Asked and answered.

Founded in 1995, Liberty HealthShare is a Christian non-profit healthcare sharing ministry in which fellow Christian members contribute monthly to help share into each other’s eligible medical expenses. We are not insurance; rather, we are a voluntary, community-driven approach built on shared values and mutual support, empowering like-minded members to help one another in times of need.

We are health-conscious individuals and families who choose to steward our health and share in one another’s medical needs and expenses. Our caring community serves one another in prayer, encouragement, and financial support. 

Liberty HealthShare members can expect to be a part of a caring, powerful Christian community that works together to make healthcare affordable for all. 

Becoming a member is simple. If you’ve decided that healthsharing is right for you, choose a program that fits your needs. Fill out an application, and our enrollment team will walk you through the rest of the membership process. 

Sharing begins on your Enrollment Activation Date, which is the official start of your membership once your application is approved and you are an Active Member in Good Standing, as defined in the Liberty HealthShare Sharing Guidelines. The timing for when expenses become eligible for sharing varies depending on your specific program.

For members in the Liberty Unite, Liberty Connect, and Liberty Essential programs, sharing generally begins on the activation date, but during the first two months, only expenses related to accidents, acute illnesses, or injuries are eligible for sharing. After this initial waiting period, other eligible medical expenses—such as doctor visits, wellness care, and preventative screenings—become shareable.

Exceptions include: 
•  Pre-existing Conditions. Sharing is limited to $50,000 in total for expenses incurred for a pre-existing condition during the second and third years of Membership. Pre-existing condition sharing limitations expire beginning with the 37th month of Membership.
•  Maternity. Sharing begins after at least (6) consecutive months of Membership with Liberty HealthShare immediately preceding conception.
•  Newborns. Sharing begins immediately so long as the newborn is added onto an existing Liberty HealthShare Membership within 60 days of the newborn’s date of birth.

Please see the Liberty HealthShare Sharing Guidelines for complete details about its sharing programs.

Sharing begins on your Enrollment Activation Date, which is the official start of your membership once your application is approved and you are an Active Member in Good Standing, as defined in the Liberty HealthShare Sharing Guidelines. The timing for when expenses become eligible for sharing varies depending on your specific program.

The Liberty Rise program, designed for members ages 18 to 29, also begins sharing on the activation date and follows a two-month waiting period for non-emergency needs.

The Liberty Assist program, available to members 65 and older who are also enrolled in Medicare Parts A & B, begins sharing immediately with no waiting period.

The Liberty Freedom program, available for members 35 years of age or younger, begins sharing immediately with no waiting period.

Exceptions include:
•  Cancer Care. Sharing begins after the 12th consecutive month of Liberty Freedom Membership.

Please see the Liberty HealthShare Sharing Guidelines for complete details about its sharing programs.

Sharing begins on your Enrollment Activation Date, which is the official start of your membership once your application is approved and you are an Active Member in Good Standing, as defined in the Liberty HealthShare Sharing Guidelines. The timing for when expenses become eligible for sharing varies depending on your specific program.

The Liberty Dental and Liberty Vision programs begin sharing on the first of the month following enrollment and have no two-month waiting period. Preventive dental care—such as routine cleanings and exams—is shareable right away, while major dental procedures become eligible after twelve months of continuous membership. Vision sharing begins immediately for eye exams and eyewear provided by licensed professionals.

Please see the Liberty HealthShare Sharing Guidelines for complete details about its sharing programs.

Transparency and accountability are of paramount importance to us as a ministry. We are blessed to have received a “Four-Star” rating from Charity Navigator, as well as a “GuideStar Gold Seal” three years straight from Candid, ranking us among the nation’s best non-profits for transparency and accountability. Members receive SharePower numbers each month, receive sharing updates in their ShareBox, and have access to our yearly IRS Forms 990 and annual audits.  

While many providers are willing to work with healthcare sharing ministries, the reality is that some providers will not. Our partnership with the PHCS network gives our members access to more than 900,000 providers across the country, but even if your preferred provider is not a participating provider you can ask them to work with Liberty HealthShare. By utilizing HST Connect you can search for providers in your area who will work with Liberty HealthShare.  

Long considered the country’s most comprehensive healthshare, we are one of the largest healthshares by member volume. However, that does not guarantee that your provider will know about healthsharing. If they don’t – let them know! We can also speak to your provider if they call 855-585-4237.

Liberty HealthShare is a healthcare sharing ministry and does not have owners. As a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, Liberty HealthShare is not owned by private individuals or investors, and there are no shareholders who receive profits or dividends. The ministry is governed by a volunteer board of directors and is accountable to its members and the public through financial disclosures and annual audits.

