Individual & Family

Medi-Share health care sharing

Medi-Share is a Christian health care sharing ministry — not insurance. Members pay a monthly 'share' and the community shares one another's eligible medical bills based on shared biblical values and healthy lifestyle standards. For the right household, it's a lower-cost alternative. For the wrong one, it's a serious mismatch.

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Coverage guide

What this page is about

Medi-Share and other health care sharing ministries are faith-based cost-sharing arrangements, not health insurance. This page is only about how sharing programs work, where they may fit, and the risks compared with ACA major medical coverage.

Medi-Share vs. health insurance

Insurance is a regulated contract with defined benefits and consumer protections. A sharing ministry is a membership arrangement where eligible medical needs may be shared according to ministry guidelines. It can be lower cost, but it is not guaranteed insurance coverage.

  • Sharing programs often use lifestyle, faith, and eligibility guidelines.
  • Pre-existing conditions, preventive care, prescriptions, and maternity may be limited or subject to special rules.
  • They do not qualify as ACA insurance and do not provide the same legal guarantees.

What it usually covers

  • Eligible medical needs shared under the ministry guidelines
  • Large unexpected medical events after the household responsibility amount
  • Provider bill negotiation and community sharing features in many programs
  • Some telehealth or discount services depending on membership

What it usually does not cover

  • Guaranteed payment of claims like an insurance contract
  • All pre-existing conditions or ongoing treatment
  • All preventive care, prescriptions, maternity, mental health, or substance-use care
  • ACA subsidy eligibility or state insurance protections

Best fit

  • Healthy individuals or families who understand and accept the non-insurance structure
  • People aligned with the ministry's membership requirements
  • Clients who want lower monthly cost and can self-pay for routine care
  • Families comparing it carefully against ACA after reviewing risks

Usually not the right fit

  • Anyone needing guaranteed major medical insurance
  • People with significant pre-existing conditions or expensive prescriptions
  • Families needing maternity, mental health, or pediatric benefits without restriction
  • Someone uncomfortable with guideline-based reimbursement instead of contractual benefits

I explain sharing programs plainly: they may fit some healthy households, but they should never be mistaken for ACA-compliant health insurance.

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How Medi-Share actually works

You submit a monthly share to the ministry. When members have eligible medical bills, those funds are used to pay them. There's an Annual Household Portion (similar to a deductible) that resets each year. Care is coordinated through Medi-Share's provider network with negotiated rates.

  • Monthly share typically 20–50% lower than an unsubsidized ACA plan
  • Annual Household Portion ($1,750–$12,000) chosen at enrollment
  • PHCS network provides discounted rates at participating providers
  • Telehealth included at no additional cost
  • Members agree to a statement of faith and healthy-lifestyle standards

How it's different from insurance

This is the most important part to understand — Medi-Share is legally structured as a ministry, not an insurance contract. There's no legal obligation for any bill to be paid. In practice Medi-Share has a strong 30+ year track record, but the legal structure is materially different from an ACA plan.

  • Not regulated by state insurance commissioners
  • Not subject to ACA rules (pre-existing conditions, mandated benefits, etc.)
  • Not eligible for ACA premium tax credits
  • Does not satisfy every employer or state coverage requirement
  • Pre-existing conditions have a phased eligibility schedule (typically 3 years to full sharing)

What it does and doesn't share

Sharing eligibility is defined by member guidelines, not insurance regulations.

  • Shared: hospitalization, surgery, doctor visits, maternity within marriage, prescriptions related to eligible events
  • Not shared: tobacco-related conditions, mental health, addiction, injuries from illegal activity, most preventive care
  • Maternity: shared within a legally married household, subject to specific guidelines
  • Prescription maintenance drugs typically not shared long-term

Who Medi-Share fits

Medi-Share works well for households whose values and health align with the program's guidelines.

  • Households that align with the statement of faith and lifestyle standards
  • Generally healthy families with few pre-existing conditions
  • Households that don't qualify for a meaningful ACA subsidy
  • People who want lower monthly costs and are comfortable with the ministry model

Who it doesn't fit

If any of these apply, we'll usually recommend an ACA plan instead.

  • Households with significant pre-existing conditions who need immediate coverage
  • Households qualifying for large ACA subsidies (subsidized ACA is usually cheaper)
  • People needing mental health, addiction, or transgender-related care
  • Households not comfortable with the faith-based requirements

Common questions

Is Medi-Share tax-deductible?

The monthly share is not deductible as an insurance premium. Self-employed households should consult a CPA — there are limited scenarios where sharing amounts may be treated as a medical expense.

Does Medi-Share satisfy the ACA mandate?

The federal individual mandate penalty is currently $0, so this is largely moot at the federal level. A few states (like California and New Jersey) have state-level mandates — Medi-Share qualifies for exemptions in most cases.

Can I keep my doctor?

Medi-Share uses the PHCS network. Non-network providers are allowed but typically without negotiated pricing.

How fast are bills shared?

Timing varies by bill type. Providers may need to wait for sharing to process — we help set expectations with your medical office up front.

Ready for a real answer?

A licensed independent broker — no cost, no pressure.

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