Healthcare Alternatives After Open Enrollment: What You Can Do

If you recently signed up for a marketplace or employer healthcare plan, you might be thinking:

“I guess I’m locked in until next year.”

That’s one of the most common things we hear.

And in many cases, it’s not true.

There’s more flexibility than most people realize, especially if your current healthcare setup isn’t working the way you expected.

More and more families are exploring Medical Cost Sharing – a simple, affordable healthcare alternative – and saving thousands per year.

Let’s walk through your options.

Not always.

While marketplace and employer plans are structured around open enrollment periods, there are several situations where you’re not required to stay locked in:

You can cancel your plan at any time (even outside open enrollment)
You may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, depending on life changes
You’re free to explore healthcare alternatives at any point during the year

What trips people up is this:

You may not be able to switch to another marketplace plan outside of open enrollment…

…but you’re not obligated to stay in a system that isn’t working for you.

That’s an important distinction.

If your monthly costs are too high – or you’re not using the care you’re paying for – you have options.

For many people, it’s not just about price.

It’s about the experience.

We hear the same themes again and again:

Monthly costs keep getting higher
Out-of-pocket expenses are unpredictable
Getting clear answers is difficult
Care feels reactive, rather than wellness-focused

Even people who feel like they have “good healthcare” often find themselves:

Delaying care altogether
Avoiding appointments
Spending hours negotiating bills

At a certain point, you start asking a different question:

Is there another way to do this?

Medical Cost Sharing is a community-based approach to managing health costs.

Instead of paying premiums into a large system, Members contribute a predictable monthly amount.

Then when someone experiences a new Medical Need, the Community shares in those eligible costs.

At Knew Health, this model is paired with Wellness Services and Resources designed to support your health all year long – not just when something goes wrong.

We keep you healthy with annual exams, labs, 24/7 telemedicine, and Medical Cost Sharing for large Medical Needs.

Your Membership includes:

Routine well-visits
24/7 telemedicine access
Low and no-cost lab work
Preventive screenings
1-on-1 Health Coaching
Digital fitness and wellness sessions
An annual Self-Care Credit for services like chiropractic care, acupuncture, massage, fitness memberships, and more
Discounts on supplements and healthy products

The combination of wellness support and peace of mind in emergencies is what makes Knew Health feel fundamentally different.

Here’s how it works…

You choose the licensed providers you trust, and receive care as a self-pay patient – often at significantly lower rates from the start.

If something bigger comes up, like a new illness, injury, or pregnancy, it’s submitted as a Medical Need.

The part Members love the most? You’re never figuring it out alone.

Your Care Team steps in to:

Help you understand what’s shareable
Support you in finding the best care at the best price
Advocate on your behalf with providers
Negotiate large medical bills to lower costs

You’re responsible for your Initial Unshareable Amount (IUA), which you choose upfront.

You always know what you’ll pay when an unexpected medical situation comes up.

After that, eligible costs are shared by the Community.

We’re proud to share that since opening in 2018:

Every eligible Medical Need has been shared within 7-14 business days.
Member Medical bills have been negotiated down an average of 46%.
Membership pricing has remained stable, while our Community has grown 44% per year on average.

We’re proud to stand by our Community in everyday health and emergency moments.

With Knew Health things are simple, predictable, and human, every step of the way.

Medical Cost Sharing isn’t designed for everyone.

That clarity upfront builds trust amongst Members.

It tends to work best for people who:

Are generally healthy
Want predictable monthly costs
Prefer a wellness-focused approach to healthcare
Are comfortable being a self-pay patient
Value community support for larger Medical Needs

It may not be the best fit for those who:

Require frequent, ongoing specialist care
Want highly regulated, claims-based structures
Prefer everything to be pre-authorized through networks

The key is alignment.

When the model fits your lifestyle and health profile, you healthcare experience is completely different – seamless and deeply supported.

This might surprise you.

According to data from the Kaiser Family Foundation¹, the average annual premium for family coverage in the U.S. is now over $23,000 – with employees contributing a significant portion of that cost.

Even individual marketplace plans often come with:

High monthly premiums
Deductibles in the thousands
Additional out-of-pocket costs

With Knew Health:

Memberships start at $142/month
Members save an average of 40-50% on overall healthcare costs
Bill negotiation reduces medical expenses by an average of 46%

The difference isn’t just monthly.

It compounds over time.

For many families, that can mean thousands (or tens of thousands) of dollars saved each year.

This is one of the biggest concerns.

Here’s what to expect:

Cancellation timing depends on your provider.
After cancelling, you become a self-pay patient.
When you join the Knew Health Community, you get access to our full suite of Wellness Services and Resources, plus Medical Cost Sharing.
You have a Care Team to help guide you through the transition.

The experience feels different.

More direct.

More transparent.

More human.

The Bottom Line

You’re not as locked in as you might think.

If your current healthcare is expensive, confusing, or misaligned…

…it may be worth exploring a different approach.

Medical Cost Sharing offers a path that’s: