In 2026, healthcare benefits are more flexible than ever. Employees can choose their own plans, personalize coverage, and access a growing ecosystem of perks designed to support financial wellness.
But one thing hasn’t changed: medical bills are still confusing, stressful, and often wrong.
Even those with “platinum level” insurance can find themselves staring at a four or five-figure bill with no idea whether it’s accurate, negotiable, or appealable. That confusion is costly—for employees and for employers alike.
StretchDollar believes access to fair, transparent healthcare costs shouldn’t depend on how much time, knowledge, or confidence someone has. That belief is what led us to partner with Granted—to help make medical bill advocacy and negotiation accessible to more people through StretchPerks.
The reality of medical costs in 2026
Healthcare affordability continues to be a top concern for U.S. workers:
- Over 100 million adults in the U.S. carry some form of healthcare-related debt, according to recent research from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and KFF.
- Nearly 1 in 4 adults report skipping care or prescriptions due to cost, even when they have insurance.
- The average family deductible continues to rise, with many employer-sponsored plans exceeding $3,000+ per person annually, shifting more financial responsibility to employees.
As benefits become more employee-driven, navigating healthcare costs is becoming a core part of the employee experience—not just an HR line item.
Why medical billing feels impossible to navigate
Anyone who has received a medical bill knows that they aren’t like typical invoices. Prices aren’t always transparent or standardized. On top of that, errors ranging from duplicate charges to incorrect coding are unfortunately pretty common.
Even well-informed consumers struggle with medical billing because the system itself is fragmented:
- Providers, insurers, and billing departments don’t always align
- Explanations of benefits (EOBs) are dense and hard to interpret
- Insurance appeals require persistence, documentation, and follow-up
- Billing departments often assume patients won’t push back
Those individual issues combine to make a big pile of headache and confusion. They snowball and cause issues that consumers face:
- Medical billing errors are widespread and often go unnoticed
- Insurance claims are frequently underpaid or denied incorrectly
- Appeals processes exist, but are complex and time-consuming
Most people don’t have the time (or expertise) to challenge a bill while recovering from a health event or supporting a loved one. That’s where advocacy becomes critical.
Introducing Granted: Medical bill advocacy for StretchDollar members
Granted exists to simplify one of the hardest parts of healthcare: dealing with the bill after care is delivered.
Through its partnership with StretchDollar, employees can access Granted experts who:
- Review medical bills for errors, overcharges, or missed savings opportunities
- Negotiate medical bills and work with providers to reduce what members owe
- Explain confusing medical bills or insurance documents, including Explanation of Benefits documents (EOBs)
- Identify and apply for financial assistance or discount programs that up to 70% of US households are eligible for
Instead of spending hours on hold with insurers or providers, employees can hand off the problem to professionals who do this every day.
Granted is a healthcare advocacy service that helps members lower medical bills and resolve insurance issues. Granted reviews bills for errors and overcharges, helps address denied claims, and identifies opportunities for financial assistance.
A smarter StretchPerk for modern benefits
StretchDollar is built on the idea that benefits should work in the real world—not just on paper. That means addressing the moments when employees feel the most confusion and vulnerability, not just during enrollment.
By offering Granted as a StretchPerk, employers can help:
Support financial wellness beyond premiums
Premiums are only part of the cost. Bills, deductibles, and unexpected charges are often the real pain point.
Stand out in a competitive benefits market
Perks that address real financial stressors resonate far more than generic wellness programs.
Improve employee confidence in their benefits
When employees feel supported after care—not just during enrollment—they’re more likely to use and value their benefits.
Most importantly, it reinforces the idea that healthcare costs shouldn’t be accepted blindly—and that everyone deserves support when navigating them.
What employees get out of it
For employees, bill advocacy means:
- Fewer surprises after care
- Less time dealing with insurance paperwork and billing issues
- More confidence seeking care when needed
- Potential savings on medical expenses
- Peace of mind during already stressful health events
Healthcare shouldn’t come with a side quest in billing logistics.
A step toward a more transparent healthcare experience
Medical bill negotiation isn’t about gaming the system. It’s about understanding it. It’s about accountability, clarity, and fairness—values that matter whether you’re an employee, an employer, or a patient navigating care on your own.
Our partnership with Granted is one step toward a future where people aren’t left alone to decipher medical bills after the fact—and where transparency is the expectation, not the exception.
Granted is a healthcare advocacy platform that helps people reduce medical bills and navigate insurance issues. The app reviews medical bills for errors or overcharges, helps resolve denied claims, negotiates with providers when appropriate, and identifies financial assistance opportunities. Members can submit bills or coverage questions and receive expert support lowering their medical bills and resolving claims issues.
