America's HealthShare vs. Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM)
America's HealthShare vs. Christian Healthcare Ministries: published prices, amounts you pay first, sharing limits and pre-existing rules side by side.
America's HealthShare and Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM) are both faith-based health care sharing ministries, and neither is insurance. They're built very differently, though. Here's how their published numbers and rules compare, based on each organization's website and guidelines when we checked.
Side by side
| America's HealthShare | Christian Healthcare Ministries | |
|---|---|---|
| Programs | RED, WHITE, BLUE; COMPANION (65+ on Medicare) | Gold, Silver, Bronze; SeniorShare |
| Published monthly price | From $71 (BLUE), $89 (WHITE), $100 (RED), $98 (COMPANION); varies by age and membership | $299 / $169 / $115 per unit (Gold / Silver / Bronze); $119 SeniorShare |
| How price is set | Age, membership type, program and AUA | Units; no family pays for more than three units per month |
| Amount you pay first | AUA: $3,000–$12,000 on RED; $3,000 or $12,000 on WHITE; $500 on COMPANION | Personal Responsibility: $1,250 / $3,000 / $6,000 (Gold / Silver / Bronze); $0 SeniorShare |
| Sharing limit | $1 million per incident per year | $125,000 per illness (Gold/Silver/Bronze) unless you add CHM Plus ($42/mo); SeniorShare listed as unlimited |
| Maternity | Listed as eligible (RED lists complete maternity care) | Maternity Personal Responsibility of $2,500 / $5,000 / $9,000 |
| Pre-existing conditions | Not shared in year 1; up to $25,000 in months 13–24; another $25,000 possible in months 25–36; not pre-existing from month 37 | Active conditions not eligible; "maintained" conditions can qualify for specific sharing options |
Sources: AHS programs (opens in new tab), AHS guidelines (opens in new tab), CHM programs (opens in new tab), CHM guidelines (opens in new tab).
Key differences
Sharing limits. This is the biggest structural difference. America's HealthShare's guidelines share up to $1 million per incident per year on its main programs. CHM's base programs stop at $125,000 per illness unless you add CHM Plus. If a catastrophic bill is your main worry, factor CHM Plus into the price.
Pricing model. CHM's unit system can be simple for larger families, since no family pays for more than three units. America's HealthShare prices by age, household and AUA, so get a personal quote to compare.
Pre-existing conditions. America's HealthShare uses a time-based phase-in with dollar caps. CHM distinguishes "active" from "maintained" conditions; a maintained condition (for example, controlled with routine medication and no further testing for at least 90 days) may be eligible for sharing options CHM describes in its guidelines.
Care philosophy. America's HealthShare emphasizes integrative, naturopathic and regenerative care on RED. CHM describes its programs as including telemedicine, hospital and surgery, maternity, physical therapy, home healthcare and incident-related office visits and prescriptions.
Which might fit you?
- America's HealthShare may appeal if you want a higher per-incident limit without an add-on, or care options like naturopathic and regenerative medicine.
- CHM may appeal to larger families who benefit from the three-unit cap, or to people with well-controlled conditions who qualify under its "maintained" rules.
Either way, both are voluntary sharing arrangements, not insurance. Read both sets of guidelines in full. For more detail, see our America's HealthShare review.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper, America's HealthShare or CHM?
On published starting prices, America's HealthShare BLUE starts at $71/month and CHM Bronze is $115 per unit per month. But the programs are structured differently, and your price depends on age, household and the amount you pay before sharing. Compare your own quotes (AHS (opens in new tab); CHM (opens in new tab)).
What is CHM's per-illness limit?
CHM's programs page lists a $125,000 lifetime maximum per illness on Gold, Silver and Bronze unless you add CHM Plus for $42/month (CHM (opens in new tab)).
How do they handle pre-existing conditions?
America's HealthShare phases in sharing over three years with $25,000 caps in years two and three. CHM distinguishes active from maintained conditions and offers specific sharing options for maintained ones. Read each set of guidelines (AHS guidelines (opens in new tab); CHM guidelines (opens in new tab)).
Sources
- America's HealthShare Programs (opens in new tab) (America's HealthShare)
- Sharing Guidelines (opens in new tab) (America's HealthShare (Melita Sharing Ministry, Inc.))
- Healthcare Programs (opens in new tab) (Christian Healthcare Ministries)
- CHM Guidelines (opens in new tab) (Christian Healthcare Ministries)
Sources were accessed on October 9, 2026. Linked pages may have changed since then.