When it comes to healthcare, more families are exploring medical cost sharing as an alternative to traditional insurance. Programs like MPB Health offer a community-based solution to manage medical expenses without the crushing premiums and confusing rules of insurance. But before you join, it’s important to understand how health sharing works and whether it’s a fit for your family.
1. Health Sharing is NOT Insurance
- What it is: Medical cost sharing is a community-based approach where members voluntarily share each other’s eligible medical expenses by contributing a set monthly amount into a shared pool. When a member has an eligible medical need, the community’s funds are used to help pay those expenses. This nonprofit model emphasizes personal responsibility, transparency, and mutual support, offering an alternative to traditional insurance.
2. Know Your Initial Unshareable Amount (IUA)
- What it is: An IUA is the set amount you are responsible for paying on a specific medical Need (like a surgery, illness, or accident) before the community begins sharing your expenses. Once your IUA is met for that Need, the rest of the eligible bills are shared according to your membership guidelines.
- Action: Confirm your IUA per Need.
3. Learn What Expenses Are Eligible for Sharing
- Every Health Share defines what types of medical expenses the community will help with.
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Commonly shared: emergency care, hospital stays, surgeries, specialist visits, imaging, and lab work (after you’ve paid your IUA).
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Action: Review how your Health Share defines a “Need” and the time window for each incident. Some services may be excluded or have carve-outs you need to know about before joining.
4. Understand Pre-Existing Condition Rules
- Many health shares have look-back periods or phased sharing, and some conditions may be permanently excluded.
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Action: If you have a chronic or ongoing condition, carefully review this section. Be clear about how your needs would be handled before joining.
5. Review Waiting Periods
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Many health shares have waiting periods for certain services, most commonly for maternity.
- If you’re planning to start a family, remember that many healthshares require membership before conception for maternity needs to be shareable.
- For example, MPB Health memberships require 9-6 months (depending on membership type) of continuous membership prior to conception for the maternity need to be shareable.
- Action: Verify your membership guidelines and keep Member Services contact handy for questions regarding your membership.
6. Provider Choice, Pricing, and MEC Plans
- A major advantage of health shares is flexibility in choosing providers. Many allow you to see any licensed provider while also working with discount networks to reduce costs.
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At MPB Health, members can choose their own doctors and hospitals, while also benefiting from partnerships with nationwide networks that negotiate fair, transparent prices. In addition, MPB Health offers Minimum Essential Coverage (MEC) plans that partner with these networks to secure even deeper discounts, giving families a balance of affordability and access.
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Action: Ask about the cash-pay process, whether direct pay is available, and what typical discounts look like.
7. How Prescriptions Work
- Prescription costs are handled differently, often through discount networks, generic-first programs, or mail-order options.
- Action: Check your current medications against the prescription program to estimate savings.
8. Flexible Enrollment Options
- Unlike traditional insurance plans, health shares have no enrollment period. You can join anytime, though some needs may have waiting periods.
- Action: Sign up before planned procedures and confirm your effective date to start sharing.
9. Built-in Extras
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Extras like virtual care, bill negotiation, and mental health services lower costs while improving access.
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For example, what sets MPB Health apart is the extras that most families end up paying out of pocket elsewhere. Members have access to:
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$0 virtual primary care
- $0 24/7/365 virtual urgent care
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$0 virtual mental health
- $0 24/7/365 pet telehealth
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Bill negotiation
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Care navigation
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Preventive services designed to keep you healthy and avoid surprise costs
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Final Thoughts
Medical cost sharing isn’t insurance — and that’s exactly why families are choosing it. By understanding the structure, limits, and benefits, you can make an informed decision that protects your family’s health and finances.
At MPB Health, members enjoy the benefits of affordable health sharing with built-in services like 24/7 virtual care, mental health support, and care navigation. If you’re ready for a smarter alternative to traditional insurance, MPB Health is here to help.
Disclaimer:
The content provided in this article is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your health regimen, starting new therapies, or discontinuing existing treatments. Mention of specific practices, therapies, or organizations does not constitute an endorsement. The views expressed are those of the author and may not reflect the policies or positions of any affiliated entities.