Frequently Asked Questions

Healthcare sharing is a modern alternative to traditional health insurance. Instead of paying premiums to an insurance company, members voluntarily make a monthly contribution to help share the eligible medical expenses of other members in the community. It's a not-for-profit, member-to-member approach to managing health care expenses.

Traditional insurance is a contract. You pay a premium and the insurer is legally obligated to pay covered claims. Healthcare sharing works differently — members voluntarily participate by making monthly contributions that help share eligible medical bills among members. Members may benefit from potentially lower monthly costs, more flexibility, and a community built around shared responsibility rather than profit.

No. Healthcare sharing organizations are not insurance companies and are not regulated as insurance in most states. Many states require health share ministries to publish a specific disclosure explaining this distinction, which WeShare Health provides for the states where it's required. This is also why healthcare sharing can't legally promise or guarantee that a bill will be shared — sharing is voluntary, member to member.

Healthcare sharing has existed for decades and has grown to an estimated 2+ million Americans currently participating. It's a well-established option for people seeking an alternative to traditional health insurance. It may be a good fit for individuals who are self-employed, between jobs, or looking for a potentially more affordable option.

Healthcare sharing is for anyone frustrated by rising premiums who want a more affordable, flexible option. Some members are self-employed, gig workers, small business owners, freelancers, and people between jobs. One thing we all have in common is shared community values and a desire to live a healthy lifestyle. It's not the right fit for everyone, which is why we encourage you to read through this FAQ, program brochures and discuss any concerns with our healthsharing experts.

WeShare Health is a non-profit healthcare sharing community that helps members manage eligible medical expenses through funds voluntarily contributed by members of the community. As a community built around shared Christian values, WeShare Health offers programs designed to help members access care while supporting one another through life's health needs.

Yes. WeShare Health operates as a non-profit healthcare sharing ministry. Because there are no shareholders to pay or profits to maximize, member contributions go toward the mission of helping each other's eligible medical needs and keeping the program affordable and sustainable.

WeShare Health combines an established PPO network of more than 1 million doctors and specialists with pre-negotiated prescription pricing, telehealth, mental health support, and wellness benefits — all built around a straightforward, member-first mission. Our goal is to make the experience feel more like a modern healthcare sharing program and less like an unfamiliar workaround.

WeShare Health offers a few program options — including WeShare Essential, WeShare Enhanced, WeShare Premier, and WeShare Senior — each with different monthly contribution levels and Annual Member Care Share (AMCS) amounts (similar to a deductible) to fit different budgets and health needs. Speaking with a WeShare healthsharing expert can help you compare options and find the right fit for your household.

You can call our team or apply online to start the application process. Our healthcare sharing experts will walk you through eligibility, program options, and pricing so you can make an informed decision before enrolling. There is an application fee of $149.

WeShare Health is designed for individuals and families who are willing to maintain a proactive, healthy lifestyle and who agree with WeShare Health's community guidelines and shared values. Eligibility also depends on the state you live in and the specific program you're applying for. Residents of Alaska, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Montana, North Dakota or Washington are not eligible.

WeShare Health is a selective membership program, so not everyone who applies will be accepted. That said, we offer a range of programs designed to fit most needs and encourage anyone interested to apply and speak with a healthcare sharing expert to find the best fit.

You can apply to join WeShare Health at any time — there's no restricted open-enrollment window like there is with ACA marketplace plans. This flexibility is one of the reasons healthcare sharing appeals to people between jobs or those who missed a traditional enrollment deadline.

Yes. If your needs change, you can switch to a different WeShare healthcare sharing program or add dependents at any time. A $50 program change fee applies. Just give us a call at 800-900-8476 and our Member Care team will help make the transition as smooth as possible.

WeShare Health is built to be flexible for people who don't want to be locked into a long-term contract or have changing needs. You can reach out to our Member Care team at 800-900-8476 to change or cancel your membership.

Your monthly contribution depends on the state you reside in, your age, household size, and the program and Annual Member Care Share (AMCS) you select. In general, WeShare Health costs meaningfully less than comparable traditional health insurance or ACA marketplace plans. Use our savings calculator or speak with a healthcare sharing expert for a personalized quote.

Because WeShare Health is a non-profit built to serve members rather than maximize profit, and because membership includes a screening and guidelines process, the community can offer meaningfully lower monthly costs than many traditional insurance or ACA plans — while still providing access to a large national provider network.

