Founded
1994
Published starting contribution
$210/mo
Lowest monthly amount this ministry publishes
You pay first
Initial Unscheduled Amount (IUA) per need — commonly $1,000–$2,000 by program, plus co-share on some programs
Sharing limit
Classic: $500,000 per need; Basic: $497,500 (Sept 2026 guidelines)
Data verified September 2026 · how we verify
Samaritan Ministries, founded in 1994 and headquartered in Peoria, Illinois, is the most direct expression of the sharing idea: your monthly share is sent straight to another member household with an eligible medical need, often with a note of encouragement.
The Classic program lists monthly shares between $210 and $925 depending on household size and age. An Initial Unscheduled Amount (IUA) applies per need — commonly $1,000–$2,000 depending on program, plus a co-share on some programs. Under guidelines updated in September 2026, the maximum shareable amount is $500,000 per need on Classic and $497,500 on Basic.
There are no provider networks — members work with providers directly and negotiate cash pricing, which keeps overhead low but puts administration in the member’s hands.