The Health Co-op isn't the only way to cover medical costs. Here's an honest, side-by-side look at how it compares to health shares, traditional insurance, self-insurance, and government plans — across the things that actually matter.
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Member-owned nonprofit
Community cost-sharing ministry
Fully-insured carrier plans
Self-funded / level-funded employer plans
Medicare, Medicaid & TRICARE
🤝 A nonprofit cooperative required to maintain reserves for its members. It guarantees payment for the covered items it has documented — not a member pool sharing major medical costs. Registered in a state. Health Access Solutions is registered in Iowa.
🙏 Usually faith-based cost-sharing — but not always. Members send monthly shares to others with medical needs. Examples: Medi-Share, Samaritan Ministries.
🛡️ Fully-insured plans from licensed carriers (BCBS, UnitedHealth, Aetna, Cigna). ACA marketplace and employer group plans. Premiums + deductibles + copays + coinsurance.
🏢 Employer pays claims from company funds. Stop-loss insurance caps exposure. Level-funded plans blend self-funding with predictable monthly costs. A TPA runs claims.
🏛️ Federal & state programs: Medicare (65+), Medicaid (low-income), and TRICARE (military). Tax-funded, administered by government agencies.
⚖️ Legally not insurance, but since it's an insurance-like product it can be regulated by the Director of Insurance in each state. Not guaranteed by the state. Backed by required reserves and a line of credit.
⚖️ Legally not insurance, but since it's an insurance-like product it can be regulated by the Director of Insurance in each state. No legal obligation to pay; sharing is a community commitment.
⚖️ Legally insurance. Regulated by state commissioners + the ACA. Carriers must pay covered claims. Guaranteed issue, no pre-existing exclusions, essential benefits required.
⚖️ Stop-loss is regulated insurance; the self-funded plan is governed by federal ERISA, not state law. The employer bears the risk up to the stop-loss threshold.
⚖️ Legally insurance / entitlement. Regulated by federal & state government. Benefits set by statute. The government bears the risk.
💰 Open to individuals, families & employers. No health questionnaire. Contributions based on age + family tier. Very low deductibles comparatively. Lower monthly costs than traditional insurance.
💰 Works for individuals and families — usually not for employers. Most require a statement of faith. Monthly shares are on the lower end. Some have a personal responsibility amount (like a deductible).
💰 Open to anyone. Costs vary by age, location, tier. The highest monthly premiums, the highest deductibles, and the highest out-of-pocket maximums. Employer plans share the cost.
💰 Employers (5+ employees; more options at 50+). Fixed costs lower than fully-insured. Can save 15–30% if claims run low — but bears risk if they don't.
💰 Eligibility-based (age, income, disability, military service). Medicaid free or low-cost. Medicare has premiums + deductibles. TRICARE for active & retired military.
Members see any provider — no networks, no credentialing. After the deductible, the Co-op pays an itemized invoice for medical services directly. Payer negotiation brings claims down only for high-cost bills.
Members submit bills; shares are sent between members or processed by the ministry. Pays an itemized invoice — reimbursement model. No networks, no credentialing.
Network-based. In-network providers bill at negotiated rates; you pay copays/deductibles/coinsurance (your share of a bill after the deductible). Prior authorization often required. Out-of-network costs much more.
A TPA (Third-Party Administrator) processes claims and pays providers from the employer's fund. Stop-loss reimburses high claims. Network-based with credentialing. Employer owns all claims data.
Government pays providers directly via set fee schedules. Providers bill the program. Network-based with credentialing. Predictable rates.
⚠️ Not legally insurance. Pre-existing limitations and limited coverages. No state or government guarantee — backed by the Co-op's required reserves and line of credit. Available in every state.
⚠️ Not insurance. Pre-existing conditions often excluded or limited. No large-organization or government guarantee. Not enforceable by law.
⚠️ High premiums, narrow networks, high deductibles, prior auth. Out-of-network care is costly.
⚠️ Employer bears claims risk below stop-loss. Cash flow varies. Needs TPA setup and ERISA compliance. Tougher for very small groups.
⚠️ Strict eligibility gates (age, income, disability). Provider access varies. Bureaucracy. Not available to most working-age adults.
✅ Lower predictable costs, any provider, member-owned (no carrier profit), transparent. Best for individuals, families, and companies that don't have lots of health problems.
✅ Lower cost, community-based, no networks. Good for healthy households sharing the ministry's values. Not for those needing guaranteed, regulated coverage.
✅ Legal guarantees, ACA protections, essential benefits, pre-existing conditions covered. Best for those who want guaranteed, regulated coverage and can afford it.
✅ Transparency, data ownership, 15–30% savings potential, custom plan design, stop-loss cap. Best for employers wanting control and savings.
✅ Low or no cost, guaranteed statutory benefits, no pre-existing exclusions. Best for those who qualify — a safety net.