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With so many changes to health insurance and health care in 2025, many people are asking the question: What does the future of health insurance look like? In 2026, technology will continue to transform how we access and manage our care. In this post we unpack some potential changes that Word & Brown broker partners should be on the lookout for in 2026 – and how they will potentially impact your book of business.

Here are five significant tech trends shaping the industry:

• Smarter Claims with AI: Imagine faster, more accurate claims processing. Artificial Intelligence (AI) streamlines this complex process, reducing errors and improving efficiency for both providers and members. (See related AI Advisory below.)
  • Example: Leading insurers are piloting AI-powered platforms that automatically review and approve straightforward claims in seconds, reducing wait times and manual interventions.
  • Potential Impact for Brokers: This advancement streamlines the claims resolution process, enhances transparency, and allows brokers to deliver faster, more accurate responses to their clients — ultimately boosting satisfaction and client retention.

• Personalized Health Plans: Your clients’ health journey is unique. Advanced data analytics will allow for the creation of highly personalized health plans, offering coverage and wellness programs tailored specifically to your clients’ individual needs.
  • Example: Platforms like HealthIQ utilize extensive data analytics to build health profiles and recommend tailored plans based on lifestyle, genetics, and medical history.
  • Potential Impact for Brokers: Brokers can offer truly individualized coverage solutions, increase their value proposition, and enable more proactive client engagement. This degree of personalization can help you secure better client outcomes and differentiate you in a competitive market.
• Secure Data Sharing via Blockchain: Protecting sensitive health information is paramount. Blockchain technology offers a secure and transparent way to share medical records between providers and insurers, giving you greater control over your data.
  • Example: Some networks now use blockchain systems for medical record transfers, ensuring data cannot be altered and that only authorized parties can access it.
  • Potential Impact for Brokers: With improved trust and efficiency in information exchange, brokers reduce administrative burdens and minimize errors. Enhanced data security also reassures clients, strengthening broker-client relationships.
• Expanded Telehealth Services: Virtual care is here to stay. Expect even more advanced and integrated telehealth options, from remote monitoring to specialized virtual consultations, making health care more convenient than ever.
  • Example: Major health plans are integrating AI-driven symptom checkers and virtual care platforms that connect members to primary care providers 24/7, regardless of location.
  • Potential Impact for Brokers: Accelerated telehealth adoption means brokers can offer clients greater flexibility and convenience — qualities increasingly demanded in today's digital health landscape. This trend also opens up new coverage opportunities and potential cost savings.
• Wearable Technology Integration: Fitness trackers could become a key part of your clients’ health plans. Integrating data from wearable devices will provide real-time health insights, promoting preventive care and healthier lifestyles.
  • Example: Insurers are partnering with wearable companies to incentivize healthy behaviors by offering premium discounts for physical activity tracked via smart devices.
  • Potential Impact for Brokers: Brokers can encourage clients to participate in wellness initiatives that deliver measurable rewards. These programs foster ongoing engagement, support preventive care, and position brokers as advocates for client well-being.

This chart summarizes tech trends brokers should know about for 2026:

Trend Name	Example	Potential Impact for Brokers
Smarter Claims with AI	AI auto-reviews and processes claims, flagging errors or fraud in real time.	Faster, more accurate claims; reduced admin work; improved client satisfaction.
Personalized Health Plans	Data analytics create tailored plans with custom wellness programs and coverage.	Ability to offer more relevant, individualized plan options to clients.
Secure Data Sharing via Blockchain	Blockchain securely shares patient records and puts clients in control of access.	Enhanced data security, streamlined records, and easier provider coordination.
Expanded Telehealth Services	Platforms enable virtual care and remote monitoring for various conditions.	Broader access, increased convenience, and cost savings for clients.
Wearable Technology Integration	Plans reward members for sharing fitness and health data from their devices.	Promotes wellness, boosts engagement, and can lower employer health costs.

 
About the Author
Kalup Alexander is Digital Marketing Director for The Word & Brown Companies. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in New Media Communications and Marketing from Oregon State University and has been at Word & Brown since 2014.
 
AI Advisory
We encourage the appropriate use of Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) to increase your productivity and foster innovation, while still recognizing that AI poses substantial risks. AI technologies are constantly changing, so it is advisable that you:

• Understand that vendors may change the behavior of AI features in their solutions. If you are unsure about the security impact of any AI feature, reach out to your tech expert for guidance.
• Review and comply with your agency or corporate data handling policies.
• Ensure that any AI vendors (including vendors using AI tools to provide their service) who access or handle Protected Health Information (PHI) have a Business Associate Agreement (“BAA”) in place.
• Understand that Personally Identifiable Information (PII) and PHI generated using any AI tools will be protected in the same manner as HIPAA-protected PII and PHI.
• Clearly attribute any output generated from AI with a footnote or other means visible to the reader.
• Protect your organization from claims against theft or infringement or third-party intellectual property, including, without limitation, those related to copyright and trademark.

• Do not use or replicate your organization logins and/or passwords to access AI.
• Do not install unapproved Application Programming Interfaces (“API”), plug-ins, connectors, or software related to AI.
• Do not input any of your firm’s intellectual property (content created by, and for the use of, your firm) into unapproved AI tools.
• Do not enter PII, PHI, and other sensitive protected information into any AI applications and databases.
• AI should not be used to create text, audio, or visual content for purposes of committing fraud or to misrepresent an individual’s identity.