This year, I opted out of traditional health insurance.
That usually stops people mid-scroll, so let me explain why.
I use CrowdHealth instead.
How it works in plain English:
It’s not insurance. It’s a healthcare cost-sharing model.
You apply and have to be accepted.
You need to be relatively healthy and meet specific criteria to become a member.
You pay a monthly advocacy fee — mine is $60.48/month.
When someone in the community has a medical expense, members crowd-fund it together. I will never pay more than $140/month to help another member.
I can choose where I get care, see costs upfront, and negotiate cash prices with the help of CrowdHealth‘s Care Advocacy team.
No networks, no deductibles games, no billing black holes.
It’s transparent.
It’s simple.
And, it treats healthcare like an actual service instead of a ridiculous financial trap.
Here are the actual numbers from January through June 2026:
Advocacy fees: $60.48/month × 6 months = $362.88
Crowdfunding contributions: $271.84 total across 6 months
Dental cleaning: $250.00
Eye exam: $250.00
Total spent in six months: ~$1,134.72
What traditional insurance would have cost me over the same period: $621/month × 6 = $3,726 — before co-pays, deductibles, or anything else.
CrowdHealth‘s own dashboard shows I’m saving 77% per month — $479.85 in monthly savings versus what I was quoted for traditional insurance.
Now, the very honest caveats:
I have not had to use CrowdHealth for an actual health event yet — no ER visits, no specialist care, no major procedures. That is the real test, and I haven’t faced it. I’ll be transparent when and if I do.
Because CrowdHealth isn’t ACA-compliant insurance in California, I’ll pay a tax penalty at the end of the year. Even factoring that in, I’m still projecting I’ll spend roughly half of what traditional insurance would have cost me for 2026.
Is CrowdHealth for everyone? No.
Is traditional insurance working for most people? Also, no.
This isn’t medical or financial advice.
It’s me opting out of a system that never felt aligned, transparent, or sane, and sharing the real numbers as I go.
I’ll post a full year-end analysis at the end of 2026.
Let’s see how this plays out.
If you’d like to sign up today, click this link and use code MEGHANSW at checkout to receive a discounted cost of $99 per family member for their first 3 months of membership.
Curious how others, especially if you’re self-employed, are navigating this: insurance, cost-sharing, direct primary care, cash pay, some hybrid, or something else entirely. Let me know how you’re navigating this in the comments. I read and reply to every response. I’ll share a full, real-world analysis at the end of 2026 after living this out longer!
And, if you have any other questions or comments, don’t hesitate to ask me any time in my weekly Q&A in my paid subscriber channel. If you’re not a paid subscriber, sign up below.
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What about monthly Rx? And what about emergency care? Do they have guidance on that!
i've been waiting for this update! super interesting