Monthly contributions are reviewed periodically based on the overall health and needs of the sharing community, similar to how any shared-cost model works. WeShare Health aims to keep contributions stable and predictable, and will communicate any changes in advance. If you're comparing options, ask about WeShare Health's recent contribution history.

WeShare Health doesn't use the term "deductible" the way insurance does, but most programs include an Annual Member Care Share (AMCS) — the amount a household is responsible for before eligible medical needs become eligible for sharing with the community, similar in concept to a deductible.

Your annual physicals and preventive health exams are 100% paid from shared contributions. For other visits and depending on your program, you may pay a set consult fee at the time of an in-network visit — for example, a flat amount for a primary care visit versus a specialist visit — rather than paying the full bill upfront and waiting for reimbursement. Unless otherwise noted, when a consult fee applies, AMCS does not apply.

Yes — members who complete an annual lab test and demonstrate healthy results may qualify for a discount on their monthly contribution. Ask your healthcare sharing expert or member care for current details on the Healthy Discount program.

WeShare Health is committed to transparent pricing. Your monthly contribution, any consult fees, and your Annual Member Care Share (AMCS) will all be clearly outlined before you enroll. There is also a $149 application fee. If you ever have a question about a specific member sharing responsibility, our Member Care team can walk through it with you.

You show your WeShare Health member ID at an in-network provider, pay any applicable consult fee, and the provider submits the bill to WeShare Health. Our team reviews the bill for eligibility against your program guidelines, and eligible costs above your Annual Member Care Share (AMCS) are submitted for sharing with the community.

With CVS MinuteClinics® nationwide and access to Amwell virtual care, members can get care even on the go. You can also access the PHCS PPO network across the US for eligible urgent services if the unexpected happens while traveling. If you have a prescription need, there are 68,000+ CVS pharmacy locations nationwide. For WeShare Senior, you must use a Medicare or in-network provider.

Emergency Room (ER) visits have a $500 consult fee. Additional services or hospitalization would be subject to your Annual Member Care Share (AMCS).

Once a medical bill is reviewed and deemed eligible, it is shared using contributions from the WeShare Health member community and paid directly to your provider. The amount shared for a bill will be based on contracted rates and fee schedules as well as your Annual Member Care Share (AMCS), the amount you agree to contribute before sharing starts. This isn't a reimbursement model where you pay first and wait to get money back for in-network eligible needs — WeShare Health works directly with the provider.

WeShare Health's Guidelines outline annual and per-need sharing maximums by program, and our sharing model is designed with reserves and community contribution levels calibrated to support member needs. We encourage every prospective member to review these details and ask questions before enrolling.

For certain treatments — such as planned surgeries, hospitalizations, or maternity care — WeShare Health asks members (or their provider) to notify us in advance, a process called pre-certification. This step helps members understand whether a service may be eligible for sharing before it is received, helping minimize surprises later. Complete the online pre-certification form or contact the Member Care team at least 7 days in advance.

Eligible needs generally include doctor visits, hospitalization, surgery, prescriptions, maternity, and other medically necessary care that follows WeShare Health's Guidelines. Talk to your healthcare sharing expert if you have specific questions.

Like every health share program, WeShare Health has Guidelines that outline categories with limitations or exclusions — for example, certain pre-existing conditions during an initial period, and some elective or non-medically-necessary procedures. We encourage you to review the full Membership Guidelines or call our Member Care team to confirm.

Yes, maternity is eligible for sharing under WeShare Health's Guidelines for the Enhanced and Premier programs, often up to a program-specific maximum. Because pregnancy is frequently planned, we recommend reviewing the maternity-specific guidelines and completing any required pre-certification as early as possible.

In most cases, yes. WeShare Health's PPO network includes more than 1 million doctors and specialists nationwide, so there's a strong chance your current provider already participates. When scheduling your appointment, provide your WeShare member ID and ask the provider to confirm that they participate in the PHCS PPO Network.

Yes. WeShare Health programs include eligible sharing through the PHCS® PPO Network, one of the largest networks in the country.

Please contact Member Care at 800-900-8476 to make sure your doctor is in-network. With over 1M doctors in the PHCS PPO Network, they are likely included.

WeShare may, at its discretion and for eligible medical services, allow a non-participating physician, therapist, facility, or other licensed medical provider when the services have been approved by the Member Care team. Members must contact Member Care if out-of-network needs arise.

Yes. WeShare Health members (excluding WeShare Senior members) have access to pre-negotiated prescription pricing through the CVS Caremark network, which includes major retailers such as CVS, Costco, Target, Walgreens, and Walmart, at over 65,000 pharmacies nationwide. WeShare Senior provides a discount program through Optum Perks so members can save up to 80% off retail prices. Medications administered by a doctor or hospital, like injections or infusions, are eligible after AMCS.

