--- title: "Choosing a Healthcare Sharing Program: An Insider’s Perspective" description: Health Insurance Is Broken, and Too Expensive! So, Sharable™ decided to change the way Americans finance and reserve for Healthcare. Our mission is to advance the adoption of Healthcare Sharing by making it work better and feel better than insurance. Our platform, innovations and services enable existing Healthcare Sharing Organizations, as well as new Start-Ups, serve their unique communities more effectively. In recent years, and during a time of crisis in the American healthcare system, Healthcare Sharing has grown to be an affordable and credible alternative to the high cost of health insurance. So, Sharable™ decided that someone should develop the Nation’s first and only cloud-based platform (Sharing as a Service™) that fully integrates the Sharing Value Chain. Our Platform is built upon P2P Sharing Protocols and patent-pending innovations that advance the concept of Healthcare Sharing, while enabling existing Healthcare Sharing Organizations (HCSOs) and other large member-based organizations to launch and develop high-performing Sharing Programs. The Sharable™ Team has over 100 Years of combined Healthcare Sharing experience and have developed, managed and/or assisted some of the Nation’s largest Healthcare Sharing Organizations. Much of that experience has been codified in the Sharing as a Service™platform to ensure that Sharing Organizations can build highly scalable programs that are regulatory compliant, while creating a Member Experience that is uniquely different than insurance by leveraging the human, social, and community aspects of Healthcare Sharing. image: https://blog.sharable.life/hubfs/Sharable_January2022/Images/healthcare_sharing_guide.jpeg --- [![Sharable](https://blog.sharable.life/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Sharable_January2022/images/logo.svg "Sharable")](https://blog.sharable.life/) - [Platform](https://www.sharable.life/platform) - [App Center Turn Prospects into Members in 15 minutes or less.](https://www.sharable.life/platform#app) - [Member Center Serve Members, while driving Community](https://www.sharable.life/platform#member) - [Client Center Manage a fully integrated Sharing Value Chain](https://www.sharable.life/platform#client) - [Virtual Share Exchange® Delineate and inoculate through P2P Sharing](https://www.sharable.life/platform#vse) - [Platform FeaturesDo more through Sharable™](https://www.sharable.life/platform#features) - [Cost Containment](https://www.sharable.life/cost-containment) - [Hybrid RBPContain costs with information and innovation](https://www.sharable.life/cost-containment#rbp) - [Integrated Tele-Health Connect members to doctors in minutes](https://www.sharable.life/cost-containment#telehealth) - [Integrated Pharmacy Direct members to the lowest retail price](https://www.sharable.life/cost-containment#pharmacy) - [Services](https://www.sharable.life/services) - [Build, Operate & Transfer Startup a new Sharing Program](https://www.sharable.life/services#bot) - [Member Development Attract and acquire new members](https://www.sharable.life/services#memberdev) - [Performance Engineering Engineer operational excellence](https://www.sharable.life/services#performance) - [Resources](https://www.sharable.life/services) - [Help Center To Better Server Our Clients](https://sharable.zendesk.com/hc/en-us) - [Sharable Insights (Blog) Insights, Reflections, & Inspirations](https://blog.sharable.life) - [About](https://www.sharable.life/our-team) - [Company Healthcare Sharing Experts](https://www.sharable.life/our-team) - [Contact Us How To Reach Us](https://www.sharable.life/contact-us) [Login](https://sharable.zendesk.com/hc/en-us) ![Choosing a Healthcare Sharing Program: An Insider’s Perspective](https://blog.sharable.life/hubfs/Sharable_January2022/Images/healthcare_sharing_guide.jpeg) ### Choosing a Healthcare Sharing Program: An Insider’s Perspective Since 2010, there have been approximately 28 new Healthcare Sharing start-ups. As of 2021, the market has grown to more than 600,000 households and 2 million members. However, Consumers need to understand that not all Healthcare Sharing Organizations (HCSOs) are created equal! ![Author](https://blog.sharable.life/hubfs/Sharable_January2022/Images/author.png) By: Tony Meggs Chief Executive Officer ([Sharable, LLC](https://www.sharable.life)) In 2010, there were more than 100 HCSOs in existence, yet the Healthcare Sharing Industry was still extremely small in terms of overall participation. Most HCSOs were small Mennonite Churches that served less than 10,000 Mennonite households (HHs) in total. At the time there were only three HCSOs that served the broader, non-Mennonite Christian market that were of meaningful size: Christian Healthcare Ministries, Medi-Share and Samaritan Ministries - who served approximately 40,000 households combined. Then came the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) which included a mandate that everyone purchase insurance, but also included an “exemption” to the mandate for consumers who belonged to a qualified HCSO. This exemption would ultimately serve as the catalyst for Healthcare Sharing’s rapid growth. As ACA plans began to hit the market in 2013, consumers quickly learned that those plans would NOT be affordable for most households. Consumers found themselves faced with three options: 1) purchase an unaffordable insurance plan, 2) pay an IRS penalty for not complying with the mandate to purchase insurance, or 3) find an alternative to (1) and (2). With HCSO’s exemption from the insurance mandate, naturally, consumers began to turn to them as an affordable, legal alternative to health insurance. As demand grew, the market has responded, and approximately 28 new Healthcare Sharing start-ups (HCSOs) have been established. These new HCSOs have joined the ranks of Chistian Healthcare Ministries, Medi-Share and Samaritan Ministries in serving the broader (non-Mennonite) market. As of late 2021, those participating in a Healthcare Sharing Program has now grown to more than 600,000 HHs and 2 million members. However, consumers need to understand that not all HCSOs are created equal! In recent months the industry was hit hard by the bankruptcy of one HCSO and accusations of self-dealing and corruption at others. For the most part, Healthcare Sharing has a strong history of being a credible option to the high cost of insurance. However, it appears that the Industry’s growth and the desperate need for affordable healthcare has attracted new entrants (HCSOs) that might be short on experience and, in a few cases, are “bad actors.” So, [Robert and I](https://5321070.hs-sites.com/our-team) felt that it was important that we use our industry experience to provide consumers with a thoughtful guide to choosing a Healthcare Sharing Program. Together, we have over 30 combined years of Executive-level HCS experience. We have each led the operations of one of the Nation’s largest and most successful HCSOs and we continue to serve the Industry through Sharable. So, over the coming weeks we will share with you a 4-part series of posts to better equip consumers with the most meaningful questions for choosing a Healthcare Sharing Program. #### **PART 1 – AFFORDABILITY** In this post we intend to help consumers understand “why” Healthcare Sharing costs 50% - 70% less than insurance. In doing so, we will explain the most important differences between Healthcare Sharing and insurance. More importantly, we want to assist consumers in assessing the costs, affordability, and convenience of a Healthcare Sharing Program in relation to their specific household needs. #### **PART 2 – CREDIBILITY** In this post we will explain how best to assess the credibility of a HCSO in terms of its governance model and operational design. Consumers will be equipped with questions and waypoints for assessing the strength and independence of a HCSO’s governance model, as well as identify the cautions and potential for fraud, self-dealing, and other inappropriate “not-for-profit” business practices. #### **PART 3 – RELIABILITY** In this post we will define the key business practices and sharing protocols that are necessary for building and sustaining a high-performing Sharing Program that doesn’t operate like an insurance company in either form or function. Consumers will be better equipped to look for sharing