Medically reviewed by Jawad Arshad, MD, FACEP. Last reviewed: October 17, 2026.
The fastest way to compare healthshare plans is to put every program in one table and read the same five rows for each. A low monthly share means little if the pay-first amount is high or pre-existing conditions wait three years.
This guide compares Zion HealthShare, Medi-Share, Liberty HealthShare, Knew Health, Sedera and CrowdHealth using each program's own published terms.
Key facts (2026):
- Medi-Share offers Annual Household Portion levels of $3,000, $6,000, $9,000 and $12,000 (Medi-Share sharing summary, 2026).
- Zion HealthShare offers Initial Unshareable Amount options of $1,250, $2,500 and $5,000, and a household pays no more than three in a rolling 12 months (Zion HealthShare guidelines, effective January 1, 2026).
- Knew Health memberships start at $178 a month, and a member pays the Initial Unshareable Amount once per health issue, up to three times in a membership year (Knew Health website, 2026).
- Liberty HealthShare's Freedom program starts at $89 a month for members 35 or younger, with up to $300,000 in sharing (Liberty HealthShare website, 2026).
- Federal law sets the individual mandate penalty at $0 (26 U.S.C. 5000A(c), current text).
Where can I compare flexible and affordable healthshare plans?
You can compare flexible and affordable healthshare plans in the table below, which uses each program's own published terms. Confirm every figure with the program before you join, because shares and guidelines change.
Table: Membership-based coverage programs compared (figures from each program's own website, 2026)
| Program | Faith requirement | Pay-first amount | Starting monthly cost | Pre-existing conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medi-Share | Christian faith-based ministry | Annual Household Portion of $3,000, $6,000, $9,000 or $12,000 | Monthly share varies, not listed on the page we checked | 36 months, then up to $100,000 per member per year; up to $500,000 after 60 months |
| Zion HealthShare | None stated on its guidelines page | Initial Unshareable Amount of $1,250, $2,500 or $5,000 per need | Not listed on the page we checked | Not described as "pre-existing"; a member is symptom-free for 12 months before a new Initial Unshareable Amount applies |
| Liberty HealthShare | Describes members as "bound by faith" | Annual Unshared Amount on some programs; amounts not listed on its home page | Freedom from $89 for members 35 or younger | Not stated on its home page |
| Knew Health | None stated | Initial Unshareable Amount, once per health issue; amount not listed | From $178 | Specific guidelines; call 866-977-8298 |
| Sedera | Not mentioned on its home page | Not listed on its home page | Members "voluntarily contribute a monthly amount" | Not mentioned on its home page |
| CrowdHealth | Not mentioned | Per-event commitment of $500 to $15,000 | Depends on household and commitment | Not mentioned |
Sources: Medi-Share FAQ and sharing summary; Zion HealthShare guidelines; Liberty HealthShare, Knew Health, Sedera and CrowdHealth websites (all 2026). Sedera's site carried a maintenance notice saying some information may be outdated, so call Sedera Member Services at 855-973-3372 for current terms.
Summit Health Benefits' guide to the best healthshare plans ranks programs by use case, and this page is the head-to-head table. For the legal and cost background, read medical cost sharing plans.
How does Knew Health compare to Zion HealthShare and Sedera?
Knew Health, Zion HealthShare and Sedera all describe a pay-first amount followed by community sharing, but Knew Health and Zion publish the rules and Sedera's home page does not. None of the three states a faith requirement on the pages we checked.
Knew Health publishes a starting price of $178 a month and says a member pays the Initial Unshareable Amount once per health issue, never more than three in a membership year. It shares maternity needs when the pregnancy starts after 90 days of membership and the due date is at least one year from the start date (Knew Health website, 2026).
Zion HealthShare publishes three Initial Unshareable Amount options and caps a household at three in a rolling 12 months. After that, additional eligible requests over $500 are shared with no Initial Unshareable Amount (Zion HealthShare guidelines, effective January 1, 2026).
Sedera says it is not an insurance company and that members voluntarily contribute a monthly amount. Its home page does not list amounts, so ask for the current Annual Unshareable Amount options in writing (Sedera website, 2026).
What are the best alternatives to Liberty HealthShare and Zion HealthShare?
The best alternatives depend on your budget and your beliefs. Medi-Share suits Christian households that want a published pre-existing schedule, Knew Health suits households that want no faith requirement and a published price, and Summit Health Benefits' membership suits households that want a capped out-of-pocket amount per need.
Liberty HealthShare lists several programs. Its Essential program carries a 20% member co-share, Connect carries 10% and Unite has none (Liberty HealthShare website, 2026). A co-share means you pay that percentage of each eligible bill on top of any pay-first amount, so a $20,000 bill at 20% adds $4,000.
