Samaritan Ministries and CHM both reject the pooled, insurance-style model — but they member-drive it differently. Samaritan sends your monthly share directly to another member household with an eligible need. CHM collects contributions and coordinates sharing through the ministry itself. Both keep pricing published and honest, and both put provider negotiation in your hands. The real comparison is between $210–$925 Classic shares and $115–$299 per-unit pricing.
| Samaritan Ministries | CHM (Christian Healthcare Ministries) | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1994 | 1981 |
| Headquarters | Peoria, IL | Barberton, OH |
| Monthly price range | $210–$925/mo (Classic, by household size and age) | $115–$299 per unit/mo (Bronze–Gold, 2026); SeniorShare $119 |
| Initial unshared amount | Initial Unscheduled Amount (IUA) per need — commonly $1,000–$2,000 by program, plus co-share on some programs | Personal Responsibility: $1,250 (Gold), $3,000 (Silver), $6,000 (Bronze) |
| Per-need sharing limit | Classic: $500,000 per need; Basic: $497,500 (Sept 2026 guidelines) | $125,000 per illness; CHM Plus add-on raises limits (unlimited on Gold) |
| Programs | Basic, Classic, Secure, Elevate | Gold, Silver, Bronze, SeniorShare, CHM Plus add-on ($42/unit) |
| Faith requirements | Statement of faith and church involvement requirements | Statement of faith |
Data verified as of September 2026. Confirm current pricing and guidelines with each ministry directly.
Full Samaritan Ministries profile · Full CHM profile
How the models differ
Samaritan’s direct-to-household model is the most relational form of sharing — members know exactly who their money helped each month, often exchanging notes and prayers. CHM’s coordinated model still feels like a ministry rather than a company, but the member-to-member connection is mediated. Structurally, CHM’s per-unit pricing scales predictably with household adults, while Samaritan’s share range spans household size and age. CHM’s per-illness cap starts at $125,000 (raisable via CHM Plus); Samaritan’s per-need cap is $500,000 on Classic as of its September 2026 guidelines update.
Who each one suits
Samaritan Ministries strengths
- Direct member-to-member sharing — your money goes to a named household
- Clear per-need caps published in guidelines ($500,000 Classic as of Sept 2026)
- Four program levels from Basic to Elevate for different budgets
Samaritan Ministries watch-outs
- No provider network — cash-price negotiation is on you
- IUA applies per need, so a year with several needs means several IUAs
- Some programs add a co-share on top of the IUA
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
If the direct, household-to-household character of sharing is what draws you, Samaritan is the purest expression of it — and its $500,000 per-need cap is the stronger published limit. If straightforward unit pricing and program flexibility matter more, CHM’s $115 entry point and add-on structure are compelling. Both are decades-old ministries with genuine track records; neither choice is a mistake.
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.