5 tips to help you be a smarter health care consumer

April 22, 2026

Better understanding health care costs and how your health plan can help support your wellness goals can be an important part of your family’s financial plan. Especially as 36% of adults report skipping care due to cost in the last 12 months.¹

You may have tools, benefits and resources available through your health insurer that can simplify care, help you understand your costs upfront and compare your care options before scheduling an appointment.

Here are some tips to help you be a smarter health care consumer.

1. Consider digital solutions designed to improve your experience

Some health insurers offer tools to help people search for network providers and compare treatment options, which can help you make more informed decisions about where to get care. AI-powered tools like chatbots and provider search tools may also be available to help you more easily navigate your benefits and help you make more informed decisions.

Avery, UnitedHealthcare’s AI chatbot, aims to create a simpler health care experience. Eligible members can ask Avery questions related to cost estimates, claims, provider search and more. Avery can offer clear, actionable next steps for members. And if extra support is needed, Avery transfers you to a customer advocate to help.

2. Compare costs and care options before scheduling care

Just like when you shop for other purchases, comparing costs and options upfront for health care can help you make more informed decisions and potentially save you money. Some health insurers offer health plans and provider search tools that can help you better understand your options and costs.

One example is UnitedHealthcare’s Surest plan, an AI-powered health plan designed to provide upfront copays and no deductibles, making it easier for members to understand what they’ll pay before their appointment. With a Surest plan, you can shop for health care and your copay may be lower when you choose providers with tracks records of effective, cost-efficient care.

Another option is Smart Choice, an AI-powered provider search experience, available to eligible members in the UHC app and myuhc.com.

Smart Choice is designed to help provide greater health benefit personalization, easier access to care, and more informed choices for members, all of which may lead to better health outcomes and lower costs.

This enhanced provider search capability displays provider search results that simplify the process of searching for care, empowers members to more easily gain insight into their care options and helps members maximize their health benefits.

3. Shop for personalized services and offerings

Check to see if your health insurer offers digital tools designed to make it easier to shop for offerings that may meet your health and lifestyle needs for services like:

Women’s health
Mental health
Weight management
Nutrition and fitness
Chronic condition management

UHC Store, for example, is a digital shopping experience for eligible members to shop for and purchase a variety of health and wellness offerings to meet their individual needs throughout the year at an average of 26% off retail prices.

4. Establish a relationship with a primary care provider

Staying in touch with a primary care provider can help catch issues early when treatment may be less costly. It can also help support better health outcomes and courses of treatment.

Annual checkups, vaccines and certain screenings may be covered by your health plan at no additional cost when recommended by a network provider. That’s especially important as rates of certain cancers and chronic conditions continue to rise in working-age people.²

5. Don’t forget about financial protection plans you may be eligible for

Expenses from an unexpected illness, injury or hospital stay can add up quickly. That’s where supplemental plans can help. This can include options like accident insurance, critical illness insurance or hospital insurance.

Supplemental plans provide financial cushions by offering fixed payments or reimbursements during covered events. This added layer of protection can mitigate everyday expenses, medical bills not covered by primary insurance, or the unexpected costs that comes with time away from work.

A few small steps can help make health care easier to navigate. Take a few minutes to review your benefits and contact your health plan and your employer with any questions.

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Footnotes

Disclaimers

UHC Store provides a member-direct purchase of health and wellness offerings. UHC Store is not a product, program nor service, is not insurance, and is not a substitute for health plan benefits nor professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. UnitedHealthcare does not endorse nor guarantee offerings available through UHC Store. UnitedHealthcare is not responsible or liable for services or advice given by a UHC Store participant of these offerings. Individuals are responsible for understanding potential risks associated with using these offerings. Purchasing any offerings may have tax implications. Individuals should consult with a tax specialist to determine whether they have any tax obligations from purchasing offerings from the UHC Store. Components subject to change. UHC Store is not available in all states or for all members.

Insurance coverage provided by or through UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or its affiliates. Administrative services provided by United HealthCare Services, Inc. or its affiliate.

Smart Choice is proprietary to UnitedHealthcare and is designed to provide members with additional information as part of the provider search experience. Smart Choice is intended to be informational only and should not be the sole factor considered when selecting a provider. UnitedHealthcare does not endorse any particular provider or guarantee quality or outcomes. Smart Choice may rely on personal data and automated technologies, which may not always be errorfree or complete. Members should use their judgment when selecting care.