When people first explore healthcare sharing, one of the most common—and important—questions is this:
“What happens if something really serious happens?”
From cancer diagnoses to rare autoimmune conditions or long-term therapies like multiple sclerosis (MS) treatments, high-cost medical needs can feel overwhelming. Understanding how healthcare sharing handles these situations can help you plan confidently and avoid surprises.
Here’s what to know about how healthcare sharing works when rare or high-cost treatments arise—and how to prepare financially.
Healthcare sharing is built on a community-based model. Instead of paying premiums to an insurance company, members share one another’s eligible medical expenses according to established guidelines.
When a major or long-term condition arises, the process generally involves:
For many members, this approach offers transparency, flexibility, and a sense of support during difficult seasons of life.
When a serious diagnosis occurs—such as cancer, MS, or another chronic condition—members should notify Impact Health Sharing as early as possible. This allows the Member Services team to help coordinate next steps and clarify how sharing applies.
Healthcare sharing does not operate on a one-size-fits-all system. Instead, medical needs are reviewed against the program’s guidelines, which outline what is eligible for sharing and under what circumstances.
This review may include eligible medical services such as hospitalizations, surgeries, physician visits, and diagnostic testing, as outlined in the guidelines. Clear communication upfront helps members understand what to expect as care progresses.
For conditions that require ongoing or long-term care, healthcare sharing does not treat all future treatment as a single, open-ended event. Instead, each medical bill is reviewed individually to determine whether it meets the program’s eligibility guidelines.
As care continues, members may submit bills for related services—such as follow-up appointments, additional testing, or continued treatment—and those bills are considered for sharing based on the guidelines in effect at the time, including annual member responsibility, co-share amounts, and any applicable limits.
This approach allows members to continue receiving care while ensuring that each medical need is evaluated consistently and transparently.
Rare diseases and specialty therapies—such as infusion drugs or advanced biologics—can be costly, regardless of the care model. In healthcare sharing:
This approach may encourage greater transparency around pricing and treatment decisions, particularly when members coordinate care directly with providers.
Healthcare sharing is an alternative approach to managing medical expenses, and financial planning plays an important role in how members prepare for high-cost care.
Your PRA (similar to a deductible) plays a role in how costs are shared. Knowing this number—and planning for it—can prevent financial stress later.
Even with sharing, having savings set aside for unexpected or non-shareable expenses provides peace of mind.
Many healthcare sharing organizations actively work with providers to help reduce medical costs for their members. This may include negotiating charges or repricing bills to align with fair market rates, then walking you through what happens next and what your final responsibility may be.
In addition, some hospitals and doctors offer discounted rates for self-pay patients—costs that may be eligible for sharing or reimbursement, depending on your program’s guidelines. The most important step is to contact your sharing organization in advance so you understand your options and can plan with confidence.
Impact Health Sharing takes care of the referenced-based repricing for its members so you don't have to. Learn more here.
Healthcare sharing guidelines can evolve. Reviewing them regularly ensures you stay informed and can plan accordingly.
For some members, the biggest difference isn’t just financial; it’s relational.
Healthcare sharing emphasizes:
Some members say they value the increased visibility into healthcare costs and decisions that can come with a healthcare sharing model.
Since healthcare sharing is not insurance, it does not cover medical expenses. Healthcare sharing programs may share eligible medical bills related to cancer treatment if they meet the program’s guidelines. Members are responsible for notifying the program and submitting bills so eligibility, limits, and sharing requirements can be reviewed.
Chronic or long-term conditions, such as multiple sclerosis, are evaluated based on healthcare sharing guidelines. Each medical bill related to ongoing treatment is reviewed individually to determine whether it is eligible for sharing.
Some healthcare sharing programs do not use lifetime caps commonly found in health insurance plans. However, sharing is subject to program-specific limits, eligibility rules, and guidelines that apply to each submitted medical bill.
In many cases, yes. Healthcare sharing often allows flexibility in provider choice, though members may benefit from discussing options that help manage costs effectively.
Financial preparation may include understanding the program’s annual member responsibility, reviewing sharing guidelines, setting aside savings for medical expenses, and discussing self-pay or discounted pricing with healthcare providers.
Rare or high-cost medical conditions can be life-altering—but understanding how healthcare sharing works helps remove uncertainty from the equation.
Impact Health Sharing is structured to help members share eligible medical expenses for both routine and serious healthcare needs, according to established guidelines.
Have questions about how healthcare sharing might work for your specific situation?
👉 Schedule a call with Impact Health Sharing today to explore your options and plan with confidence.