If you are unhappy with the current structure or cost of your health insurance, it could be time to consider Christian healthsharing ministries. For patients looking to save money on healthcare, a healthsharing ministry can be more affordable than insurance — Liberty HealthShare's medical cost-sharing programs start as low as $87 a month for individuals. The average ACA individual premiums exceeded $500 a month in 2024 (KFF Health Insurance Marketplace Calculator, 2024).
Unlike health insurance, healthsharing ministries —also called medical cost-sharing programs — are Christian-based healthcare financing options that many members find empowering. They allow you to take more control over your health and healthcare costs, including medical bills. Healthsharing ministries are voluntary organizations of people who share a common faith and contribute a set amount each month. These monthly gifts are then used to help share into other members’ medical bills.
These medical cost-sharing programs are not health insurance, and health insurance regulations do not govern or influence them. This is a meaningful distinction — not just a legal technicality. Because Christian healthsharing ministries are not required to adhere to ACA coverage mandates, and in fact they do not “cover” anything, they have the flexibility to design programs around member needs rather than government-prescribed structures. This freedom from ACA mandates is one of the primary reasons medical cost-sharing programs can offer affordable monthly contributions. It also means members can enroll at any time throughout the year, not just during a limited open enrollment window.
Liberty HealthShare operates as a membership-based healthcare sharing ministry, which means members join a defined community rather than purchasing a policy. Each member selects a program — options include Liberty Freedom, Liberty Essential, Liberty Connect, Liberty Unite, Liberty Rise, and Liberty Assist for Medicare-eligible members — and makes monthly share contributions that go directly toward other members' eligible medical expenses.
Members manage their sharing activity through their personal ShareBox portal, a secure online platform where they can track contributions, submit medical bills, and monitor sharing history. They can even request prayer in their ShareBox. New members can enroll year-round — there is no waiting for an annual enrollment period — making this membership-based model more accessible than ACA marketplace plans.
The lack of typical contracts is a significant distinction for Christian healthsharing ministry members. There are no rigid contractual agreements or assignment of risk. Being a member largely comprises a covenant among those who freely come together to assist each other with medical bills while affirming their identity as Christians who live by biblical teachings. Membership comes with the understanding that your contribution goes where there is a necessity, and that the contributions of others can come to you when you need help paying for your medical bills.
There are provisions in place — healthsharing ministries have been active for many years, and hundreds of thousands of members participate nationwide. Members have the advantage of more flexibility, as they can select healthcare services anywhere and choose their own physicians. Additionally, Liberty HealthShare's monthly contributions are often significantly lower than the high premiums and deductibles that come with some health insurance plans.
Your monthly financial contributions can help other Christians with their medical expenses, apart from a small administrative cost. Similarly, additional donations apply in full to members who have medical bills, making it a compassionate healthcare cost solution.
Liberty HealthShare has operated since 1995 and has earned Charity Navigator's highest four-star rating (Charity Navigator, 2025), as well as recognition from GuideStar and an accreditation from the Better Business Bureau — credentials that reflect the ministry's longstanding commitment to financial transparency, accountability, and stewardship.
The best medical cost-sharing programs include clear guidelines for pre-existing conditions, allowing members to anticipate and plan for their healthcare costs. Liberty HealthShare's Sharing Guidelines outline a defined framework: conditions that existed prior to membership are generally not shareable in the first year, may be eligible for sharing up to $50,000 in years two and three combined, and become fully shareable beginning in year four. Members are encouraged to review the full guidelines to understand how their personal health history applies to their specific program.
Although anyone can enroll, Christian healthsharing ministries have particular criteria for membership. Members of healthsharing programs should adhere to "biblical principles regarding the consumption of alcohol" and may not use tobacco or illegal narcotics. These programs also request and expect members to participate regularly in worship or prayer — it is a community built on shared faith, not just shared medical costs.
Members of faith-based medical cost-sharing ministries are supported by a Christian community that spans the country. This differs from health insurance plans, which are purchased on a state-by-state and county-by-county basis. Instead of being constrained by the communities physically close to you, medical cost-sharing ministries give you the opportunity to choose the community that best suits your needs and values.
At Liberty HealthShare, we provide Christian families and health-conscious individuals with an affordable healthcare solution by sharing the cost of each other's medical bills in a supportive, faith-centered environment. We are a Christian, membership-based, nonprofit — not an insurance company — that facilitates voluntary sharing among members. Learn more about how it works or explore our programs to find the right fit for you.