Christian Health Sharing
Explore faith-based health sharing programs that may share eligible medical expenses according to membership guidelines.
Explore health sharing
- Independent Agency
- Multiple Carriers
- Licensed Advisors
- Ongoing Support
Start with what you need
Three needs. Three different options.
Start with the need you want to address, then explore the option designed for that area. Each section below explains how the program works and what to consider before you decide.
Dental + Vision Savings
Explore a membership discount program designed to help reduce participating dental and vision costs.
Explore dental + visionFuneral Plan
Plan ahead for funeral and related needs with services designed to help families prepare before those needs arise.
Explore the funeral planChristian health sharing
Explore the Christian health sharing options we offer
Healthcare is personal, and some individuals and families want to explore an option outside of traditional health insurance. Christian Health Sharing is a faith-based membership approach where members contribute monthly amounts that may be used to help share eligible medical expenses according to the organization’s guidelines.
At the Assurance Network, we offer OneShare Health, Medi-Share, and Impact Health Sharing. Each option works differently, so it is important to understand more than the monthly contribution.
As you explore the options below, you can compare member responsibility, provider access, doctor visits, preventive care, telehealth, prescriptions, pre-existing conditions, maternity, and sharing limits.
Our goal is to help you understand how each option works, what questions to ask, and what to expect before joining a program.
How health sharing works
- 1Join
- 2Contribute
- 3Receive Care
- 4Bill Review
- 5Eligible Sharing
Important: Christian Health Sharing is not health insurance. Eligible medical expenses are shared according to each organization’s membership guidelines, and sharing is not guaranteed.
The programs we offer
Three health sharing options
Option 1
OneShare Health
OneShare Health offers Christian health care sharing through multiple program levels. Depending on the selected program, members can review differences in member responsibility, eligible services, visit allowances, preventive care, telemedicine, maternity, and sharing limits.
Read about OneShareOption 2
Medi-Share
Medi-Share uses an Annual Household Portion (AHP) and a Christian community-sharing model. Members can compare provider access, office-visit costs, telehealth, maternity, prescriptions, and the guidelines that determine when medical expenses may be eligible for sharing.
Read about Medi-ShareOption 3
Impact Health Sharing
Impact Health Sharing uses a household Primary Responsibility Amount (PRA), followed by a member co-share for eligible medical expenses. Members can also review provider access, preventive care, telehealth, prescriptions, maternity, and current sharing limits.
Read about ImpactSee how the options differ
The monthly contribution is only one part of the picture. Use the comparison below to look more closely at member responsibility, provider access, doctor visits, preventive care, telehealth, prescriptions, pre-existing conditions, maternity, sharing limits, and other features that may matter when you need care.
| What to Compare | OneShare Health – Classic | Medi-Share Complete | Impact Health Sharing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Member Responsibility | ISA: $5,000 / $7,500 / $10,000 per member. | AHP: $3,000 / $6,000 / $9,000 / $12,000 per household. | PRA: $2,500 / $5,000 / $7,500 / $10,000 per household; $1,000 option for age 65+. |
| After Responsibility Is Met | Eligible expenses are shared according to the selected Classic tier, ISA and program limits. | Eligible bills may be shared under Complete guidelines after applicable AHP requirements. | Member pays 10% co-share; 90% is published for sharing. Household co-share limit is $5,000/year. |
| Provider Access | First Health Network. Out-of-network providers may be used, but additional sharing responsibility can apply. | PPO network with provider rules under the Complete program. | No provider-network restriction; members may use providers nationwide, subject to guidelines. |
| Primary Care | Classic tiers currently include 1, 3 or 5 PCP visits/year with a $40 visit fee, depending on tier. | Office/hospital visits follow the current Complete provider-fee and AHP structure. | $50 provider fee for primary-care visits; provider fees do not count toward PRA. |
