Whether it’s the old fashioned way, with a crayon-scrawled letter to Santa or a tech-savvy gift list complete with links, this is the season of making lists for the gifts you hope to find under your tree. But it’s not the only list you should consider making this time of year.

Even with all the fun and festivities of the upcoming week of Christmas, it’s also a time to prepare for 2026. And that includes considering what you’d love to see as part of your health care for the coming year.

A lot is changing in health care for the upcoming year. As you consider what your best scenario would look like to maximize both your health and your healthcare dollars, you’ll want to keep the following areas in mind:

💰 Rising Costs with More Potential Mayhem…and an Innovative Solution:

It’s been a wild ride, this last part of the year. There were several ACA and COVID-era subsidies scheduled to end during this time. There were citizens and elected officials who hoped those subsidies could be renegotiated. But the government shutdown this fall has not led at this time to extensions or adjustments to those subsidies.

Regardless of where all that might land, the reality is that traditional insurance healthcare costs are predicted to rise at unprecedented numbers. Not only are traditional health insurers reported to be raising premiums by an average 26% (and in some cases, far higher) but out-of-pocket amounts and deductibles are also predicted to cost the average consumer much more. 1 How much more in out-of-pocket costs, you ask? Various sources now show costs will rise 114%. 2 This will make traditional health insurance out of reach for many Americans. 

Experts expect to see a significant rise in the number of health share memberships as a result. A health share is a group of like-minded individuals who share a set of common values, who share in one another’s eligible medical needs. The monthly cost of being part of a health share has always been lower than traditional health insurance, but in this new cost landscape, the cost difference will be even more significant. For example, a Diamond membership with Altrua HealthShare, the top membership available, is $356 a month. It includes built-in office visits, unlimited telehealth, the HealthWallet app, access to the First Health network, maternity, adoption sharing in eligible states, and more. The same type of traditional health insurance plan is now projected to be over triple the cost. If you’re already a Member of Altrua HealthShare, be sure to read over the coming 2026 guidelines, so that you can understand and utilize the numerous features of your membership. You can also customize a membership for your season of life and budget with MyShare. Or, if you’re not a Member of Altrua HealthShare and would like to learn more about Altrua HealthShare’s innovative approach, contact a Member Services Representative at 1-888-244-3839. (Be sure to check out this recent article to learn more about rising healthcare costs and how Altrua HealthShare can keep your eligible medical costs far lower because of their shared community approach).  

🤖 The Tech of It

AI technology and digital approaches to medicine are here to stay. Love it or hate it, fully embracing it or still suspicious of it, technology in medicine is making fast advances in healthcare. 

While you may find that technology is giving you better information and access to your healthcare choices and history, it’s important to ask questions and educate yourself as tech enters your patient/provider relationship. When going to a clinic or hospital that is using AI and tech, consider talking with the staff about the following:

  • How do you handle my personal data? What assurances of my privacy do I have, beyond standard HIPAA requirements? 
  • Are your tech tools regulated? Are they validated by an oversight group?
  • Who reviews my test results, AI-driven medical imaging, tech-aided diagnostics?

While technology can help with rising costs, over-stretched medical providers and staff, and giving access to broader diagnostic models and research, it’s not the answer for every situation. There is still a way to go until we fully understand the strengths, loop holes, and issues with AI tech in healthcare. This means that when it comes to your healthcare list, you’ll want to add asking questions, advocating for yourself, and keeping paper copies of your medical and Rx records. After all, AI has shown itself to be both powerful…and glitchy. When it comes to your health, you want to make sure you’re still at the wheel. 3

⌛ What Stays the Same

All the new in healthcare still addresses what has always been the same when it comes to our health; dealing with chronic conditions (over 76% of Americans deal with chronic issues), providing emergent care when needed, and helping prevent disease. 4 Whatever your approach to your healthcare, you want the flexibility and the team in place who works best for you. What is your plan for 2026 when it comes to your health? If you had an emergency in your city, which hospital would you head for? Have you scheduled preventative screenings and exams? How well are you managing chronic conditions like blood pressure and insulin levels? And is your medical provider helping educate you and monitor those aspects of your health?

🎉 2026 Ready

As you look ahead into your medical needs and wish list for 2026, here are a few items to keep in mind:

  • Review your Membership Guidelines (if you’re a Member of Altrua HealthShare) or your policy documents if you’re still navigating traditional insurance. Make note of what is changing for the upcoming year, including how to submit reimbursement documents and what features are available on your membership.
  • Get your 2026 appointments on the calendar. If you turned around twice and found yourself at the end of this year having once again put off important preventative screenings, now is the time to get proactive for the new year. Turn to the fresh page of 2026 and schedule those appointments now, instead of letting the busyness of the new year sideline your best intentions.
  • Talk with your medical provider and pharmacist about more affordable generic swaps for your medications. There are several initiatives afoot to lower the cost of various medications; perhaps something you regularly take is on that list. Doing a med review with your medical providers may help you save some dollars in the coming year. 
  • Ask your provider about your patient privacy and their practice protocols as AI enters the medical mainstream. 5

Yes, there are lots of changes (and expensive ones at that) in the upcoming year when it comes to your healthcare. When you make your list and check it twice, reviewing costs, guidelines, prescriptions, and privacy, you’ll feel even better heading into the new year.

“Quality in a service or product is not what you put into it. It is what the customer gets out of it.”

– Peter Drucker, management consultant and educator

1 https://www.kff.org/quick-take/aca-insurers-are-raising-premiums-by-an-estimated-26-but-most-enrollees-could-see-sharper-increases-in-what-they-pay/
2 https://tcf.org/content/commentary/its-official-americans-will-pay-much-more-for-all-types-of-health-coverage-in-2026-including-medicare/
3 https://www.forbes.com/sites/sachinjain/2025/12/01/top-10-healthcare-industry-predictions-for-2026/
4 https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2025/24_0539.htm
5 https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/healthcare/our-insights/the-coming-evolution-of-healthcare-ai-toward-a-modular-architecture?