WeShare Health includes access to telehealth (Amwell), remote mental health support (BetterHelp or Amwell), weight-management resources (Noom), and discounted gym memberships (Active&Fit) — reflecting our belief in supporting whole-person, preventive wellness alongside traditional medical care. Explore all the member perks in the WeShare app under "Wellness Perks".

Amwell is our virtual care/telehealth provider, offering primary care, urgent care for common health issues, dermatology, dietician support, lactation consulting, and behavioral health. When you join, you'll get information from Amwell on how to register and access care online 24/7.

WeShare Health membership includes access to dental and vision discount programs. Simply present your discount card at a participating provider to receive savings on dental services and eye care. Details about the Dental and Vision programs will be provided in your Welcome package.

Generally, a pre-existing condition is any illness or injury for which you experienced symptoms, sought diagnosis, received treatment, or took medication within a defined period before your WeShare Health membership began.

In most cases, yes — having a pre-existing condition doesn't automatically disqualify you from membership. WeShare Premier and Senior have no waiting period. For WeShare Essential and Enhanced, pre-existing conditions may be eligible for sharing, but limitations apply. For full details, discuss with your healthcare sharing expert.

For WeShare Premier and Senior, sharing is eligible immediately. For other programs, sharing limitations will apply in the first 3 years. For full details, see your Membership Guidelines or contact the Member Care team.

Yes. For members 65 and older who are enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B, WeShare Health sharing can be used alongside Medicare as a secondary option to help share eligible medical costs Medicare does not fully cover — such as Member liability on Medicare-covered bills, services not standardly covered by Medicare, services beyond Medicare's limits where WeShare Senior offers broader sharing limits, and services from providers not registered with Medicare when no in-network specialist is available within 30 miles.

You can't enroll in WeShare Senior unless you are enrolled in Medicare Parts A&B. WeShare Senior is intended to add additional support, rather than replace Medicare.

Many people begin comparing Medicare options around age 63-64. If you're in this window, it's worth discussing with a WeShare healthcare sharing expert how a supplemental WeShare Senior option might complement whichever Medicare plan you select, particularly for costs like dental, vision, and prescriptions that traditional Medicare doesn't always cover.

WeShare Senior is designed to help with exactly these kinds of gaps. Ask our healthcare sharing experts which specific sharing benefits are included for members who are also enrolled in Medicare.

We understand this is often the single biggest question people have about healthcare sharing, and it's a fair one. We encourage prospective members to review our member testimonials, ask about our history of sharing member needs, and read our FAQ, so your decision is based on real information rather than assumptions.

As a non-profit, WeShare Health's model relies on responsible management of member contributions and reserves to support the sharing community over time. We're glad to share more detail about our financial approach with prospective members who ask.

WeShare Health is a faith-based community, and members are asked to agree with a shared set of values and standards of conduct. We encourage you to review our statement of values directly and speak with a healthcare sharing expert about what membership involves.

Our faith-based mission is reflected both in our shared values and in how we operate a member-first, non-profit approach to health care, with an emphasis on whole-person wellness and a community where members voluntarily support one another through eligible health needs.

Healthcare sharing ministries are not regulated as insurance, but many, including WeShare Health, choose to publish state-required disclosures and can share information about internal governance and oversight upon request. Ask our healthcare sharing experts for specifics relevant to your state.

Members can use the WeShare app — available on Apple, Android or web — to view their account, review sharing activity, update information, and access support resources.

In most cases, your provider will submit the bill directly to WeShare Health after your visit. If you need to submit something yourself, your member portal will walk you through the process, or you can contact member services for help.

Our member services team is available by phone or through the contact form on our website, and is happy to help with anything from billing questions to understanding your Guidelines.

You can update your payment method, address, or other personal details directly through your member portal, or by contacting Member Care for assistance.

All WeShare members can earn rewards to make healthcare sharing even more affordable: Earn Coins by completing eligible activities such as referring others and setting up ACH payments; Level Up by staying consistent to move up in the tier system, unlocking bonus perks; and Redeem Rewards using coins to claim digital gift cards, merchandise, experiences, and more (or use the Partial Payment Option, a 75/25 split, if short on coins).

Members can earn additional rewards when referrals join WeShare Health. Refer friends and family using your unique referral link found in the WeShare app under "My Rewards." Referrals also benefit from a waived application fee.