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Mark Cuban thinks the medical system is broken — but he has ideas on how the U.S. can fix it.

In December 2024, the billionaire entrepreneur recommended that doctors and hospitals stop being forced into the role of “subprime lenders” who bear the total credit risk for unpaid deductibles, copays and coinsurance.

He emphasized that when patients have unpaid bills, prices are raised to offset costs, claiming that’s “why health care pricing is horrific (1).”

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And in January 2026, Cuban gave another reason why he thinks “health care costs are insane”: If hospitals think the insurance company is willing to pay more than what was originally billed to the patient, they’ll increase the insurer’s price — and the insurance company will then charge the self-insured employer the higher amount (2).

“Our health care has become a game of who can rip off who and get away with it,” he said.

Instead, Cuban has argued that health care “should look like 1955” in terms of simplicity: “Patients go to providers for care. Providers provide that care. Patients get a bill and if they can afford it, they pay that bill. That’s it (3).”

The current system of health care in the U.S. is the most expensive in the world by far, according to the Center for Economic and Policy Research (4). But there are ways to protect yourself from unexpected health expenses — with or without policy changes.

While the U.S. health insurance system isn’t perfect, insurance is critical to cover high medical costs, especially in an emergency. For instance, fixing a broken leg can cost up to $7,500, while comprehensive cancer care could cost hundreds of thousands, according to HealthCare.gov (5).

That’s why, in Cuban’s 2024 words, medical debt “often leads to bankruptcy.”

The process of finding the right health insurance can be overwhelming. Term insurance is usually a less expensive and more flexible option. If the insured individual dies during this term, the policy pays a death benefit to the designated beneficiaries.

If you want to ensure your family isn’t hit with unexpected costs after your death, consider signing up for term life insurance from Ethos.

Ethos is rated “Excellent” on Trustpilot, and has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB). The platform offers simple and affordable coverage for a set period of time — typically between 10 and 30 years.

As a licensed third-party insurance administrator, Ethos has joined forces with some of the industry’s top insurance carriers, such as Banner Life, TruStage Financial and Ameritas Life Insurance.

Ethos gives you the flexibility to select coverage amounts ranging from $2,000 to $100,000. Premiums start at just $9.80 a month and are guaranteed throughout the term.

You can get coverage in just 10 minutes online or by phone, with no medical exams or blood tests required.

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The U.S. Census Bureau reported that as of 2024 — the most recent year of available data — 27 million Americans did not have health insurance (6). It’s critical that those without any coverage have a rainy day fund set aside for any emergencies.

Even if you do have medical insurance, an emergency fund is still key to coping with unanticipated health or medical costs — especially if you don’t have complete coverage.

You’ll also want to make sure these funds are easily accessible, given you never know when you’ll need to use them.

A high-yield account like a Wealthfront Cash Account can be a great place to grow your uninvested cash, offering both competitive interest rates and easy access to your money when you need it.

A Wealthfront Cash Account currently offers a base APY of 3.30% through program banks, and new clients can get an extra 0.75% boost during their first three months on up to $150,000 for a total variable APY of 4.05%.

That’s 10 times the national deposit savings rate, according to the FDIC’s March report (7).

Additionally, Wealthfront is offering new clients who enable direct deposit ($1,000/mo minimum) to their Cash Account and open and fund a new investment account an additional 0.25% APY increase with no expiration date or balance limit, meaning your APY could be as high as 4.30%.

With no minimum balances or account fees, as well as 24/7 withdrawals and free domestic wire transfers, your funds remain accessible at all times. Plus, you get access to up to $8M FDIC Insurance eligibility through program banks.

If health insurance feels totally out of the picture right now, there are ways to trim back and try to fit it into your budget.

Cuban is a big fan of budgeting, sharing in a 2023 GQ interview that he keeps “a strict budget every day (8).”

And if managing a budget feels overwhelming, apps like Monarch Money can simplify the process.

The app puts all your finances under one roof, from your banking statements to your investments. You can also add separate or joint accounts to your dashboard, which can be great for tracking grocery runs for couples or helping your child get used to big-picture financial planning as parents.

The app is also well reviewed — both Forbes and the Wall Street Journal ranked Monarch Money as their best budgeting app for 2025.

And the best part? Monarch Money offers a seven-day free trial so you can see if it’s right for you. If you like what you see, you could then snag 50% off your first year with code WISE50.

Most Americans earn a dismal 0.39% APY on their cash at big banks. Unlock 4.05% APY and pay $0 in account fees instead with a Wealthfront Cash Account

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Mark Cuban (1), (2), (3); Center for Economic and Policy Research (4); HealthCare.gov (5); U.S. Census Bureau (6); FDIC (7); GQ (8); Experian (9)

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.