To join Liberty HealthShare, you must affirm a Christian statement of beliefs, agree to a set of lifestyle standards, and pick a sharing program that fits your age and household. Three programs have firm age rules: Liberty Rise is for young adults ages 18 to 29, Liberty Assist is open only to people 65 and older who are already enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B, and Liberty Freedom is for those 35 and under. New members also pay a $135 application fee.
The ministry is direct about who it is built for. “Liberty HealthShare isn’t for everyone, and that’s by design,” its July 2026 explainer begins.
Why does a healthsharing ministry have faith requirements?
Shared belief is part of the legal definition of a healthsharing ministry, more than a membership preference.
Federal law describes a healthcare sharing ministry as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose members “share a common set of ethical or religious beliefs and share medical expenses among members in accordance with those beliefs.” The same statute says members must “retain membership even after they develop a medical condition,” and that the ministry must conduct an annual audit by an independent CPA firm, available to the public on request.
Liberty HealthShare describes itself as an alternative way of managing healthcare costs. Its members contribute monthly and share one another’s eligible medical expenses under published guidelines.
The spiritual requirements
Applicants affirm a short list of core beliefs. According to Liberty HealthShare, members are expected to:
- Acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the source of salvation.
- Demonstrate the Fruits of the Spirit.
- Participate in regular worship and prayer.
- Honor the biblical instruction in Galatians 6:2 to share one another’s burdens, the theological basis of the sharing model.
Applicants also affirm a set of broader convictions. Among them: that rights and liberties come from God rather than government, that people have a religious right to worship according to scripture, that helping others in need is a biblical and ethical obligation, and that healthcare decisions belong to the individual, working with their own physicians and family.
The lifestyle standards
The second requirement is a commitment to healthy living. Members agree to:
- Avoid tobacco in every form, including vaping.
- Handle alcohol according to biblical teaching, not to excess.
- Abstain from illegal drugs and from misusing prescription medication.
- Exercise regularly and eat in ways that support good health.
These standards connect directly to what is eligible for sharing later. According to the ministry, “the Liberty HealthShare community doesn’t share expenses tied to behaviors it considers destructive to personal health, therefore living within these standards has a real bearing on what ends up eligible for sharing down the road.”
For an applicant, that means the lifestyle pledge is not just a box to check at sign-up. It can affect whether a future medical bill is eligible for sharing.
Which program can you join?
Age and household size determine which of Liberty HealthShare’s six medical cost-sharing programs are open to you.
| Program | Eligibility notes | Top-line sharing limit after the AUA |
|---|---|---|
| Liberty Rise | Young adults ages 18 to 29 | $50,000 per membership year |
| Liberty Assist | Age 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B | Up to $100,000 per membership year |
| Liberty Freedom | For those ages 35 and younger | Up to $300,000 per year or per incident or per membership year, whichever comes first |
| Liberty Essential | Set by age bracket and household size | $600,000 per incident |
| Liberty Connect | Set by age bracket and household size | $1,000,000 per incident |
| Liberty Unite | Set by age bracket and household size | Up to $1,000,000 per incident |
Sources: Liberty HealthShare requirements explainer and sharing-limits explainer.
The Annual Unshared Amount (AUA) is a threshold of eligible bills a member must meet each year before sharing can begin.
What does it cost to join?
Suggested monthly share amounts start at $87 for individuals and $319 for families across the six programs. The application fee is $135.
Family share amounts dropped in 2026. On June 1, suggested family share amounts in Liberty Essential, Liberty Connect, and Liberty Unite fell by an average of 16%. Under the new amounts, a Liberty Essential family in the youngest age band pays $429 a month, and a Liberty Unite family in the oldest band (50 to 64) pays $999.
What happens after you join?
Membership comes without an annual commitment, so members can leave when they choose. Changing programs is more structured: a switch is allowed only during the annual enrollment window, which opens 60 days before each member’s renewal date.
That timing rule is worth weighing at the start. An applicant torn between two programs is choosing a program for at least a year, unless they leave the ministry entirely.
How to check if you qualify
Liberty HealthShare points prospective members to its Do I Qualify page, which walks through eligibility before the enrollment application.
Before applying, it helps to check three things:
- The statement of beliefs. The faith requirements are a condition of membership, not a formality.
- The lifestyle standards. They affect which future expenses are eligible for sharing.
- The right program for your age, household, and budget. Compare the AUA, Co-Share percentage, and sharing maximum along with the suggested monthly share amount.
Key facts at a glance
- Liberty HealthShare membership requires affirming a Christian statement of beliefs and a set of lifestyle standards.
- Members agree to avoid tobacco, including vaping, to avoid illegal drugs, and to handle alcohol according to biblical teaching.
- Liberty Rise is limited to ages 18 to 29, Liberty Assist to people 65 and older enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B, and Liberty Freedom to those 35 and younger
- Joining costs a $135 application fee, and suggested monthly share amounts start at $87 for individuals and $319 for families.
- Members can leave at any time, but program changes happen only during the annual enrollment window.