practices and protocols that strengthen the fiscal soundness and reliability of a HCSO, as well as ensuring the prompt publishing, sharing and payment of their medical bills. #### **PART 4 - VISIBILITY** In this post we will describe the level of visibility and transparency that a member (consumer) should have in the financial operations of a credible HCSO. We will enable consumers to recognize the appropriate “Use of Funds” throughout the sharing process, as well as assess if member contributions are being shared to their greatest use. To accompany this series of posts, we have prepared a [DECISION GUIDE: Choosing a Healthcare Sharing Program. An Insider’s Perspective.](https://blog.sharable.life/sharable-blog/choosing-a-healthcare-sharing-program-an-insiders-perspective) In it, you will find questions and prompts that will help you evaluate if Healthcare Sharing is right for you, as well as assess a specific HCSO and its programs. We want to help consumers make the best choice for their families. As the cost of health insurance continues to climb, we expect that more and more consumers will turn to Healthcare Sharing as a more affordable means to meet their healthcare needs. We can also expect that this growth will continue to attract new market entrants and start-ups desiring to serve this market. Unfortunately, not all HCSOs are created equal. So now, more than ever, consumers need a meaningful way to discern the strength and credibility of one HCSO from another. DISCLOSURE: Sharable, LLC is a technology and services company that serves the Healthcare Sharing Industry. The Sharable team has more than 100 years’ experience in building and managing high-performing Healthcare Sharing Programs. Our mission is to advance the adoption of Healthcare Sharing as an affordable option to health insurance. Sharable does not endorse specific Healthcare Sharing Organizations or their Programs. ### Related [![Part 1: Affordability (Why is Healthcare Sharing less expensive?)](https://blog.sharable.life/hubfs/Sharable_January2022/Images/healthcare_sharing_guide_1.jpg)](https://blog.sharable.life/choosing-a-healthcare-sharing-program_part-1-affordability) ### [Part 1: Affordability (Why is Healthcare Sharing less expensive?)](https://blog.sharable.life/choosing-a-healthcare-sharing-program_part-1-affordability) ![Tony Meggs](https://blog.sharable.life/hubfs/tony-meggs.png) By: Tony Meggs Dec 3, 2021 [![Arrow](https://blog.sharable.life/hubfs/Sharable_January2022/Images/icon-read-more.svg) Read More](https://blog.sharable.life/choosing-a-healthcare-sharing-program_part-1-affordability) [![PART 2: CREDIBILITY (What does a “credible” HCSO look like?)](https://blog.sharable.life/hubfs/Sharable_January2022/Images/healthcare_sharing_guide_2.jpg)](https://blog.sharable.life/choosing-a-healthcare-sharing-program-part-2-credibility) ### [PART 2: CREDIBILITY (What does a “credible” HCSO look like?)](https://blog.sharable.life/choosing-a-healthcare-sharing-program-part-2-credibility) ![Robert Baldwin](https://blog.sharable.life/hubfs/Sharable_January2022/Images/Robert-Baldwin.png) By: Robert Baldwin Dec 5, 2021 [![Arrow](https://blog.sharable.life/hubfs/Sharable_January2022/Images/icon-read-more.svg) Read More](https://blog.sharable.life/choosing-a-healthcare-sharing-program-part-2-credibility) [![DECISION GUIDE: Choosing a Healthcare Sharing Program](https://blog.sharable.life/hubfs/Sharable_January2022/Images/healthcare_sharing_guide_3.jpg)](https://blog.sharable.life/choosing-a-healthcare-sharing-program-decision) ### [DECISION GUIDE: Choosing a Healthcare Sharing Program](https://blog.sharable.life/choosing-a-healthcare-sharing-program-decision) ![Robert Baldwin](https://blog.sharable.life/hubfs/Sharable_January2022/Images/Robert-Baldwin.png) By: Robert Baldwin Dec 1, 2021 [![Arrow](https://blog.sharable.life/hubfs/Sharable_January2022/Images/icon-read-more.svg) Read More](https://blog.sharable.life/choosing-a-healthcare-sharing-program-decision) [![Sharable](https://blog.sharable.life/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Sharable_January2022/images/logo.svg "Sharable")](https://blog.sharable.life/) [2026 Sharable™. 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