Healthshares in Nevada — A Smarter Alternative for Healthy Families and Business Owners
If you’re a healthy individual or family in Nevada paying hundreds of dollars a month for health insurance you barely use, you’re not stuck with that number. There’s an alternative called a healthshare. It’s not insurance — it works differently — and for the right person, it can save hundreds of dollars a month. We explain the full model in our companion video.
Nevada Has No Individual Mandate
Unlike California and a handful of other states, Nevada does not have a state-level individual health insurance mandate. There is no state penalty for not carrying traditional health insurance. The federal penalty was eliminated in 2019. That means Nevada residents can explore alternatives like healthshares without worrying about a tax penalty.
This is a significant advantage. It gives you the freedom to compare options and choose what actually fits your household — not just what the government requires.
What Is a Healthshare?
A healthshare is a community of members who contribute monthly to share each other’s medical expenses. It is not insurance. It’s not regulated like insurance. And it doesn’t use insurance terminology. Instead of premiums, you make contributions. Instead of claims, you submit sharing requests. Instead of a deductible, you have an Initial Unshareable Amount (IUA).
The healthshare model has existed since the early 1980s. Zion HealthShare, the one we’re affiliated with, has been operating since 2019. It’s a nonprofit. It’s not faith-based. There’s no religious requirement to join.
Why Healthshares Fit Nevada
Nevada’s economy runs on small business owners, self-employed professionals, gig workers, and entrepreneurs. Las Vegas, Henderson, Reno, and the surrounding areas are full of people buying health insurance on the individual market without employer subsidies. That means full-price premiums — often $700 a month or more for an individual, and well over $1,000 for a family.
If you’re one of those people and you’re healthy, a healthshare can cut that cost dramatically. Zion HealthShare individual memberships start as low as $114 per month. Family memberships start around $295. The savings add up fast.
Nevada also has a large population of real estate investors, landlords, and property managers — people who are financially savvy and comfortable evaluating risk. A healthshare is a calculated decision, not a leap of faith. You’re trading regulatory protections for lower costs, and for healthy households that rarely use the system, the math often works.
How It Works
You choose an IUA level: $1,250, $2,500, or $5,000. When you have a medical need, you pay your IUA. Once it’s met, the community shares 100% of remaining eligible expenses based on the member guidelines. There is no annual or lifetime maximum sharing limit built into the program guidelines. No household pays more than three IUAs in any rolling 12-month period.
Certain preventive services are eligible for sharing without meeting your IUA first. Members get unlimited virtual primary care visits. There are no network restrictions — you can see any provider in Nevada or anywhere else. Some providers may ask you to pay upfront since a healthshare isn’t insurance. You then submit expenses for sharing afterward.
What It Doesn’t Cover
Mental health treatment and medications are not eligible for sharing through the community. Members may access acute counseling through Primestin Care, an additional virtual service.
Pre-membership medical conditions have a phase-in period. Year one is a waiting period. Year two allows up to $25,000 per sharing request. Year three, $50,000. Year four and beyond, $125,000. If you have a serious ongoing condition, traditional health insurance may be a better fit.
A healthshare is not insurance. There’s no guarantee of sharing. It’s a voluntary arrangement based on member guidelines and community funds. Review the guidelines carefully before enrolling.
See the Numbers
If you want to see what your monthly contribution would look like, visit our Zion HealthShare page. It takes about 30 seconds to plug in your household information. Zion also has a live chat on their site for specific questions.
And if you’re the kind of person looking at a healthshare, you should also make sure your property, liability, and entity structure are covered correctly. We serve homeowners, landlords, and business owners across Nevada from our Henderson office. Learn more about our Nevada insurance services, or check out our Google reviews to see what our clients say. We also have videos on umbrella insurance and entities and insurance on our channel.
