Who Benefits from Christian Health Sharing?

Different people have different healthcare needs. The truth is, traditional health insurance may not be right for everyone. Many Americans are discovering that they’re paying too much for health coverage they don’t want or need, while facing limited choices in where and from whom they get their care.

Frustrated with this lack of flexibility and choice, as well as rising costs, more Americans are turning to Christian health sharing. With a Christian health sharing program, members who share similar beliefs pool together to spread the cost of care across their entire membership, while making a commitment to live by Christian values and embrace healthy lifestyles. The result can mean hundreds of dollars in monthly savings.

Sounds great, doesn’t it? But how do you know if Christian health sharing is right for you? Faith-based health share programs can offer a viable option for a wide group of Americans, including these.

Independent Contractors and Gig Workers

Gig workers are professionals who earn money by completing one-time projects, or gigs, rather than receiving a regular income from an employer. They also represent a rapidly growing number of Americans. As of 2020, around 59 million people — roughly 36% of the U.S. workforce — participated in the gig economy¹.

While gig workers enjoy more freedom and flexibility in their work schedules, they don’t have employer-sponsored health plans. Many of them can’t afford to pay the rising costs of health insurance themselves. Faith-based health sharing plans give gig workers an affordable alternative to high-priced traditional health plans, while providing access to quality care and provider choice.

Entrepreneurs and the Self-Employed

Like gig workers, entrepreneurs and self-employed professionals do not have employer-sponsored health coverage to help cover healthcare costs. Which means, like gig workers, they’re required to pay for their health insurance out-of-pocket or go uncovered. Participating in a Christian health sharing program allows people who work for themselves to offset their healthcare costs without sacrificing quality of care or choice in providers.

Small Business Owners

Starting and running a small business is challenging enough. Add the cost of providing health benefits to employees, and succeeding in small business gets even harder. Without the same buying power as larger employers, small businesses can pay up to 18% more for the same health insurance plans for their staff². That’s an expense they simply can’t afford. For businesses with just a handful of employees, health sharing provides a lower-cost alternative to offering health benefits critical to attracting and retaining talent.

Veterans and Ex-Military

Many veterans and ex-military members are choosing Christian health sharing over traditional health insurance as well, for several reasons. In addition to lower costs, many faith-based health sharing programs have special programs that support service members, veterans and their families.

Veterans who participate in health sharing often find a community of fellow service members who support and understand their goals and challenges. Health sharing programs also offer wide networks that include providers who specialize in treating veterans, as well as access to mental health services.

Healthy Young Adults

Young adults are more likely to be uninsured compared with other Americans³. Faced with the high costs of traditional insurance plans, many young people choose to go uncovered. Health share programs provide an option for young adults who no longer qualify under their parents’ health insurance, and who don’t have employer-sponsored health plans.

Members who participate in faith-based health sharing programs agree not only to share medical costs, but to live healthy lifestyles that help keep medical expenses lower. This makes them an attractive alternative for the young and healthy, with healthcare coverage that better fits their needs and budgets.

Early Retirees

A recent study shows that 39% of Americans plan to retire before they turn 65⁴. These early retirees may find themselves looking for affordable healthcare coverage to fill the gap until Medicare kicks in. Traditional health insurance, however, can be prohibitively expensive, especially as people get older. For this reason, many early retirees are taking a closer look at faith-based health sharing programs as an affordable and flexible option for health coverage.

Not sure which group you fall into, or whether Christian health sharing is a viable option for you? Learn more about health share programs and their benefits for Americans of all stripes here.