| Specialists | Classic Crown includes specialist visits with a $75 visit fee; Basic and Enhanced differ. | Specialist care follows Complete eligibility, provider-fee and AHP rules. | $75 provider fee for specialist visits. |
| Urgent / Emergency Care | Urgent-care eligibility varies by tier. ER expenses under $10,000 use a visit fee; $10,000+ is subject to ISA. | Emergency and other eligible medical expenses follow Complete provider-fee and AHP rules. | $75 urgent-care provider fee; $150 emergency-room provider fee. |
| Preventive / Wellness | After a 180-day waiting period, preventive services and one wellness visit are currently shared up to $1,500/member/program year. | Complete includes annual physical/wellness support with limited labs or applicable program alternatives, subject to guidelines. | Annual wellness visit has a $0 provider fee; preventive services and lab allowances follow current guidelines. |
| Telehealth | Virtual urgent care: $0 visit fee / 100% shared under current Classic terms. | 24/7 telehealth access. | Virtual telehealth: $0 provider fee. |
| Hospital / Surgery | Eligible after ISA, subject to selected tier’s per-incident sharing maximum and other rules. | Hospital, surgical and other eligible medical expenses are available for sharing under Complete guidelines. | Eligible hospital/treatment expenses are subject to PRA, provider fees, co-share and guidelines. |
| Prescriptions | Prescription discount program; discount services are separate from sharing and vary by state. | Prescription discounts are among member perks; sharing eligibility follows current guidelines. | Eligible prescriptions follow Impact’s prescription rules, PRA and sharing limits. |
| Pre-Existing Conditions | Waiting periods and pre-existing-condition limitations apply; review the current Member Guidebook. | Pre-existing-condition sharing is limited and phased under Medi-Share guidelines. | Pre-existing-condition limitations apply under Impact’s current guidelines. |
| Maternity | Classic Crown includes maternity after ISA with published limits; Basic and Enhanced do not include maternity sharing. | Maternity care is included in Complete subject to eligibility and guideline requirements. | Maternity is eligible subject to waiting/eligibility rules, PRA and co-share. |
| Sharing Limits | Per-incident maximums: $150,000 / $250,000 / $500,000 by tier; $1,000,000 lifetime maximum. | Limits and exceptions are governed by current Medi-Share Complete guidelines. | Current summary guidelines state a $500,000 annual sharing cap per member. |
Important: Health care sharing is not health insurance. Sharing is not guaranteed and is governed by each organization’s current membership guidelines. Features, fees, limits and eligibility may change. Review current program documents before enrollment.
Dental + vision savings
Dental & vision discount plans: a different way to save on care
Dental and vision expenses can add up quickly, especially when coverage is not available through an employer or when a traditional policy does not fit what you are looking for. The Assurance Network offers a dental discount option that also includes vision savings, giving individuals and families another way to plan for routine and unexpected care.
With a discount plan, you are not waiting for an insurance company to pay a claim. You use participating providers, receive the contracted discount available through the plan, and pay the provider directly. The value is in the negotiated savings and immediate access to the program rather than an insurance benefit payment.
Dental Savings
1Dental members can access participating-provider discounts on services ranging from routine cleanings to crowns, root canals, dentures, orthodontia and other recognized dental procedures. Actual savings vary by provider, location and service.
Vision Discounts
The Aetna Dental Access option offered through 1Dental includes EyeMed vision discounts, including savings on eyewear and contact lenses at participating locations.
Use It Without Claims
There are no insurance claims to file with the discount program. Members pay the discounted fee directly to participating providers at the time of service.
Dental discount plan vs. traditional dental insurance
Both can help with dental costs, but they work very differently. This comparison is designed to help you understand the basic structure before deciding what you want to explore.
