Health Coverage Aligned With Your Faith
Medi-Share is a Christian health sharing ministry that offers a community-based alternative to traditional health insurance — and we help faith-aligned individuals, families, and self-employed adults in Florida and Georgia understand exactly how it works before they decide if it is right for them.
A health sharing ministry is not insurance. It is a faith-based model in which members voluntarily share each other's eligible medical costs — pooling resources through a structured program governed by shared Christian values rather than a state-regulated insurance contract.
Medi-Share is one of the largest and longest-running health sharing ministries in the United States. Members submit eligible medical bills to the program, and those costs are shared among the member community according to Medi-Share's published sharing guidelines. Members pay a monthly share amount and a member responsibility amount — similar in concept to a premium and a deductible, though neither term is technically accurate under the health sharing model.
Because Medi-Share is not insurance, it is not subject to the same regulatory framework as ACA marketplace plans or traditional carrier coverage. That distinction matters, and we explain it fully before any enrollment conversation moves forward.
What Is a Health Sharing Ministry?
A health sharing ministry is not insurance. It is a faith-based model in which members voluntarily share each other's eligible medical costs — pooling resources through a structured program governed by shared Christian values rather than a state-regulated insurance contract.
Medi-Share is one of the largest and longest-running health sharing ministries in the United States. Members submit eligible medical bills to the program, and those costs are shared among the member community according to Medi-Share's published sharing guidelines. Members pay a monthly share amount and a member responsibility amount — similar in concept to a premium and a deductible, though neither term is technically accurate under the health sharing model.
Because Medi-Share is not insurance, it is not subject to the same regulatory framework as ACA marketplace plans or traditional carrier coverage. That distinction matters, and we explain it fully before any enrollment conversation moves forward.
Who Is Medi-Share Designed For?
Medi-Share is a strong fit for a specific profile — and a poor fit for others. We help prospective members evaluate both sides honestly.
Medi-Share tends to work well for:
- Faith-aligned individuals and families who can affirm a statement of Christian faith and lifestyle
- Self-employed adults and sole proprietors in Florida or Georgia who want an alternative to ACA marketplace premiums
- Small business owners exploring faith-based options for themselves or a group of like-minded employees
- Healthy adults without complex ongoing medical needs who are comfortable with a sharing model rather than guaranteed coverage
- Individuals who want lower monthly costs and are willing to take on a higher member responsibility amount in exchange
Medi-Share is generally not the right fit for individuals with significant pre-existing conditions, those who cannot meet the lifestyle statement requirements, or anyone who needs the coverage guarantees and regulatory protections that come with a licensed insurance product.
We present this clearly — because a client who enrolls in the wrong product is not a client we have served well.
What Medi-Share Does Not Cover — and Why That Transparency Matters
The health sharing model includes limitations that every prospective member should understand before joining. Pre-existing conditions are typically subject to waiting periods before they become eligible for sharing. Certain medical services may fall outside Medi-Share's sharing guidelines entirely. And because sharing is voluntary among members, it does not carry the same guarantees as a licensed insurance policy.
We walk through Medi-Share's sharing guidelines, eligible medical needs, and member responsibility amounts in full during every consultation. Our goal is informed enrollment — so clients understand the model completely before they commit, and there are no surprises when a medical need arises.
If Medi-Share is not the right fit after that conversation, we have traditional ACA marketplace options and off-exchange plans to compare against it.
Medi-Share vs. Traditional Health Insurance — Compared Side by Side
One of the most common questions we hear is whether Medi-Share is a good alternative to health insurance for a self-employed individual or small business owner. The honest answer is: it depends on your health history, your faith alignment, your budget, and your risk tolerance.
We help clients compare Medi-Share alongside traditional plan options across four dimensions: monthly cost, member responsibility amount versus deductible structure, eligible medical needs versus covered benefits, and lifestyle requirements versus open enrollment eligibility. That side-by-side context gives prospective members a clear picture of what they are choosing between — not just a sales pitch for one product over another.
