part in the membership. Although the IUA is applied per sharing request, household members never pay more than three IUAs in a rolling twelve-month period. If three IUAs in a twelve-month period have been paid, Zion shares any additional eligible costs over $500. All expenses related to a specific sharing request remains fully shareable until that member has been symptom-free for at least twelve months.
Zion HealthShare membership types
Zion HealthShare has two primary membership types: Direct and Essential. Direct membership includes major medical, preventive care, maternity, pharmacy discounts, 24/7 telemedicine, and more. It is available to those who join through their website, rather than through an employer.
Essential membership is a base membership that allows members to add additional services. It is designed for companies and organizations that provide benefits for their employees and offers lower monthly contribution amounts than Direct memberships. As a trade-off, some additional features included with Direct membership are instead available as optional add-ons for Essential memberships. Essential memberships are also available to individuals who subscribe to a Direct Primary Care (DPC) provider, allowing them to combine the benefits of a DPC membership with those offered through a HealthShare membership.
What about common health concerns?
Zion HealthShare is mainly designed to assist members with unexpected or unpredictable medical bills; however, their program is also built to address common health concerns and pre-existing medical conditions, or what Zion HealthShare calls pre-membership conditions. Direct memberships include an annual wellness visit that is immediately shareable, and Essential members may purchase preventive sharing as an add-on to their membership.
For pre-membership conditions, members must wait one year before sharing any related medical costs. After that, the eligible amount for pre-membership conditions increases each subsequent year. For instance, members may share up to $25,000 in the second year, $50,000 in the third year, and $125,000 from the fourth year on.
Noteworthy
Here is some of the top information we believe potential members might want to know about this HealthShare.
Key considerations
- Members of all faiths accepted
- Quick processing turnaround time
- Tobacco users accepted with additional $50 fee
- Initial waiting period for some sharing
Membership requirements
- Agree to the Zion HealthShare Principles of Membership
- Be under age 65
- Residency in the United States or Puerto Rico
Pros
- No annual or lifetime sharing limits
- Annual wellness visits are available immediately for Direct memberships or Essential memberships with the preventive add-on services.
- Colonoscopy and mammogram screenings are shareable after 6 months of continuous membership
- Some alternative health treatments shareable
- Prescription sharing and discount programs
- IUA discounts may be available for pre-arranged surgeries
- End-of-life assistance for members and dependents
Cons
- Adoption expenses not shareable
- Maternity waiting period applies and a separate maternity IUA is required
- Must be under age 65
Ideal candidates
- Want a simplified HealthShare experience
- Want a HealthShare with secular membership requirements
Watch the Zion HealthShare introduction video
Page Updated 11/13/2025
