Health Sharing Independent from Religious Beliefs

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Most people researching health sharing run into the same surprise: a large share of the plans on the market ask you to sign a statement of faith before you can join. Some require regular church attendance. A few will exclude coverage for procedures that conflict with the organization’s religious beliefs.

That’s not a hidden detail — it’s how the health sharing concept got started. But it also means it’s not the right fit for a lot of people. If you don’t want to affirm a religious belief system just to get affordable healthcare, you’re not out of options. You’re just choosing from a smaller, less-marketed slice of the market: secular health sharing.

What Is Non-Religious (Secular) Health Sharing?

Secular health sharing works the same way religious health sharing does: members pay a monthly contribution into a shared pool and eligible medical expenses are paid out of that pool instead of through a traditional insurance claim. The mechanics — contribution amounts, an Initial Unshareable Amount (similar to a deductible), sharing limits, and published guidelines for what is and isn’t eligible — are largely identical across the industry.

The difference is entirely in the membership requirements. A non-religious health share plan:

• Does not require a statement of faith or profession of belief
• Does not require church attendance or a pastoral reference
• Does not exclude care based on religious doctrine
• Does not require abstaining from certain activities
• Typically asks members to agree to general lifestyle guidelines rather than religious ones (e.g. not using illegal drugs)

In other words, you get the same benefits as a faith-based plan without agreeing to anything about your beliefs.

Secular vs. Religious Health Shares

Feature	Religious Health Share	Secular Health Share
Statement of Faith	Often Required	Not Required
Religious Membership	Sometimes Required	Not Required
Church Attendance	May Be Expected	Not Required
Monthly Contributions	✔	✔
Medical Cost Protection	✔	✔
Open to All Backgrounds	Varies	Yes

Although both models use community-based medical cost sharing, the primary difference is membership eligibility rather than how healthcare costs are shared.

Why Are Most Health Share Plans Faith-Based?

Health share plans predate the Affordable Care Act by decades. They grew almost entirely out of religious communities — churches and denominations organizing to help members cover medical costs outside the insurance system. When the ACA created a specific exemption for health care sharing ministries in 2010 (ACA Section 1402(d)), the exemption language reflected the religious community model that existed at the time but the exemption does not require a religious component. Health sharing organizations, both religious and secular, are now legal in all 50 states as an insurance alternative.

What Religious and Non-Religious Options Do I Have?

The following are some of the leading religious and non-religious health shares on the market.

Table 1 - Religious Health Shares

Organization	Open to Non-Religious Members	Notes
Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM)	No, Stmt of Faith Required	One of the oldest and largest Christian health sharing ministries.
Medi-Share	No, Stmt of Faith Required	Requires members to agree to a statement of faith and lifestyle guidelines.
Samaritan Ministries	No, Stmt of Faith Required	Members support one another through direct bill sharing.
Liberty HealthShare	Limited	Membership guidelines have evolved over time; review current requirements before joining.
OneShare Health	No, Stmt of Faith Required	Christian-based health care sharing ministry with multiple sharing levels.
Universal Health Fellowship (UHF)	Yes, Stmt of Faith Not Required	Although associated with the Unitarian Universality Church, they do not require a statement of faith.

Table 2 - Non-Religious Health Shares

Organization	Statement of Faith	Notes
Zion HealthShare	No	Open to members regardless of religious affiliation.
Sedera	No	Open to members regardless of religious affiliation.
MPB Health	No	Designed for any individuals, families, and businesses seeking an affordable, inclusive health sharing option.

Choosing the Right Health Share

The best health share depends on your healthcare needs, budget, and personal preferences. Some people prefer a Christian health sharing ministry that aligns with their faith, while others seek a secular health share that welcomes members regardless of religious affiliation.

When comparing programs, consider:

• Monthly contribution amounts
• Initial Unshared Amount (IUA) options
• Membership eligibility
• Statement of faith requirements
• Preventive care options
• Provider flexibility
• Prescription benefits
• Telehealth services
• Maternity sharing
• Mental Health services
• Compatibility with MEC and HSA strategiesg