Health Care Sharing Ministries: What and Who they are

One of the biggest concerns those self-employed, unemployed, or early retired have is how to pay for healthcare.

According to EHealth, the average non-subsidized healthcare plan for a family of four was $1437 per month in 2020. And that is just the cost of premiums!

An alternative health coverage choice that’s become popular in the last few decades is the health care sharing ministry.

What is a Health Care Sharing Ministry?

A health share ministry program is not insurance. There are no insurance agents or insurance companies involved.

Instead, it’s a membership-based non-profit program where members with common religious beliefs share the expense of each others’ medical costs.

Members pay monthly fees (“shares”), which are usually vastly more affordable than traditional health insurance premiums.

Members have deductibles, or amounts they are required to pay before sharing kicks in, and after that, the organization covers part or all of their healthcare costs up to certain defined limits.

Health care sharing ministries are, by definition, religious organizations.