Health Sharing & Direct Primary Care
Pairing a Summit membership with a health sharing plan can be a smart way to keep everyday care personal and affordable while staying protected against large medical bills. Here's what health sharing is, how it works, and how to decide if it's right for you.
What is a health sharing plan?
Health sharing plans (also called health cost-sharing or medical cost-sharing programs) are not insurance. They are run by member organizations rather than insurance companies. Members contribute a set amount each month into a shared pool, and when a member has a large qualifying medical bill, the pool helps pay some or all of it.
Most health sharing organizations began as faith-based communities, and several still ask members to agree to a statement of shared values or ethical guidelines. There are also secular options. Each plan publishes its own guidelines describing exactly which medical expenses are eligible to be shared and which are not, so it's important to read those guidelines closely before joining.
How health sharing compares to insurance
Health sharing and traditional insurance can look similar on the surface, but they work very differently. This side-by-side can help you understand the trade-offs.
| Traditional Insurance | Health Sharing | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A regulated insurance contract that guarantees payment of covered claims | A membership community that voluntarily shares eligible medical costs — not a guarantee of payment |
| Monthly cost | Premium | Monthly share (often lower than a comparable premium) |
| Your upfront cost | Deductible | Personal responsibility / annual household portion |
| Networks | Usually tied to in-network providers | Typically no networks — you can often use any provider, including cash-pay pricing |
| Pre-existing conditions | Must be covered under the ACA | May be limited, phased in, or excluded — varies by plan |
| Regulation | Regulated as insurance | Not insurance; not regulated the same way |
Key terms to know
Weighing the trade-offs
Potential advantages
- Often a lower monthly cost than comparable insurance premiums
- Freedom to see the providers you choose, with no networks in most plans
- Pairs naturally with cash-pay and Direct Primary Care pricing
- Protection against large, unexpected medical bills
- Community and shared-values model that many members value
Things to consider
- It is not insurance — sharing of a bill is not legally guaranteed
- Pre-existing conditions may be limited, delayed, or excluded
- Not all expenses are eligible; you must follow plan guidelines
- May not satisfy employer or other coverage requirements
- You may pay providers first and be reimbursed by the community
How it pairs with Direct Primary Care
Health sharing is designed to help with large, unexpected medical costs — surgeries, hospital stays, and major events. It is generally not built for everyday primary care. That's exactly where a Summit Direct Care membership fits in.
Summit handles the everyday
Your membership covers unlimited primary care, urgent care, chronic condition management, and same/next-day access — with no per-visit copays.
Health sharing handles the big stuff
The sharing community helps with the large medical bills — hospitalizations, surgeries, and major events — that fall outside primary care.
Together, you may save
Many healthy households find that a Summit membership plus a health sharing plan costs less than traditional insurance while keeping care personal.
Who is it a good fit for?
Health sharing tends to work best for individuals and families who are relatively healthy, comfortable with a non-insurance model, and want lower monthly costs and the freedom to choose their providers. It may be less suitable if you have significant pre-existing conditions, expect major planned medical care, or need coverage that satisfies a specific employer or program requirement. Everyone's situation is different — the calculator below can help you compare the numbers for your household.
Compare the Cost of DPC + Your Best Coverage Match
Direct primary care works best when paired with the right coverage. Use our interactive calculator to read the four coverage pathways, enter your numbers, pick a pathway, and see your estimated annual savings.
Open the Cost Calculator →Information & resources
The links below are provided for informational purposes only, to help you learn more and do your own research. See the note at the bottom of this page.
Learn more about pairing DPC + health sharing
Direct Primary Care & Health Sharing PlansHSA for America — overview article Healthshare + Direct Primary CareHSA for America — plan pairing guidePlease note: Summit Direct Care does not endorse, recommend, or receive compensation from any of the organizations, plans, or resources listed on this page. This information is provided for educational purposes only and is not insurance, financial, tax, or legal advice. Health sharing plans are not insurance and do not guarantee payment of medical bills. Plan guidelines, eligibility, and pre-existing condition rules vary — please review each plan carefully and speak with your HR representative, a licensed advisor, or the organizations directly before making a decision.