Disclosure: Health share plans and the membership offered by Summit Health Benefits are membership-based coverage. Membership-based coverage is not insurance, is not regulated as insurance, and does not guarantee payment of medical bills.
Health share pros and cons come down to one trade. You pay less each month, and in return you give up legal protections that insurance has. This guide lists both sides with real numbers so you can decide if a health share fits your household.
What is a health share plan, and is it insurance?
A health share plan is a group of members who pool money each month to pay each other's medical bills. It is not insurance. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) states that health care sharing ministries "are not insurance and can't guarantee the payment of claims" (NAIC, 2022).
Each program writes its own rules, called guidelines. Those guidelines decide what gets shared, what is excluded and how fast bills are paid. The NAIC reported that 30 states exempt health care sharing ministries from insurance rules, and that membership reached about one million people as of 2019 (NAIC, 2022).
What are the pros of a health share plan?
The pros of a health share plan are lower monthly costs, provider choice, and a community model that some members prefer. These benefits are real, but they depend on the program and your health.
- Lower monthly cost. Christian Healthcare Ministries lists 2026 monthly contributions from $115 per unit on Bronze to $299 on Gold (CHM, 2026). Samaritan Ministries lists monthly shares starting at $95 (Samaritan Ministries, 2026). Marketplace premiums for the same household can be higher, especially without subsidies.
- Provider choice. Most programs have no network, so members can see any provider. Healthinsurance.org notes that members can use any provider, but providers do not have to accept sharing arrangements (healthinsurance.org, 2026).
- Simple monthly structure. You pay a set share each month, and many programs also set an amount you pay first before sharing begins.
- Option for people who fall between coverage types. Self-employed workers, 1099 earners and people between jobs often compare health shares with other options. Our guide to health insurance for self-employed people covers that choice.
What are the cons of a health share plan?
The cons of a health share plan are that payment is not guaranteed, pre-existing conditions can be excluded, and sharing caps apply. These are the risks that surprise people most.
- No guarantee of payment. The NAIC says health care sharing ministries have "no legal requirement" to pay a bill (NAIC, 2022). If a bill is not shared, you owe it.
- No ACA consumer protections. Health sharing ministries "do not have to comply with the consumer protections of the federal Affordable Care Act," including coverage of pre-existing conditions and caps on out-of-pocket costs (NAIC, 2022).
- Pre-existing condition limits. Many programs wait months or years before sharing costs for a known condition. Our HealthShare waiting periods guide shows how this works.
- Caps on what is shared. The Department of Labor says group health plans are generally prohibited from setting lifetime or annual dollar limits on essential health benefits (DOL, EBSA). Health shares are not bound by that rule.
- Less state oversight. In states with an exemption, the state insurance department does not regulate the program the way it regulates insurers (NAIC, 2022).
- Possible exclusions. Programs may exclude services such as mental health care or certain maternity needs, depending on their guidelines.
Do health shares have lifetime limits?
Many do. A lifetime limit is the most a program will share for one illness or one member over time. Insurance sold to groups cannot set lifetime dollar limits on essential health benefits, but a health share can set them (DOL, EBSA).
Here are published examples from 2026:
Table: Published sharing limits from three programs (2026)
| Program | Published limit | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Christian Healthcare Ministries (base programs) | $125,000 maximum lifetime limit for each illness | CHM FAQ, 2026 |
| Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM Plus) | $1 million per illness | CHM FAQ, 2026 |
| Liberty HealthShare (Freedom) | Up to $300,000 per incident | Liberty HealthShare, 2026 |
| Liberty HealthShare (Connect and Unite) | Up to $1,000,000 per incident | Liberty HealthShare, 2026 |
A search for "no lifetime limits health share" is common, and the answer is that it depends on the program and the type of need. Ask for the cap in writing before you join.
How does a health share compare with ACA insurance?
A health share costs less each month in many cases, but ACA insurance gives legal protections that a health share does not. The right pick depends on your health, your budget and how much risk you can carry.