| What to Compare | 1Dental Discount Plan | Traditional Dental Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| How It Works | You purchase a membership and receive contracted discounts from participating providers. | You purchase an insurance policy that pays or reimburses covered services according to the policy. |
| Who Pays the Dentist | You pay the participating provider directly at the discounted rate. | The insurer may pay part of a covered claim, while you pay deductibles, copays or coinsurance depending on the policy. |
| Waiting Periods | Current 1Dental materials state there are no waiting periods for plan use. | Some dental insurance policies have waiting periods for certain basic or major services; terms vary by plan. |
| Deductibles & Annual Maximums | The discount plan does not use traditional insurance deductibles or annual benefit maximums. | Many policies include a deductible and an annual benefit maximum; amounts vary by insurer and plan. |
| Pre-Existing Dental Needs | 1Dental states pre-existing conditions are included, subject to participating-provider discounts and plan terms. | Coverage rules for existing dental needs vary by policy, service and waiting-period provisions. |
| Provider Access | Discounts apply through participating plan providers; non-participating providers do not receive the plan discount. | Insurance plans may use PPO, HMO or other network structures, with different costs for in- and out-of-network care. |
| Cosmetic & Non-Covered Services | Recognized services at participating providers may receive a discount according to the provider’s contracted fee schedule. | Cosmetic services are commonly excluded or limited under dental insurance, though policy terms vary. |
| Vision | Certain 1Dental options include EyeMed vision discounts for participating services and products. | Vision is usually offered through a separate vision policy or employer benefit rather than standard dental insurance. |
When might someone explore a discount plan?
Someone may look at a dental discount plan if they do not have employer dental benefits, want a program they can use without filing claims, need access to discounts for services their insurance does not cover, or want dental and vision savings in one membership. The important step is to verify that the dentist or vision provider participates and to compare the discounted fee with any other coverage you already have.
Important: 1Dental is a discount membership program, not dental or vision insurance. The plan does not pay providers directly. Members are responsible for payment and receive available discounts from participating providers. Actual discounts and provider participation vary.
Funeral plan
Support for today. Peace of mind for tomorrow.
Funeral planning is about more than paying for a service. Families may need to make decisions about transportation, funeral-home arrangements, cremation or burial, documents, travel and who to call, often at a very difficult time. A funeral assistance plan creates an established process before the need arises.
The Assurance Network partners with Assure For Life, which offers funeral assistance memberships designed to help families coordinate covered funeral-related services and certain travel or transportation needs according to the membership terms.
Funeral Assistance
Assure For Life coordinates covered funeral-related services through licensed funeral providers, including services such as transportation of the deceased, preparation, viewing, standard casket or urn, and other covered arrangements depending on the selected option and location.
Travel & Transportation Support
Certain memberships include transportation of the deceased within covered areas, transfer to a covered country of origin, and a round-trip economy airline ticket for the primary member in qualifying circumstances.
24/7 Funeral Emergency Support
Assure For Life provides a funeral emergency line and support designed to guide families through covered arrangements during the time of need.
Funeral assistance plan vs. traditional final expense or life insurance
Both can be part of planning ahead, but they solve the problem in different ways. One focuses on arranging and providing covered services; the other generally provides money to a beneficiary.
| What to Compare | Assure For Life Funeral Assistance | Traditional Final Expense / Life Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Purpose | Provides access to funeral-related assistance and covered services through the membership program. | Provides a cash death benefit to the named beneficiary when a covered insured dies. |
| What the Family Receives | Coordination of covered funeral services and payment of certain covered expenses according to the membership terms. | A beneficiary generally receives money and decides how to use it, subject to the insurance policy and claim approval. |
| Funeral Arrangements | The program assists with arranging covered services through its network of licensed funeral providers. | The family or beneficiary generally makes funeral arrangements independently and may use insurance proceeds toward those costs. |
| Travel / Transportation | Certain membership options include specified transportation of the deceased and qualifying travel support within covered areas. | Standard life or final expense insurance usually provides a cash benefit rather than funeral transportation or coordination services. |
| Cash Flexibility | The membership is service-focused; it is not a cash death-benefit policy. | Insurance proceeds can generally be used by the beneficiary for funeral costs, debts, household expenses or other needs. |
| Cemetery Costs | Assure For Life states cemetery expenses are not covered in the United States, Washington D.C. or Puerto Rico under its National Option. | A beneficiary may choose to use insurance proceeds toward cemetery expenses, subject to the available death benefit. |
| How Eligibility Works | Eligibility, covered members, geographic areas and included services are governed by the membership terms. | Eligibility, premiums, underwriting or guaranteed-issue rules, exclusions and benefit amounts are governed by the insurance policy. |
| What Happens at Time of Need | The family contacts the assistance program so covered services can be coordinated according to membership terms. | The beneficiary files a death claim with the insurer and separately coordinates funeral arrangements. |
Why some families like having a service plan in place
When a death occurs, the practical questions can come quickly: Which funeral home should we call? How will transportation be arranged? What documents are needed? What happens if the person dies away from home? A funeral assistance membership is designed to give the family an established point of contact and a defined process for covered needs rather than starting from zero during a difficult moment.
