Exploring an Alternative to Marketplace Health Insurance During Marketplace Open Enrollment

Open enrollment for Affordable Care Act marketplace plans runs from November 1, 2026, through January 15, 2027, in most states. For many households, this year's review starts from a higher baseline. After enhanced premium tax credits expired at the end of 2025, the average monthly premium payment net of tax credits rose 58% in 2026, from $113 to $178, according to KFF.

If you're weighing your options this season, you may be hearing about healthcare sharing for the first time.

Why Many Households Are Taking a Second Look

Higher health insurance premiums weren't the only change in 2026. The average marketplace deductible grew by more than $1,000 to a record $3,786, and their bronze plans rose from 30% to 40% of sign-ups as shoppers moved to lower-premium, higher-deductible options. About 23 million people signed up during the 2026 marketplace open enrollment period, more than a million fewer than the year before.

Healthcare sharing is one alternative that has grown over the past decade and a half. About 1.5 million Americans take part in healthcare sharing ministries today, up from fewer than 200,000 in 2010, according to MinistryWatch.

What Healthcare Sharing Is, and What It Isn't

Healthcare sharing isn't health insurance. A healthcare sharing ministry is a community of members with common ethical or religious beliefs who help one another with eligible medical expenses. Each member voluntarily contributes a suggested monthly share amount, and eligible expenses may then be shared among members, who give voluntarily according to the ministry's published Sharing Guidelines.

Liberty HealthShare is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) Christian healthcare sharing ministry based in Canton, Ohio. It began in 1995, when five families from a small Mennonite church in rural Virginia agreed to help one another with medical bills. It now serves members nationwide.

"We just want to help our members get the best care possible at the best value," Chief Executive Officer Dorsey Morrow said.

What to Understand Before Joining

Before you join, keep these points in mind:

• Read the Sharing Guidelines. They explain which medical expenses are eligible for sharing and how the process works.
• Compare Sharing Programs. Sharing programs vary. All sharing programs include an Annual Unshared Amount (AUA), while only some have Co-Share percentages. To view our sharing programs, visit our website.
• Check how pre-existing conditions are shared. Since sharing programs vary, pre-existing conditions may be ineligible for sharing or subject to waiting periods. Our pre-existing conditions section of our Sharing Guidelines explain this subject in more detail.
• Plan ahead for maternity. If you hope to grow your family, review the maternity Sharing Guidelines under the Liberty Unite, Liberty Connect, or Liberty Essential Sharing Guidelines carefully. Timing requirements apply.
• Stay engaged. Morrow compares healthcare to a car: people keep up with maintenance on a car because they've put money into it, but many sign up for healthcare and then stop paying attention. "You want to be more proactive to understand the options that are out there," he said.
  

How Liberty HealthShare's Programs Are Structured

Liberty HealthShare has six medical expense-sharing programs for different ages and budgets, along with optional dental and vision sharing programs. Liberty Rise is built for young adults ages 18-29. Liberty Essential, Liberty Connect, and Liberty Unite are the ministry's most popular options for individuals and families. Liberty Freedom is also available for individuals 35 and younger, and Liberty Assist serves members 65 and older who are enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B.

Suggested monthly share amounts range from $87 to $362 for individuals, with family memberships starting at $319. Most programs include sharing eligibility for urgent care and mental wellness telehealth visits, along with prescription drug discounts. For more information about our Sharing Programs, please explore our programs, learn how it works, or call us at 855-585-4237 ext 2120.

Members can see any provider they choose, and they use the ShareBox online portal and mobile app to submit medical bills and track their sharing history.

Liberty HealthShare has lowered medical costs for members several times over the past two years. In 2026, it reduced family share amounts in its three most popular programs by an average of 16%, reduced Co-Share percentages, and returned more than $2 million to members.

Enrollment Isn't Limited to a Season

Marketplace plans generally limit enrollment to the open enrollment window unless you qualify for a special enrollment period. You can join Liberty HealthShare at any point in the year, and you won't need a qualifying life event to do it.

That means there's no deadline pushing your decision. Take the time you need to read the Sharing Guidelines and compare programs, and reach out to our team with questions along the way.

Is Healthcare Sharing Right for You?

As you consider your options this season, ask yourself:

• Do I share the Christian values at the heart of a sharing community?
• Am I comfortable taking an active role in managing my medical expenses?
• Have I read the Sharing Guidelines and understood what is and isn't eligible for sharing?
• Which program fits my household's age, needs, and budget?

To explore further, see How It Works, review the requirements for joining Liberty HealthShare, or compare Liberty HealthShare's programs.