What is the difference between health sharing plans and health insurance?

Asked by: Oswaldo Bartell  |  Last update: October 11, 2025
Score: 4.5/5 (69 votes)

Health share plans generally offer lower monthly costs compared to traditional health insurance. These plans operate on a cost share model, where members contribute to a shared fund, reducing the overall expense.

Is health care sharing the same as insurance?

Traditional insurance usually pays its portion of a claim and bills you for the rest, but health share plans reimburse you after you've paid up. That's actually a good thing, because if you're paying cash, you can often get a sweet discount on services.

What is the difference between health insurance and health plan?

At a fundamental level, a health plan refers to the strategic approach taken to ensure the health needs of an individual or group, while health insurance is a financial tool that covers or subsidizes the cost of medical care.

Are healthshare plans legitimate?

Health Shares are scams set up by churches with the intention of replacing insurance. The concept is, you pay a certain amount to the share and when you need medical care the share pays for your treatment. However, this is rarely what actually happens. These shares are not legal entities and there is no regulation.

Is sharing the same as insurance?

Health Care Sharing vs Health Insurance

Health care sharing is not insurance, but the plans count as insurance under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). That means more affordable healthcare benefits while avoiding the tax penalty for going uninsured. Other pros of health care sharing over insurance include:Lower cost.

Health Insurance Explained vs. Health Sharing Explained

35 related questions found

Is sharing insurance cheaper?

Sharing a policy is generally cheaper because you'll split the cost of certain coverages. You benefit from your spouse's clean driving record: If you've had violations or accidents, your spouse's clean driving history may result in a more competitive rate.

Are health share plans tax deductible?

But since they aren't traditional health insurance products, health sharing plan membership costs don't qualify for a personal income tax deduction.

How much does the HealthShare plan cost?

Healthshare programs are known for being faith-based. Your family's monthly share may range from $300 - $500 per month. At a fraction of the average health insurance premium, it's easy to see the appeal. Lower deductibles and out-of-pocket limits are also common in a health sharing program.

What are the disadvantages of cost sharing in healthcare?

Low cost sharing protects patients from high and unexpected medical expenditures – a key function of insurance – but it also raises a concern that patients may overuse low-value care when they pay less than its full cost, an inefficiency economists term “moral hazard.” Conversely, higher cost sharing may mitigate moral ...

Do doctors prefer HMO or PPO?

HMO plans might involve more bureaucracy and can limit doctors' ability to practice medicine as they see fit due to stricter guidelines on treatment protocols. So just as with patients, providers who prefer a greater degree of flexibility tend to prefer PPO plans.

What are the two most common health insurance plans?

Before choosing a health insurance policy for yourself, your family, or your employees, you must know what types are available. Some popular health insurance policy options are: Preferred provider organization (PPO) plans. Health maintenance organization (HMO) plans.

Can you have health insurance and not use it?

This means that it is not illegal to not use your health insurance for medical services. Medicare patients may have different requirements. Patients can elect to pay for medical services if they find it in their best interest to pay for them directly.

What is the meaning of Healthshare?

HealthShares are medical cost sharing communities

This means taking members' monthly contributions and using them to pay for eligible medical expenses incurred by the community.

Can you have an HSA with a health sharing plan?

Can you have an HSA account with health sharing options? Currently, you cannot fund an HSA account if you do not have an HSA compatible plan. There are certain rules on what makes an HSA compatible plan eligible. But definitely...it has to be an insurance plan.

Is healthcare coverage the same as insurance?

Healthcare and health insurance are terms that are often used interchangeably. However, healthcare, which typically includes elements like emergency room visits, preventative medicine, and prescription drugs, is far different than health insurance which provides coverage for medical services.

Are health share plans a good idea?

Health share plans offer a unique alternative to traditional health insurance, with benefits like lower monthly costs and a strong sense of community through cost sharing. However, they also come with limitations in coverage and lack of ACA protections.

Is healthcare cheaper without insurance?

Uninsured families pay for a higher proportion of their total health care costs out of pocket than do insured families, however, and are more likely to have high medical expenses relative to income (IOM, 2002b).

Does cost sharing include deductible?

The share of costs covered by your insurance that you pay out of your own pocket. This term generally includes deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments, or similar charges, but it doesn't include premiums, balance billing amounts for non-network providers, or the cost of non-covered services.

What is the most expensive health plan?

Platinum health insurance is the most expensive type of health care coverage you can purchase. You pay low out-of-pocket expenses for appointments and services, but high monthly premiums. Plans typically feature a small deductible or no deductible and cheap copays or coinsurance.

What does Dave Ramsey say about Medi Share?

After praising Christian healthcare sharing ministries in general, calling most of them "very reliable," Mr. Ramsey singles out Medi-Share's "great reputation." He then points out correctly that Christian health insurance alternatives are not insurance and don't face the same regulations as insurance companies.

What is the best health sharing ministry?

The 10 Best HealthShare Memberships for 2023
  • Christian Healthcare Ministries: Gold Program with Brother's Keeper.
  • Zion HealthShare: Direct $1,000 IUA.
  • United Refuah HealthShare: Individual $500 Pre-Share with $1,000 Maximum Annual Co-share.

Is Medishare considered a high deductible health plan?

Medi-Share does not have deductibles in the traditional insurance sense, but it does have an annual household portion, which functions similarly to a high deductible.

Can you write off health insurance on your taxes?

If you have health insurance through an employer-sponsored plan: While you can't deduct your monthly premiums, you can deduct out-of-pocket premiums, provided you don't use an HSA to cover those costs.

Does Liberty HealthShare count as insurance?

Liberty HealthShare is not an insurance company nor is it offered through an insurance company. Liberty HealthShare's Sharing Programs do not guarantee or promise that a member's medical bills will be paid or assigned to others for payment.