If your renewal letter made you wince, you are in good company. Unsubsidized marketplace premiums rose sharply for 2026 after the enhanced subsidies expired, and plenty of families are paying more for the same coverage. The good news is that a premium is not a fixed fact of life. It is the output of choices, and several of those choices are yours to change.
Adjust the deductible, thoughtfully
The fastest premium lever is the deductible. Moving from a low deductible to a moderate one can trim the monthly bill meaningfully. The discipline is to bank some of the savings so the bigger deductible cannot hurt you. What we caution against is chasing the absolute highest deductible to get the absolute lowest premium; compare the worst-year total cost, premium plus out-of-pocket maximum, before you leap.
Reshop instead of auto-renewing
Carriers reprice every year, and the plan that was the best deal two years ago is often not the best deal today. Reshopping your coverage annually, comparing your current plan against the current market, is the single most reliable way to fight premium creep. This is true on the marketplace and on the private side alike.
Consider the private route if you are healthy
For applicants in good health, private medically underwritten PPO plans often price below unsubsidized marketplace coverage, sometimes by a wide margin, because the carrier knows the health of who it is covering. This is not the answer for everyone. Underwritten plans can decline applicants, and anyone with significant pre-existing conditions or strong subsidy eligibility usually belongs on the marketplace. But if you are paying full price and healthy, it is worth a quote.
Check your subsidy math again
If you buy on the marketplace, small income changes can move your subsidy a lot, especially near the 400 percent of federal poverty level cliff that returned for 2026. Contributions to retirement accounts or an HSA can lower the income the subsidy is based on. Talk with a tax professional about your specifics; the premium savings can be substantial.
Trim where it does not hurt
Look at pieces you may not need: out-of-network coverage you never use, add-ons that duplicate other protection, or a network tier fancier than the doctors you actually see. Also confirm household members are on the right plans; sometimes covering kids separately, or each spouse differently, beats one plan for everyone.
One caution while you trim: beware of products that cut the premium by quietly not being insurance. Discount cards, thin indemnity plans, and some sharing arrangements can look like savings right up until a big claim arrives. Lowering your premium should mean adjusting real coverage thoughtfully, not swapping it for something that folds the first time you lean on it.
A licensed Liberty Health advisor can run this whole checklist with you in one call, using real quotes instead of guesswork. Our help is free, with no obligation to buy a thing. Reach us at (251) 205-6801.
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