7 Smart Ways To Cut Costs and Afford Rising Healthcare Bills
Written by
Chris Adam
Edited by
Cory Dudak
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You may have heard complaints from families across the U.S. about higher costs for health insurance and medical care in recent months. In fact, the cost of healthcare leads some to put off needed care altogether.
According to a Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) poll conducted in July 2025, about one-third (36%) of adults said that in the past 12 months, they’ve skipped or postponed getting healthcare they needed because of the cost. Further, three in four (75%) uninsured adults under age 65 said they went without needed care because of the cost.
If you’re looking for some ways to trim your budget to better afford healthcare costs, here is some expert-backed advice.
1. Shop Around for Pharmacy Options
Just like shopping around can help you save money on budget items, the same can be true with your medication costs.
“Shop around,” said Dr. William Soliman, CEO of Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs. “Explore different healthcare providers and pharmacies. Smaller and independent pharmacies might offer better prices and a higher quality of service than chains.”
2. Take Healthy Steps
You may have heard the saying, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” That may be true for your finances.
“Be sure to take advantage of preventative medical services, such as annual visits, regular screenings and immunizations,” said Marguerita Cheng, certified financial planner (CFP), CEO of Blue Ocean Global Wealth. “Make the time for your semi-annual dental visits and be certain to floss regularly.”
3. Review Expenses
If you don’t already, it may be helpful to schedule regular times to review your expenses — perhaps a monthly or bi-monthly review will work for you.
“You may have unused items, zombie subscriptions, billing errors or outright fraud,” said Kevin Estes, CFP and founder of Scaled Finance.
4. Get Cash Back
Per Estes, “You might spend more on travel, at restaurants or with specific retailers. Using the right credit card could earn a little extra on those purchases.”
5. Shop Your Insurance
If you haven’t checked in a while, it may be possible to increase coverage and lower premiums. Raising deductibles and paying in advance can also help.
6. Simplify Meal Prep
“AI is great at meal planning,” Estes said. “A pressure cooker, air fryer or slow cooker makes it easier to cook at home instead of ordering take-out.”
7. Cut Back on Impulse Spending
“Keep within your budget and don’t allow yourself to drain your funds on impromptu shopping trips, fancy coffee drinks and movie rentals on your streaming device,” said Brandon Gregg, CFP and advisor with BBK Wealth Management. “All of these things can add up over the months.”
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