Medi-Share and CHM (Christian Healthcare Ministries) represent the two ends of the sharing spectrum: the largest, most centralized ministry in America versus its oldest. Medi-Share gives you a negotiated provider network and a familiar claims-style experience; CHM gives you plainly published unit pricing that starts at $115 a month. If you’ve narrowed your search to these two, the decision usually comes down to how much administration you want in your healthcare.
| Medi-Share (Christian Care Ministry) | CHM (Christian Healthcare Ministries) | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1993 | 1981 |
| Headquarters | Melbourne, FL | Barberton, OH |
| Monthly price range | $150–$250 (single, 30s, $12K AHP); $450–$650 (couple, 40s); $650–$850 (family of four, 50s) | $115–$299 per unit/mo (Bronze–Gold, 2026); SeniorShare $119 |
| Initial unshared amount | Annual Household Portion (AHP): $3,000–$12,000 options | Personal Responsibility: $1,250 (Gold), $3,000 (Silver), $6,000 (Bronze) |
| Per-need sharing limit | No fixed per-need cap published; governed by program guidelines | $125,000 per illness; CHM Plus add-on raises limits (unlimited on Gold) |
| Programs | Individual & family programs with multiple AHP levels; senior programs | Gold, Silver, Bronze, SeniorShare, CHM Plus add-on ($42/unit) |
| Faith requirements | Statement of faith; members share under biblical principles | Statement of faith |
Data verified as of September 2026. Confirm current pricing and guidelines with each ministry directly.
Full Medi-Share profile · Full CHM profile
How the models differ
Medi-Share’s centralized model routes eligible bills through the ministry and applies negotiated network rates automatically. CHM’s model is more member-driven: you work with providers directly, submit bills to the ministry, and sharing flows unit by unit. Practically, that means Medi-Share trades higher published pricing examples for convenience, while CHM trades convenience for a lower published floor and a per-illness cap structure you can raise with the $42/month CHM Plus add-on.
Who each one suits
Medi-Share strengths
- Negotiated provider network with automatic member discounts
- AHP options from $3,000 to $12,000 let you tune monthly cost vs. exposure
- The largest sharing ministry: 350,000+ members, $8 billion shared since 1993
Medi-Share watch-outs
- Published pricing examples run higher for couples and families
- AHP is annual — it resets each year even if last year went unused
- Centralized model means less direct member-to-member connection
CHM strengths
- The oldest sharing ministry in America (founded 1981)
- Transparent unit pricing: $115–$299/unit (2026), published plainly
- CHM Plus add-on ($42/unit) lifts per-illness caps — unlimited on Gold
CHM watch-outs
- Base sharing caps at $125,000 per illness without CHM Plus
- Personal Responsibility applies per medical incident
- No provider network — members handle provider billing directly
The verdict
Choose Medi-Share if network access and hands-off billing matter most and your budget fits the published pricing examples. Choose CHM if you’re comfortable managing provider bills yourself and want transparent, low published unit pricing — and add CHM Plus if a $125,000 per-illness base cap feels too tight. Read both ministries’ guidelines before deciding.
Disclosure: this site is published by Anglican Care, a healthcare sharing ministry. We publish the same data categories for every ministry we cover, including our own — and these comparisons can lead you to another ministry without us. Data verified September 2026; ministries change pricing and guidelines regularly, so confirm current terms before joining.