Important: Assure For Life is not an insurance policy and does not sell funeral services or merchandise directly. It provides funeral assistance through third parties and pays certain covered expenses according to the membership terms. Services, geographic availability, age limits, exclusions and other conditions vary by membership.
Related insurance resources
Keep exploring your coverage options
Insurance alternatives are designed for specific needs and are not interchangeable with comprehensive insurance. If you are comparing traditional coverage as well, these resources can help you continue your research.
Request a Consultation
Talk with the Assurance Network about the options you want to compare.
Learn moreBased in Virginia and serving clients in multiple states. The Assurance Network offers phone, virtual, and in-home consultations where available. Program availability and eligibility vary by state and provider.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about insurance alternatives
These are some of the questions people commonly ask when comparing health sharing, dental and vision discount plans, and funeral assistance.
What is Christian Health Sharing?
Christian Health Sharing is a faith-based membership approach in which members contribute monthly amounts that may be used to share eligible medical expenses under an organization’s membership guidelines. It is not health insurance, and sharing is not guaranteed.
How do OneShare Health, Medi-Share, and Impact Health Sharing differ?
They differ in areas such as member responsibility, provider access, office-visit fees, preventive care, telehealth, prescriptions, maternity, pre-existing-condition provisions, and sharing limits. The comparison table on this page highlights many of those differences.
Is Christian Health Sharing the same as health insurance?
No. Health care sharing programs are membership arrangements rather than insurance policies. Eligible medical expenses are reviewed and shared according to each organization’s current guidelines.
How does a dental discount plan work?
A dental discount plan gives members access to negotiated discounts from participating providers. The member pays the provider directly at the discounted rate rather than filing an insurance claim for the plan to pay.
Is 1Dental dental or vision insurance?
No. 1Dental is a discount membership program, not dental or vision insurance. Certain options include dental discounts and EyeMed vision discounts at participating providers.
What is the difference between a dental discount plan and dental insurance?
A discount plan reduces participating-provider fees and does not pay claims. Traditional dental insurance may use premiums, deductibles, annual benefit maximums, networks, waiting periods, and claims, depending on the policy.
What is a funeral assistance plan?
A funeral assistance plan is a service-focused membership designed to help coordinate specified funeral-related services and covered expenses according to program terms. It is different from a life insurance policy that pays a cash death benefit to a beneficiary.
How is funeral assistance different from final expense life insurance?
Funeral assistance generally focuses on arranging and providing covered services. Final expense or other life insurance generally pays a cash death benefit to a beneficiary, who can then decide how to use the proceeds.
Can the Assurance Network help me compare these options?
Yes. The Assurance Network can explain how the options offered through the agency work, the questions to ask, and important differences to review before you decide whether to enroll.
The Assurance Network difference
Understand your options before you decide.
You should not have to sort through costs, eligibility, provider participation, program guidelines, limitations and exclusions alone. We help explain what an option is designed to do, what it does not do, and the questions worth asking before you enroll.
- Independent Agency
- Multiple Options
- Licensed Advisors
- Education First
- In-Home, Phone & Virtual
Not sure which direction to explore?
Tell us what you’re trying to accomplish, and we’ll help you understand the available options.
Educational information only. Program availability, costs, eligibility, discounts, assistance services, limitations and guidelines may change. Review current program documents before making an enrollment decision.