Table: Health share versus ACA marketplace insurance
| Feature | Health share | ACA marketplace plan |
|---|---|---|
| Legal status | Not insurance | Regulated insurance |
| Payment guaranteed | No | Yes, under the plan contract |
| Pre-existing conditions | May be excluded or delayed | Cannot be excluded |
| Lifetime dollar limits | Allowed | Banned on essential health benefits |
| Out-of-pocket maximum | Set by program, if any | $10,600 for one person in 2026 and $12,000 in 2027 |
| Premium subsidies | Not available | Available based on income |
The ACA out-of-pocket maximums are $10,600 for an individual and $21,200 for a family in 2026, and $12,000 and $24,000 in 2027 (healthinsurance.org, 2026). Group health plans are also barred from imposing pre-existing condition exclusions (DOL, EBSA).
Who is a health share a good fit for?
A health share fits people who are generally healthy, can absorb a large unexpected bill, and are comfortable with a plan that is not insurance. It tends to fit poorly for people with ongoing conditions or planned procedures in the first year.
Consider a health share if:
- You are healthy and want lower monthly costs.
- You have savings to cover a large bill if a need is not shared.
- You have read the guidelines and accept the exclusions.
Consider marketplace insurance instead if:
- You have a known condition, or you expect surgery or a pregnancy soon.
- You want a guaranteed payment obligation and a legal appeals process.
- You qualify for premium subsidies that bring the cost down.
Open enrollment dates matter here. If you want marketplace coverage for 2027, read our guide to health insurance open enrollment dates and changes. If you need coverage outside open enrollment, see the special enrollment period guide.
Who handles the choice between a health share and insurance?
A licensed professional can compare both for your household, and Summit Health Benefits does this for individuals and families. Summit Health Benefits offers a Health Membership for Individuals and Families that lists no faith requirement, and its plan page states the membership is not insurance (Summit Health Benefits, 2026).
The page describes a HealthShare feature with a $2,500 Initial Unshareable Amount, or IUA, per eligible need. It states the IUA is not an insurance deductible and not an annual out-of-pocket maximum, and that eligibility, waiting periods and pre-existing condition limits follow the member guidelines (Summit Health Benefits, 2026). Read those guidelines before you enroll in any program.
If you only want to compare faith-based programs, see our best Christian health share plans review. For more programs, including options with no faith requirement, see the best healthshare plans comparison. If you are leaving employer coverage, our COBRA alternatives guide covers short-term gaps.
What should I ask before joining a health share?
Ask the program for its written guidelines, then get answers to these questions before you pay anything.
- What is the monthly cost for my age and household, and how much did it rise last year?
- What amount do I pay first before sharing begins, and does it apply per need or per year?
- Is there a per-incident cap or a lifetime limit per illness?
- How does the program define a pre-existing condition, and how long is the wait?
- How long does sharing take, and what is the deadline to submit a bill?
- What happens if the program cannot share a bill in full?
- Does it cover mental health, maternity and prescriptions?
Compare Your Options With a Licensed Professional
A licensed professional compares marketplace plans and membership-based coverage for your household and answers your questions, with no pressure to enroll.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the pros and cons of health share plans?
Is a health share the same as health insurance?
Do health share plans have lifetime limits?
Do health shares cover pre-existing conditions?
Is a health share cheaper than ACA insurance?
What happens if a health share does not pay a bill?
Who should avoid a health share plan?
Is there a health share with no faith requirement?
Sources: National Association of Insurance Commissioners, Not All Products are Health Insurance: Health Care Sharing Ministries, Discount Plans and Risk-Sharing Plans (November 2022); healthinsurance.org, Healthcare sharing ministries: A leap of faith? and Out-of-pocket maximum glossary (2026); U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration, The Affordable Care Act and Group Health Plans (lifetime and annual limits; pre-existing condition exclusions); Christian Healthcare Ministries, FAQs and 2026 monthly contribution amounts (2026); Samaritan Ministries, program pages (2026); Liberty HealthShare, program pages (2026); Summit Health Benefits, Individuals and Families plan page (2026).