If you want a non-religious option, read Summit Health Benefits' list of non-religious health share plans. If you want a Christian program, read the Christian health share plans guide.
How do pre-existing conditions work in a health care sharing ministry?
A health care sharing ministry usually limits or delays sharing for conditions you had before you joined. The schedules differ a lot between programs, so compare them before you pick one.
Medi-Share defines a pre-existing condition as signs, symptoms, testing, diagnosis, treatment or medication within the 36 months before membership. It shares up to $100,000 per member per year after 36 consecutive months and up to $500,000 per member per year after 60 months (Medi-Share FAQ, updated March 2024, and sharing summary, 2026).
Zion HealthShare does not use the term. A member does not pay a new Initial Unshareable Amount for the same issue until the member has been symptom-free for 12 months (Zion HealthShare guidelines, 2026). For more detail, see Summit Health Benefits' guide to healthshare waiting periods and pre-existing conditions.
Is a health care sharing ministry the same as insurance?
No. A health care sharing ministry is not insurance, and federal law defines it narrowly. Under 26 U.S.C. 5000A(d)(2)(B), the organization must be a tax-exempt 501(c)(3), members must share common ethical or religious beliefs, members keep their membership after they develop a medical condition, and the ministry must have existed and shared expenses continuously since at least December 31, 1999 (26 U.S.C. 5000A, current text).
The same section sets the individual mandate penalty at $0, so joining a program does not trigger a federal tax penalty. Not every membership-based program in the table above is a ministry under that definition, so ask each program how it describes itself.
What does a $20,000 hospital bill cost a member?
A $20,000 eligible hospital bill costs a member the pay-first amount plus any co-share, and the program shares the rest. The table is an illustration only, because each program decides what is eligible.
Table: Member share of a $20,000 eligible hospital bill, no pre-existing condition (hypothetical)
| Program and level | Member pays first | Shared by the program |
|---|---|---|
| Zion HealthShare, $2,500 Initial Unshareable Amount | $2,500 | $17,500 |
| Zion HealthShare, $5,000 Initial Unshareable Amount | $5,000 | $15,000 |
| Medi-Share, $3,000 Annual Household Portion | $3,000 | $17,000 |
| Medi-Share, $6,000 Annual Household Portion | $6,000 | $14,000 |
| Summit Health Benefits membership, $2,500 cap per need | Up to $2,500 | Remainder of eligible expenses |
Medi-Share's sharing summary also lists small fixed fees, such as $50 for a hospitalization, after program requirements are met (Medi-Share sharing summary, 2026). Add the monthly share for 12 months to see your real yearly cost. For example, a $178 monthly share is $2,136 a year before any pay-first amount ($178 x 12).
Summit Health Benefits' figures come from its plan page, which lists no monthly price, so ask an advisor for the current cost for your household.
How do I choose between these programs?
Choose the program whose rules match your health history and your budget for a bad year. Use this checklist and copy the email to each program.
- Does the program require a faith statement, and are you comfortable signing it?
- What is the pay-first amount for one event, and how often can it apply in a year?
- How are pre-existing conditions treated, and for how long?
- Is maternity shared, and what does it require?
- What is the monthly share for your household and age?
- Are there sharing caps or co-shares?
- What happens if the program denies a bill?
- Is the program available in your state?
Subject: Questions before I join
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Hi, I am comparing membership-based coverage for [household size] in [state]. Please send in writing: (1) the pay-first amount options and how often each applies, (2) the pre-existing condition schedule, (3) maternity rules, (4) any co-share or sharing cap, (5) the monthly share for [ages], and (6) the process for appealing a denied bill. I understand this is not insurance. Thank you.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I compare flexible and affordable healthshare plans?
How does Knew Health compare to Zion HealthShare and Sedera?
What are the best alternatives to Liberty HealthShare and Zion HealthShare?
How do I compare Christian health care sharing programs?
Is a health care sharing ministry the same as health insurance?
Do membership-based coverage programs cover pre-existing conditions?
Sources: Medi-Share, Frequently Asked Questions (updated March 2024) and Sharing Summary (2026); Zion HealthShare, Initial Unshareable Amount guidelines (effective January 1, 2026); Liberty HealthShare website (2026); Knew Health website (2026); Sedera website (2026); CrowdHealth website (2026); 26 U.S.C. 5000A, Cornell Legal Information Institute (current text). Summit Health Benefits plan details come from the Health Membership for Individuals & Families page (2026).
Membership is not insurance. Results depend on each program's guidelines. Not legal or tax advice.