Samaritan participants are asked to pay a “monthly share” based on their membership level to cover the health care costs of a member in need, as well as to pray for that person. When a medical need arises, a member can submit itemized bills and request payment from other members' shares.

Medi-Share has an annual sharing limit and a member responsibility amount, which function similarly to a deductible and out-of-pocket maximum in traditional insurance. Samaritan Ministries operates on a direct-sharing model, where members send their monthly payments to other members with medical needs.

Members in Samaritan Basic have lower monthly costs than Samaritan Classic and a sharing rate of 90% for qualifying bills. Sharing starts once a need exceeds $1,500, which can be reduced or eliminated by cash-pay discounts.

No. While Samaritan Ministries is recognized by the IRS as an exempt charity, only donations given beyond the administrative fees and monthly Shares you are assigned to send other members are deductible as a charitable gift.