A Dose of Vitamin Ray e-Newsletter

November 8, 2025: Protecting Your Money & Health

Dear Reader,

I hope your week has been kind.

Mine has been a bit cray-cray, but what else is new, lol. I'm thankful for brisk Autumn morning walks, ube matcha green tea lattes, and family. It's the daily little wins that keep us fueled, am I right?

Today's dose is about the troubling costs of healthcare and what to do to keep your healthcare expenses affordable and sustainable for your current needs.

The United States spends the MOST money on healthcare in the developed (colonized) world, with costs rising to 4.9 TRILLION in 2023, and still climbing (1). Hospital care and physician services are the largest categories of health spending, making up 31% and ~15%, respectively.

Here is a chart I pulled from the innanets to demonstrate the rise in costs over time:

This is outrageous and unsustainable!

Now, 2026 is projecting another surge in healthcare premium costs with fewer benefits in the plans. To read more about this and why it is happening, you can check out this NPR article here.

It's also important to note that many private practices are impacted by the rising costs of labs, equipment, medications, and other services or products. This creates a domino effect that causes providers to raise their prices too, unless they can find other ways to save on overhead.

All of this is very worrisome to hear and navigate, but there are some options you can consider to help you save more money on healthcare next year. Below are some tips I hope you can apply.

Ways to Save on Healthcare in 2026

1.) Ask HR about what available plans you can switch to during open enrollment.

Downsizing your insurance plan may be the way to go if you rarely have to be seen by a doctor in person and don't have a medical condition that requires a higher level of care management. The most basic plans will have a higher deductible and less of a network; however, wellness exams and routine screening labs would still be covered.

If you're acquiring your health insurance independently, then consider working with a health insurance broker to help you find the most cost-effective plan that covers your primary needs while meeting your budget.

If you're currently job hunting, be sure to ask about your employer's insurance benefits and how much is covered. It appears the larger companies are now offering less contribution to health benefits and employer-sponsored plans, whereas select smaller companies and nonprofits are willing to cover more healthcare benefits.

2.) Use your HSA or FSA pre-tax dollars before the end of the year.

Some folks have pretax money deducted from their payroll that can be used for wellness care. Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) are offered by certain insurance plans and can be used for non-covered medical services (i.e. ND visits) or wellness support such as supplements, functional lab tests, and even home equipment such as massage devices, health wearables, etc.

Currently, you can set aside up to $3,300 in an FSA for health care expenses (tax savings of more than $600).

Plus, these are new HSA changes you can expect in 2026 from OBBB:

• For an HSA, you can set aside up to $4400 (single) or $8750 (family) in 2026.
• Bronze and Catastrophic ACA marketplace plans will become eligible for HSA eligibility.
• Direct Primary Care memberships and telehealth coverage will become HSA-compatible.

​Learn more about HSA 2026 changes here.​

Please estimate your expenses carefully before signing up so you can be certain that the HSA or FSA option is a good fit for your healthcare needs.

And remember, any FSA funds you do not spend by the year’s end are forfeited. However, HSA funds are usually allowed to roll over into the next year to use.

3.) Get your annual wellness exams and screenings completed.

As part of the ACA, most insurance plans will cover annual preventive care with no out-of-pocket costs if you're seen by an in-network provider. Completing your yearly well exam and screenings is a great cost-saving strategy because you can catch issues early and treat them before they worsen and become more expensive to treat.

4.) Cut back daily spending on unhealthy habits.

This tip goes out to my daily frappuccino or PSL lovers [pumpkin spice latte], fast-food frequenters, and happy-hour loyalists. I see you, boo!

I understand better than anyone the comfort of a daily treat or doing what's easiest, but your daily indulgence may be siphoning your money and setting you up for future health consequences.

Swapping out the vice for a healthier and lower-cost option is a cost-saving strategy. Try doing a morning walk in sunshine instead of a caffeine-sugar fix, prep mason jar salads as quick to-go meals for the week, and increase water intake over cocktails. After one month, you can save $200 - 400+, and your liver will thank you!

5.) Reduce Office Copays & Unnecessary Trips to the ER.

Recently, a patient told me she gets charged $100 copay every time she has an office visit with her PCP. When she pays and goes, she said the doctor spends less than 10 minutes with her, and the care doesn't feel thorough.

Another patient told me she went to the ER multiple times this year because she thought she was experiencing an emergent issue, only to find out she was deemed "fine" each time she went. Turns out, she wasn't "fine", but her health concern was not suitable for ER intervention, and she didn't have health care coverage to receive proper care.

If you've experienced a similar situation or are looking for a better way to gain supplemental healthcare to complement an existing high-deductible insurance policy, consider signing up for a concierge medical subscription.

Imagine having a reliable and knowledgeable doctor-on-retainer who provides unlimited visits, calls, and messages for a reasonable monthly membership fee. Boutique Concierge and Direct Primary Care practices are gaining more popularity for the high level of care they provide at a great value.

Naturopathic primary care support can prevent unnecessary visits to the ER or paying $100 copays. Concierge care is not a substitute for health insurance, but it can fill in the gaps of care and help you prevent future issues and catch underlying issues yet to be diagnosed. It's a great option to protect your health and money.

The best way to address a health crisis is prevention.

I'm reminded of the old saying: "Pay now or pay later." Prevention and early intervention usually provide better cost savings and fewer problems later.

Don't miss my special promotion for extra savings...

Become a concierge member for only $100/month!

Enroll Now until December 31st. HSA/FSA is accepted.

Did you miss my last email explaining the open enrollment promotion? Catch up by reading here (scroll to the bottom).

If you’re new to me and want to learn more about becoming a patient, please feel free to book a free discovery call here.

Thank you for reading, and this helps you save some extra dollars next year!

Love and blessings,

Dr. Ray

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References:

1.) AMA: Trends in Healthcare Spending​

2.) NPR: Health insurance premiums are going up next year - unless you work at these companies​

3.) HSA Changes 2026: New Rules, Contribution Limits, and What They Mean for You​