Healthcare Hacks Every Family Member Should Know to Save in 2026

The Milliman Medical Index estimates that a hypothetical family of four will spend just over $35,000 per year in healthcare-related expenses. That is a significant amount of money for the majority of families in America.

The good news is that there are several ways to reduce that cost burden with a few simple ideas:

Pick The Right Medical Plan For Your Needs

Health insurance plans can vary widely, in terms of deductibles, out-of-pocket maximums, copays, premiums, and more. It’s important to pick the right medical plan for your needs. Make a rough plan of what your anticipated healthcare needs are for the year ahead, and pick a plan that caters to those.

If your partner is offered medical coverage through their employer, be sure to compare plans. Sometimes it’s more cost-effective for each of you to be covered by your own employers, based on subsidies that employers offer for “you only” coverage. If covering dependents, check coverage tiers for “you + dependents” on both of your employer plans to pick the plan that is most cost-effective with the best coverage. 

Finally, be sure to check your employer plans against those offered through the Affordable Care Act (ACA marketplace plans). More than likely, it’s practical to remain on your employer’s plan rather than get your own insurance, but it’s always worth comparing. 

Regardless of whether your health status has changed, it’s important to check your needs annually and ensure the coverage you have is still the best. 

Get Preventive Care Early

Most employer and ACA plans cover preventive services—like vaccinations, annual physicals, blood pressure checks, and routine screenings—at no cost to you, even if you haven’t met your deductible.

Plan ahead and get these services done early in the year. Doing so allows you to handle any follow-up medical procedures done in the same year, moving you closer to reaching your out-of-pocket maximum (after which all services for the year are covered at 100%).

Use a Tax-Advantaged Savings Account Strategically

A Health Savings Account (HSA) and a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) are two great ways to reduce your taxable income, as well as save for future medical expenses. 

An HSA is an account built for those with a high deductible health plan (HDHP). A medical plan is considered a high deductible health plan if it has a deductible over $1,650 for self-only coverage and $3,300 for family coverage. If your plan qualifies, you can put away money pre-tax in an HSA. The maximum amount you can put away in an HSA in 2025 is $4,300 for individuals and $8,550 for families.

Unique aspects of an HSA include the ability to invest the money in the stock market, making it an additional vehicle to invest for the future (once you hit a specific threshold). Additionally, you can use your HSA to pay for eligible medical, dental, vision, and prescription costs tax-free. And if you leave your employer, the funds stay with you. You don’t need to have an employer-sponsored plan, as you can open an HSA on your own, making it completely under your control regardless of moving employers.

A Flexible Spending Account (FSA) is another pre-tax account where money from your paycheck is set aside for health expenses throughout the year. However, be sure to spend the funds before the end of the year, as it is “use it or lose it”. In 2025, the limit on this account is $3,200. This type of account is only offered for employer-sponsored plans.

Stay on Parents’ Plan Until Age 26 — Then Compare Marketplace Plans

If you’re under the age of 26, it’s likely advantageous to stay on your parents’ plan if possible (and if they’re willing to keep covering you). It might be advantageous to see how much more it would be to include you in their plan. Once you know how much that additional cost is, compare it with a similar marketplace plan you purchase on your own.

Shop Student Health Plans or Catastrophic Coverage

Most accredited universities offer student health plans to students, and some even require health coverage to enroll in classes. Similar to the example above, it’s likely cheaper to remain on your parents’ coverage. But it's worth looking into the student health center to see what is included for students.

Significant changes are coming to Medicare plans in 2026. Here’s what you need to know.

Prices Are Increasing

Medicare prices are going up as a result of higher medical costs. Finalized pricing has not yet been released, but here are the estimated price increases:

These increases may look modest, but they could make a significant difference for those on strict budgets. 

Check Medicare Advantage vs. Original Medicare

Medicare Advantage (MA) plans often seem appealing due to low premiums and additional perks like dental and vision coverage. However, these plans can come with significant trade-offs. Many MA plans have limited provider networks, requiring referrals for specialists and potentially restricting access to preferred doctors. Additionally, MA plans can have significantly high deductibles that are much higher than the 20% coinsurance required under Original Medicare.

Additionally, MA plans are subject to annual changes in coverage and costs. Insurers may alter premiums, deductibles, and drug formularies, leading to unexpected out-of-pocket expenses – leaving some scrambling for coverage. 

Original Medicare may provide more predictable costs and broader provider access, making it a more reliable choice for long-term healthcare planning.

Use Free Counseling from SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program)

Navigating healthcare insurance can be intimidating, frustrating, and confusing. There are assistance programs available to help you find the best policy for you and any dependents you may have.

SHIP counselors can help you navigate Medicare options unbiasedly. You can find your local SHIP office on the SHIP Help website. 

Despite a laundry list of complex insurance rules and rising costs, there are ways you can cut your healthcare costs down.

Understand What Is and Isn’t Covered

Before scheduling any medical procedure or filling a prescription, take time to understand what your health plan covers—and at what cost. Every plan has its own rules about which services are fully covered, partially covered, and which might require you to pay out of pocket.

If you get insurance through work, your employer’s benefits website is often the best place to start. You’ll typically find details on coverage levels, deductibles, copays, and coinsurance. If something isn’t clear, your HR department will likely be able to get you the answers you need.

Taking a few minutes to review your benefits now can prevent expensive surprises later and help you make the most of your coverage throughout the year.

Ask for Cash Prices or “Prompt Pay” Discounts

Healthcare costs don’t always have to go through the insurance route. Many labs, imaging centers, and even some medical providers offer significant discounts if you pay cash upfront—a strategy often called a “prompt pay” discount.

Prices are often negotiable, especially for non-urgent procedures. The key is to ask: call the provider ahead of time and request the cash price. You might be surprised at how much you can save—sometimes hundreds of dollars on a single visit.

Even if you plan to use insurance, checking cash prices gives you leverage and a clearer picture of what a procedure actually costs.

Leverage Urgent Care or Retail Clinics Instead of ER

If you’re feeling ill or get injured, and it’s not a life-threatening emergency, try to use a local clinic or urgent care before going to an emergency room. In most cases, coverage for an urgent care visit is significantly cheaper than an ER visit. 

A Texas A&M study found that insured patients who go to emergency departments could end up paying 10 times more in out-of-pocket costs compared to urgent care centers. Be sure to check your plan’s coverage information for your visit types, and stay educated on what different visits cost. 

WorkMoney has a tool to help you find local medical attention here.

Negotiate Bills and Payment Plans

One of the largest mistakes consumers make is paying medical bills without questioning them. Unfortunately, medical bills are notoriously incorrect. A 2024 Commonwealth Fund survey found 45% of insured, working-age adults in the U.S. have received a medical bill or copayment in the past year for a service they thought should have been covered by their insurance.

But the good news is that you can dispute them, and there seems to be a high level of success in doing so. A USC study found the following:

• 74% of those who said they specifically reached out about a billing error said the mistake was corrected. 

• 76% said they received some form of financial relief for unaffordable bills. 

• 62% said the price dropped if they negotiated.

If you’re struggling with hospital bills, DollarFor could help you either reduce or eliminate your hospital bill. In addition, be sure to use discount programs like GoodRX to continue saving on your prescriptions.