How We Help You Evaluate Medi-Share
We consult — we do not sell. That means our role in a Medi-Share conversation is to help you understand the model, assess whether you qualify, and compare it honestly against the alternatives available to you in Florida or Georgia.
Here is what that process looks like:
Step 1: Understanding Your Situation
We start with your health history, your current coverage (or lack of it), your budget, and your faith alignment. This gives us the context to know whether Medi-Share belongs in the conversation at all.
Step 2: Explaining the Medi-Share Model
We walk through how sharing works, what the member responsibility amount means in practice, which medical needs are eligible for sharing, and where the program's limitations fall. No glossing over the fine print.
Step 3: Side-by-Side Comparison
We place Medi-Share alongside the traditional plan options available to you — ACA marketplace plans, off-exchange coverage, or group options if applicable — so you can compare total cost, benefit structure, and eligibility requirements before making a decision.
Step 4: Enrollment Support
If Medi-Share is the right fit, we guide you through the enrollment process and make sure you understand your member responsibilities from day one.
Medi-Share and the Law: Why Health Sharing Ministries Operate Outside Insurance Regulations
Medi-Share is administered by Christian Care Ministry, a nonprofit organization founded in 1993 and based in Melbourne, Florida. The program has facilitated the sharing of billions of dollars in medical costs among its member community — making it one of the most established faith-based health sharing programs in the country. Members are required to affirm a statement of Christian faith and agree to a set of lifestyle guidelines as a condition of participation. Monthly share amounts are based on factors such as household size and the member responsibility amount selected — a structure that functions similarly to a deductible in traditional insurance, though the two are not legally equivalent.
It is also worth knowing that health sharing ministries like Medi-Share are specifically exempt from insurance regulations under federal law and in most states, including Florida and Georgia. That exemption is what allows the model to exist — and it is also why prospective members should understand clearly what protections they are and are not receiving before they enroll.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions About Medi-Share
What is Medi-Share health sharing?
Medi-Share is a Christian health sharing ministry in which members voluntarily share each other's eligible medical costs. It is not insurance and is not regulated as such. Members pay a monthly share amount and a member responsibility amount, and eligible medical bills are shared among the member community according to Medi-Share's published guidelines.Is Medi-Share a good alternative to health insurance?
For the right person, yes. Medi-Share can offer lower monthly costs than ACA marketplace plans for healthy, faith-aligned individuals who meet the lifestyle requirements and are comfortable with the sharing model's structure and limitations. For individuals with pre-existing conditions, complex medical needs, or who cannot meet the lifestyle statement requirements, a traditional insurance plan is likely the better fit. We help you evaluate both options side by side.What are the lifestyle requirements for Medi-Share membership?
Medi-Share members are required to affirm a statement of Christian faith and attest to a lifestyle consistent with Christian values — including abstaining from tobacco use and illegal drug use, among other requirements. Specific requirements are outlined in Medi-Share's membership guidelines, and we review them with prospective members during the consultation process.Can self-employed individuals in Georgia or Florida use Medi-Share?
Yes. Medi-Share is available to self-employed adults and sole proprietors who meet the faith and lifestyle requirements. It is one of the options we discuss with self-employed clients in Florida and Georgia who are looking for alternatives to ACA marketplace premiums — particularly those who do not qualify for significant premium tax credits.Does Medi-Share cover pre-existing conditions?
Pre-existing conditions are subject to waiting periods before they become eligible for sharing under Medi-Share's guidelines. The specifics depend on the condition and the length of time since treatment. We explain how pre-existing conditions are handled in full before any enrollment decision is made.Is Medi-Share regulated like health insurance?
No. Because Medi-Share is a health sharing ministry and not a licensed insurance product, it is not subject to state insurance regulation or the consumer protections that apply to ACA marketplace and other regulated plans. This is an important distinction, and we make sure every prospective member understands it clearly before joining.
Ready to See If Medi-Share Is the Right Fit?
We serve individuals, families, and self-employed adults across Florida and Georgia — and Medi-Share is one of several options we bring to the table when it fits the client's profile. If you are curious whether a Christian health sharing plan belongs in your coverage conversation, we are glad to walk through it with you.
