Healthcare costs always seem to go up, never down, eating a bigger chunk out of Americans’ budgets every year. Due to everything going on with Affordable Care Act subsidies, 2026 could be an especially expensive year for healthcare. The good news? There are still plenty of ways to reduce what you spend if you know where to look.
Here are 10 simple, expert-backed ways to save money on medical care.
1. Start With Prevention and Smart Provider Choices
Preventive care and staying in-network are your first lines of defense against major medical bills.
“Begin by understanding the in-network providers offered under your insurance plan and taking advantage of preventive care benefits,” said Dr. Geny Augustine, a family medicine physician at Solace Health. “It’s usually free, and it helps prevent expensive emergencies down the line.”
She also advised requesting itemized bills and comparing prices before procedures since hospital charges can vary widely for the same service.
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2. Don’t Skip Your Annual Checkups
Routine labs and screenings might not save money immediately but can prevent much higher costs later.
“It is easy to see that in someone who runs to urgent care over a cough or takes years to get regular checkups and then shows up at the emergency room with a $20,000 bill,” said Kiara DeWitt, certified pediatric nurse and healthcare advocate at Medical Director Co. “You need a baseline … labs done annually so you can see trends and catch things early. Prevention is always cheaper than a cure.”
3. Shop Around and Compare Prices
Even within the same city, prices for healthcare services can differ dramatically.
“Before you receive any treatment, request the ‘cash price,’ which often will be less than what’s charged to insurance,” Dr. Augustine said.
DeWitt added: “Pharmacies in the same city will often price gouge each other on the same medication. Call two places, write down the price and figure it out. There is no shame or penalty for this in the least. In fact, most folks do not even realize they can pay with cash at times and spend less than their copay.”
Dr. Augustine also encouraged patients to always request itemized bills and shop around before scheduling procedures.
4. Use Technology and Generic Options To Cut Rx Costs
Medication-savings apps and generic substitutions can make a huge difference. Dr. Augustine recommended “checking pharmacy prices in the GoodRx or SingleCare apps and asking your provider if a generic option is available or if a 90-day mail-order program is available.”
Generic options can save you as much as 25% to 80% right off the bat just by asking, DeWitt noted.
5. Take Advantage of Telehealth
Virtual visits for minor or follow-up care can cost a fraction of an in-person appointment in some cases.
“Telehealth visits for minor conditions, such as sinus infections and follow-ups, typically run far cheaper than in-person visits,” Dr. Augustine said. “Several insurers also provide free virtual wellness checks or nurse lines, which could be the first line of defense against making an unnecessary urgent care visit or a trip to the E.R.”
6. Read Every Itemized Bill
Billing mistakes are common, and they can add up fast. “You won’t believe how many people don’t actually read their itemized bills in this country. That is where you will find the big mistakes,” DeWitt said. Whether it’s from overbilling, duplicate line items or facility charges, a 10-minute review each time will help you understand fees in the $200 range or more per visit.
“If you don’t know what a billing code means, call the office and ask. Ignorance is the only thing that is truly free.”
7. Negotiate Your Bills and Ask For Discounts
Simply asking for help can open doors to meaningful savings as well, both experts advised.
“A lot of patients I’ve worked with are often surprised how easy it is to get in touch with the people on the other side,” DeWitt said. “Say the magic words ‘hardship discount’ or ‘self-pay reduction’ and watch how quickly someone is on the phone with you.”
Most people don’t realize they are paying sticker price on medical bills, she added. Dr. Augustine agreed: “If you get a bill, ask for an itemized statement and look for inflated charges; many providers will work with you on payment plans or discounts.”
8. Use HSAs and FSAs To Maximize Pretax Savings
Health savings accounts (HSAs) and flexible spending accounts (FSAs) act like built-in discounts on care.
“You put money in pretax and that is an instant savings of 20% to 30%, depending on your tax bracket,” DeWitt said. “If you spend $3,000 a year on medical expenses, that is $600 back in your pocket. It’s free money.”
These accounts can cover glasses, contacts, prescriptions and sometimes even over-the-counter items. For FSAs, just be sure to use your funds before the annual deadline, as they often don’t roll over.
9. Consider Direct Primary Care or Health-Share Programs
If you’re generally healthy, exploring alternative care models can potentially lower costs.
“Either look into direct primary care or health share programs,” DeWitt said. “The former is unlimited visits for a flat monthly fee. The latter is much more like traditional insurance but a bit more flexible.”
They both work best for families who are relatively healthy and do not often use hospital or ER services.
10. Be Strategic About Your Health Insurance Plan
Choosing the cheapest plan is important but it can backfire if you don’t consider the total cost.
“Add up the premium and the deductible and the maximum out-of-pocket, and make sure that total is less than what you spent last year,” DeWitt said. “Plans with the best premiums can quickly exhaust you in an emergency situation.”
The true value of an insurance plan is in the maximum it will cost you each year, not the minimum.
Healthcare might never be cheap, but with a little prevention, comparison and confidence in asking questions, you can trim unnecessary costs — and make the system work more in your favor.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 10 Simplest Ways To Slash Healthcare Costs
