With employers facing higher health insurance and employee benefits costs in 2026, many groups are looking for practical ways to save. As a broker, you can guide them toward strategies that reduce costs without lowering care quality. Here are seven approaches to consider.

Cost-Saving Approaches to Share with Your Clients

1: Shift to an ACA Bronze Tier Plan with an HSA

Because of the Working Families Tax Cut Act passed in 2025, more Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans are Health Savings Account (HSA) qualified for 2026. Your clients may find moving to an ACA Bronze tier plan more economical. That is especially true when it is paired with an HSA.

2: Move to a Narrow Network

You may have noticed that some of your clients are in full PPO plans, but employees only see doctors within a specific local health system. Moving from a full PPO to a “Choice” or “Premier” network could help your clients offset the impact of a 2026 rate increase, while keeping their existing benefit levels.

3: Alternative Funding Options

If you have a healthy group of 5-50 employees, choosing a fully insured plan is often the most expensive way to buy health insurance. Other options are available and should be considered. Make sure you discuss them with your clients.

4: Integrated HRAs (Health Reimbursement Arrangements)

Instead of choosing a Gold-tier health plan with a low deductible, encourage your groups to look at a Silver-tier plan. Clients are happier when they save on premiums and only face added costs when their employees go to the hospital. (These costs may be offset by gap insurance or a separate hospital indemnity plan. See tip six below.)

5: Direct Primary Care Is Exploding

You may have read that Direct Primary Care (DPC) is gaining more traction in medical care. Also known as “concierge medicine,” the number of primary care medical practices is way up. According to Johns Hopkins University, it surged 83.1% between 2018 and 2023. The number of clinicians in these practices grew by more than 75% during the same period. You can pair your clients with HDHP coverage and DPC membership.

6: Hospital Indemnity/Gap Insurance

If a client is forced into (or willingly moves into) a High-Deductible Health Plan, they are likely concerned about a big hospital bill. One strategy is to add a Hospital Indemnity rider. It can be quite affordable, and it offers a lump-sum payment when the insured is hospitalized.

7: Pharmacy Optimization Tools

Increased use of pharmacy optimization tools can help your clients reduce their Rx spending – often by as much as 30%. It can be done through use of artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics, and a reduction of inefficient Rx claims.

Support Your Clients with the Word & Brown General Agency

Focus on finding a solution that addresses your clients’ pain points. Ask a lot of questions – and listen to the answers shared by your clients.

If you need help shopping the market, or generating quotes, you can count on your Word & Brown team for help. We have sales experts working across California and Nevada. We know the players, plans, and provider networks in both states. We can help you compare plans and find the right Small Group, Large Group, or Ancillary products to address your clients’ needs.

We understand demographic and regional trends, too. We’ll help you solve whatever unique challenges your clients may be facing. Plus, if the right carrier is not one with whom you are already contracted, we will help expedite your appointment and get you on the path to increased earnings with client-focused solutions.

Contact your W&B rep today. Or if we’re not already working together, call 800-869-6989 or register online today.