Getting cheaper health insurance usually means combining discounts, subsidies, and choosing a leaner plan that still covers your real risks.

Start with the cheapest sources

• Check if you can join an employer plan; these are often heavily subsidized and cheaper than buying your own policy.

• If you are in the US and not offered employer coverage, use your state’s ACA marketplace (HealthCare.gov or state exchange) and see if you qualify for premium tax credits based on income.

• If your income is low, see if you qualify for Medicaid or similar low‑income programs; these can be free or very low cost.

Adjust the type of plan

• Look at high‑deductible health plans paired with a Health Savings Account (HSA); these usually have lower monthly premiums but higher costs when you use care.

• In systems like the Netherlands or some EU countries, “budget” or restricted‑network plans are often the cheapest, but you must accept a smaller choice of hospitals and doctors.

Use comparisons and discounts

• Always use comparison websites or broker tools to see multiple plans and filter by premium, deductible, and coverage needs; this can save hundreds per year.

• In some countries/insurers you get a discount for paying the full year upfront instead of monthly, or by increasing your voluntary deductible (taking on more risk to cut the premium).

Optimize your coverage

• Avoid add‑ons you do not realistically need (for example, very broad dental or vision extras if you rarely use them) and focus on essential coverage like hospital and major medical care.

• If you live with a partner or family, compare plans separately; sometimes different people in the same household save more on different insurers or coverage levels.

Check country‑specific help

• In places like the Netherlands, low‑ and middle‑income residents can get a healthcare allowance (zorgtoeslag) that reduces the net cost of mandatory insurance.

• In US states, check for state‑level programs and nonprofit navigators that can help you enroll in low‑cost or subsidized plans tailored to your income and family size.

If you share your country, age range, and income situation, a more tailored, step‑by‑step path to the cheapest safe option can be outlined.