10 ways to reduce your health care costs in 2027

To balance the impact of rising national costs, UAB is working to balance the impact of these costs on its employees and the organization through measures that include keeping vision and dental premiums flat, while medical premiums will see only modest increases. Additionally, there will be no changes to deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums.

Here are some things you can do to reduce your out-of-pocket expenses.

1. Get annual check-ups and screenings

The best way to ward off many illnesses is not to let them sneak up on you. That’s why all UAB plans cover preventive care at 100 percent, with no deductible for physicals, immunizations, routine screenings, generic preventive prescriptions, and more. It costs you nothing but time to stave off more costly health conditions.

Now is also the time to schedule a WellScreen with UAB Wellness. WellScreens are a free, 15-minute health screening for employees eligible for the medical plan. The screening tests blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, BMI, and triglycerides and provides helpful insights between regular physician visits. There are 11 different screening locations across campus and the hospital. You can also earn points for My Health Rewards (see number 9 below).

Visit uab.edu/wellscreens to see a complete schedule and book an appointment.

2. Reduce office visits and co-pays

Receive care without leaving home for a number of common conditions that can be safely and accurately diagnosed without a physical examination. The UAB eMedicine On-Demand Urgent Care Questionnaire offers online medical care for low out-of-pocket costs.

Complete the online questionnaire form any time, and a UAB Medicine provider will respond between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Any needed prescriptions will be sent directly to your pharmacy. If symptoms are too complex or advanced, patients will be referred for additional care without charge for the online consultation. A web camera is not required.

3. Avoid unnecessary trips to the ER

A trip to the emergency room after hours or on weekends for non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries can easily cost hundreds of dollars just for walking through the door. UAB Medicine offers two convenient, less costly alternatives for urgent care.

Option 1: In-Person Urgent Care

Visit the UAB Medicine Urgent Care Clinic for walk-in medical needs.

Location: 125 20th St. South (free parking is available in the attached deck).

Hours: Monday – Friday, 7 a.m.-7 p.m. | Saturday, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. | Sunday 1 p.m.-5 p.m.

Services: Convenient access and a less costly alternative for urgent care with an on-site lab and x-ray services.

Option 2: UAB eMedicine Video Visits

Get urgent care from the comfort of home with a UAB eMedicine On-Demand Urgent Care Video Visit, connecting you face-to-face via video with a trusted UAB Medicine provider to evaluate symptoms, diagnose conditions, and send prescriptions to your pharmacy.

Hours: Monday–Saturday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. | Sunday, 8 a.m.–3 p.m.

Best for: Common, urgent conditions that do not require an in-person physical exam.

Requirements: You must be at least 18 years old and have a smartphone (preferred) or a computer with a webcam.

Setup: Requires downloading the free UAB eMedicine Video Visit app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

4. Quit smoking

Employees enrolling in a UAB medical plan who have used nicotine products (e.g., tobacco or e-cigarettes) in the past six months must pay a $50 monthly nicotine surcharge on medical premiums. That’s $600 extra each year. You can get that removed — and any surcharge paid in 2026 refunded — if you register for one of the free cessation courses by Jan. 31, 2027, and complete the course in person or online. Tobacco-cessation products, including nicotine replacement, are also available at no cost through your UAB medical plan with an annual limit of two, 12-week cycles of treatment.

5. Set aside to save on taxes

At UAB, you can set aside money from your paycheck — before it is taxed — to pay for qualified health care expenses in two ways: flexible spending accounts (FSA) or health savings accounts (HSA). You'll save an amount equal to the taxes you would have paid on the money you set aside. For example, if you set aside $1,000 you save about $250 in taxes.

Any amount you choose is deducted from your payroll in equal monthly installments and can be accessed using a debit card provided for the account or by submitting a reimbursement claim form. Deductions will be reflected in your January 2027 payroll.

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)

Under current IRS rules, you can set aside up to $3,400 in a flexible spending account (FSA) for health care expenses, a tax savings estimated at more than $600. It’s best to estimate your expenses carefully before signing up; any FSA funds you do not spend by the year’s end are forfeited.

Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)

Health savings accounts (HSA) are employee-owned accounts — paired with consumer-driven health plans — to be used for qualified medical expenses now or saved for long-term expenses. If you enroll in Viva Choice, you will be enrolled automatically in an HSA, and you will be ineligible to contribute to a health care FSA.

The amount of pre-tax dollars you can set aside in an HSA for 2027 is $4,500 for single coverage and $9,000 for families. Unlike the FSA, all the money you invest is yours — even if you don't spend it all this year — and balances carry over year to year. UAB will fund the first $600 for single coverage and $1,200 for non-single coverage for employees enrolling during annual open enrollment; that is yours to use whether you invest additional funds or not.

6. See if you’re eligible for premium assistance

To ease the cost of medical premiums for qualified employees, UAB offers a premium-assistance program for eligible employees. These are covered employees whose household income, based on family size, is 250 percent of the federal poverty level or less. Employees are required to re-apply each year for the program. Details are available in the open enrollment toolkit on the UAB for Me portal.

7. You may qualify for pharma co-pay assistance

UAB employees can take advantage of a co-pay assistance program for certain specialty medications that enables members to reduce their out-of-pocket costs. This service, SaveOnSP, targets 350-plus specialty drugs in 20 therapy classes. It reduces the patient’s responsibility and provides out-of-pocket protection. Employees are also able to access a similar program, called Smart RxAssist, which targets 140 medical specialty drugs.

8. Have your drugs delivered

For people on long-term maintenance drugs, Express Scripts offers home delivery for a 90-day supply of medications at a discounted rate with free standard shipping. Once you’ve set up your account, you can refill and renew your prescriptions from the website or mobile app available in your device’s app store.

9. Join My Health Rewards

All UAB, UAB Hospital, and UAB LLC employees who elect to enroll in a UAB medical plan can earn up to $350 for healthy behaviors throughout the year through My Health Rewards, a UAB Employee Wellness program. Examples of health behaviors include completing age/gender-specific screenings, participating in care management programs, staying active and getting a flu shot. Activate your account at uab.edu/myhealthrewardslogin and explore new ways to earn cash rewards.

10. Explore a new free resource to improve your health

UAB is excited to offer a new resource for healthy living and diabetes prevention: Nutu.

Nutu is a personalized digital wellness app to support healthier daily habits, weight health, diabetes prevention and overall well-being. It is free to join, and you can earn points for My Health Rewards by joining and engaging in the program. Best of all, it can help you feel better and reach your health goals!

Sign up for Nutu: https://nutu.willowlabs.ai/promo?redemption_code=e776379fdfe7

If you have questions, contact your school/department HR consultant or the UAB Benefits office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 205-934-3458.