How to Save More on Health Care in 2026

The Bronze Plan + HSA + HELPcare Premier Combo

Starting January 1, 2026, families in southern Minnesota get a powerful new way to cut health care costs and get better primary care.

The short version:

• All Marketplace Bronze plans will be HSA‑compatible in 2026
• Direct Primary Care (DPC) memberships like HELPcare Premier can be paid with HSA dollars (within federal limits)
• That means you can pair a lower‑premium Bronze plan with a HELPcare Premier membership and use pre‑tax HSA dollars to help pay for your membership

Instead of paying more to a big system to feel like a number, you can pay less overall and have a primary care team that actually knows you.

For Individuals & Families

Here’s how the new setup can work for many households:

The “old way”

• Silver plan with higher premiums, just to get a lower deductible 
• You still avoid going to the doctor, because everything is out‑of‑pocket until you hit that deductible 
• Short visits where you feel rushed and like “just a number”

The “new way” for 2026

1. Choose a Bronze Marketplace plan
   • In 2026, all Marketplace Bronze plans are HSA‑compatible (not just a few special ones). 
   • Bronze plans usually come with lower monthly premiums.
2. Open and fund a Health Savings Account (HSA)
   • You put money into your HSA before taxes are taken out, which lowers your taxable income. 
   • You can use HSA dollars for qualified medical expenses.
3. Join HELPcare Premier for your primary care
   • Unlimited primary care office visits 
   • More than 100 common lab tests at no extra charge 
   • 30–60 minute visits focused on preventing and even reversing disease
4. Use HSA dollars to help pay your HELPcare Premier membership
   • Under the new federal rules, in many cases DPC membership fees like HELPcare Premier can be treated as HSA‑eligible expenses, within federal monthly limits. 
   • For those using an HSA, we're reducing the monthly rate for HELPcare Premier to $149, to fit within those federal limits.
   • That means your day‑to‑day primary care can be paid with pre‑tax dollars.

In one real example from our podcast, a local couple:

• Switched from a Silver plan to a Bronze plan 
• Saved about $400–$500 per month on premiums (around $6,000 per year) 
• Joined HELPcare Clinic, got longer visits and a doctor who knows them 
• And starting in 2026, they can also use HSA dollars toward their HELPcare membership

You can get care in Austin, Albert Lea, and Rochester, with predictable costs and a team that knows you by name.

For Employers

If you’re a CEO, CFO, or HR leader, 2026 opens new options to:

• Pair a Bronze plan with an HSA 
• Add HELPcare Clinic membership as the primary care layer 
• Let employees use HSA funds (subject to federal limits and plan rules) to pay their membership

That structure can:

• Lower total health plan spend (we’ve seen 10–20% savings in real groups) 
• Give employees $0 out‑of‑pocket primary care at HELPcare Clinic 
• Reduce avoidable ER and urgent care visits by catching problems early

We work with you and your benefits advisor to design a plan that fits your workforce and keeps you compliant.

Important Notes

• HELPcare Clinic is not health insurance.
  Our memberships provide primary care services. You still need insurance for hospitalizations, surgeries, and other major medical care.
• HSA rules are specific.
  HSA eligibility and what you can pay with HSA dollars depend on your exact insurance plan, income, and tax situation. We’ll help you understand the options, but you should confirm with your tax advisor or benefits professional how the 2026 rules apply to you.

Want to See What This Could Look Like for You?

If you’re in Austin, Albert Lea, or Rochester and you:

• Have (or are considering) a high‑deductible Bronze plan, and 
• Want longer visits, lower stress, and lower total costs

Fill out the form below, tell us a bit about your situation, and we’ll walk you through how the Bronze + HSA + HELPcare Premier setup might work for your family or your company starting January 1, 2026.

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Lee Aase

Lee Aase is the founder of HELPcare LLC, which provides comprehensive membership, marketing and management services for provider-owned HELPcare Clinics, as well as metabolic health education and coaching for people interested in restoring health and reversing disease through lifestyle changes. Lee and his wife Lisa live in Austin, MN and have six married children and 19 grandchildren.