Yes, Liberty HealthShare meets all the requirements of a healthcare sharing ministry set forth in the ACA (26 U.S.C. § 5000A(d)(2)(B)(ii)). On March 31, 2014, the United States Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) determined that Liberty HealthShare had complied with the standards specified in the ACA (26 U.S.C. § 5000A(d)(2)(B)(ii)) and would be considered a healthcare sharing ministry under the ACA (Subpart G of 45 C.F.R. part 155). Liberty HealthShare is one of a limited number of healthcare sharing ministries to have received this federal recognition.

Yes.

• Federal level: Members of Liberty HealthShare are exempt from the ACA’s Shared Responsibility Payment (individual mandate penalty). Currently, the federal tax penalty for not having health insurance is $0.

• State level: Some jurisdictions (California, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia) have implemented their own individual mandates and tax penalties for not having health insurance. Members of Liberty HealthShare are exempt from these state-level tax penalties as well. 

You can cancel at any time. If you want to cancel, you should notify Liberty HealthShare of your cancellation (verbally by phone, electronically, or in writing), including the reason for cancellation, by the 25th day of the month, prior to the month in which your sharing contributions will end. If membership cancellation occurs 30 days or more after your Enrollment Date, the membership enrollment dues will not be refunded. 

You can contact Liberty HealthShare through the Member Services team via phone at 855-585-4237, by email at info@libertyhealthshare.org, or by logging into your ShareBox account and submitting a request. 

Personal information, such as your address, phone number, or email, can be updated through your ShareBox account. Simply log in and navigate to the settings or profile section to make changes. 

ShareBox is an online portal where members can manage their accounts, submit medical bills, make monthly contributions, view sharing activity, and access other important information related to their membership. 

You can access your ShareBox account by visiting the Liberty HealthShare website and clicking on the “Membership Login” link in the top-most menu. Enter your username and password to log in. 

 When you call Liberty HealthShare during our business hours you will always be able to speak to a real human from our center of operations in northeast Ohio. If you happen to call outside of business hours and have to leave a message, the same knowledge and personable team of real people will call you back. 

Yes! Liberty HealthShare’s mission of following the biblical mandate to share one another’s burdens can be taken up by those who wish to offer financial support but who are not members. Contributions by those who are not members may even be tax deductible. Learn more about donations here.

No two individuals or families are alike, and our robust healthsharing programs are designed with that in mind. Determining which sharing program is right for you depends on what your needs are. Your best next step would be to take our 3-minute quiz which will give you 1-3 program suggestions or to contact our sales team to speak with an expert and find the best avenue for you to embrace healthcare freedom with Liberty HealthShare! Schedule a phone call here.

Contributions can be made monthly through your ShareBox account, where you can set up automatic withdrawals or make one-time payments. 

Suggested member monthly sharing contributions to Liberty HealthShare are not tax-deductible as they are not donations, but rather contributions to a healthsharing ministry. Although, amounts members contribute in excess of their suggested monthly sharing contributions may be tax deductible.  In addition, contributions by those who are not members of Liberty HealthShare may be tax deductible.  Please consult your tax advisor for tax advice concerning any contributions to Liberty HealthShare. Learn more about donations here.

If you are unable to make your monthly contribution, please contact our Member Services team as soon as possible. We understand that unexpected situations arise, and we are here to support our members. 

Yes, members can choose to give more than their suggested monthly contribution if they wish to support the community further. 

Eligible expenses include medical costs for illnesses, injuries, and other health-related needs that are consistent with our Sharing Guidelines. 

Provider Submissions: Liberty HealthShare encourages its members to present their Membership ID Cards to their providers so that the providers may submit the members’ medical expenses electronically directly to Liberty HealthShare for review and processing in accordance with Liberty HealthShare’s Sharing Guidelines. Find instructions for your provider to follow here in addition to access to our provider helpline at 855-585-4237.

Member Submissions: Alternatively, members may request and obtain itemized billing statements from their providers in the form of HCFA-1500 or UB-04 standard industry billing forms and then submit their medical bills through their online ShareBox accounts for review and processing in accordance with Liberty HealthShare’s Sharing Guidelines. 

Timely Filing Requirement: Please note that all Eligible Medical Expenses must be submitted for sharing within 180 days of the date of service, in the manner and form specified by Liberty HealthShare, in order to be considered for sharing.

After your medical bills are submitted and approved, we strive to facilitate sharing between 30-45 days. The timeline can vary depending on the complexity of the bill and the availability of funds. 

After a bill has been submitted and determined eligible for sharing, our cost containment vendor reprices medical bills to the Fair and Reasonable amount. This system works best when providers submit bills electronically directly to Liberty HealthShare. While members can submit their bills themselves through their ShareBox, it is best when members utilize a provider who participates in the Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS) network, thereby streamlining the sharing process and reducing the likelihood of a balance bill. Once the eligible bill is repriced, Liberty HealthShare then facilitates the sharing of funds between members. 

If your medical need exceeds the amount available for sharing, the community may rally to support you through additional voluntary contributions or special assistance programs. Alternatively, the sharing of your medical bill may be delayed until sharing funds become available.