The prices of health insurance in the United States were escalating for four consecutive years, and employers are now preparing for the highest rise in 2025-the largest increase in 15 years, according to a widespread survey of more than 1700 employers. the National survey of health plans sponsored by the employer by meterA subsidiary company McClinan MarshIt is part of the company’s advisory services to help employers manage health insurance costs while seeking to improve employee health and well -being.
Sont Patel, chief academic expert in Mercer for health and benefits, said there are workers who are gathered to send costs up. “The direction of the cost of health benefits has two basic elements – health care prices and their use. At the present time, they both rise.”
The survey projects in which the total cost of health benefits for each employee will increase by 6.5 % in 2026, even with measures to reduce the planned costs, which are the highest jump since 2010. If employers leave current plans without change, the increase will deal with 9 %, confirming the uninterrupted pressure on health care budgets for employers. This next boom represents the fourth consecutive year of the growth of high health benefits, according to Mercer, of a decade of the most humble annual increases of about 3 %.
Many drivers that increase the cost
Some increases are caused by progress in medical science. Advanced diagnoses and advanced treatments, such as new cancer treatments and weight loss medications, transform people’s lives and bodies, but they come at highly slope costs compared to previous treatments. The unification of the provider in large health systems has strengthened the force of negotiating to put higher payment rates with insurance companies.
Patel said that more people are using various health services over the past two years, probably due to the constant impact of the delay or the lost care due to the epidemic and the reduction of work restrictions on health care. “The emergence of virtual health care – and the increasing consumer acceptance of it, especially in behavioral health – also affects the patterns of use,” Patel said, because it removes geographical barriers that can be a more suitable option for patients. “
Inflation has also played an important role, while increasing wages in the health care sector that feeds on increased cost. The epidemic accelerates the adoption of virtual health care, which makes it easier for people to seek care; Ironically, this easy access contributed to the overall use in general, which prompted the total claims.
A spokesman for Mercer said in a statement of wealth that this is the first 15 -year -old since the survey began in 1987. Previous comparisons include the highest level in 2002 in 2002 (14.7 %, which is the highest in 18.6 % in 1988), and the highest level of seven years in 2010 (6.9 %, higher since 2002). “The growth of costs was very volatile from 1987-2002, and the first years of managed care, with severe standard levels and lowest levels,” said the spokeswoman.
Employer responses: further change costs
In the face of these escalating pressures, employers take aggressive measures. The poll found that 59 % of companies plan to make changes to costs on health plans in 2026, with a sharp increase of 48 % in 2025 and 44 % in 2024. The prevailing strategy includes lifting Discounts and provisions for sharing costs, which leads to high pocket costs for employees upon reaching care. However, many employers are also looking for ways to reduce costs without just transferring the burden to workers. For example, there is an increased focus on high -cost claim management and measuring the performance of the program to ensure value.
At the same time, promoting mental health benefits remains a priority after birth, with about two -thirds of adult employers who are planning to make behavioral health care easier in the next few years. Ed Lehman, the leader of health and benefits in Mercer, notes, “Employers realize that he is necessary for the well -being of employees and the performance of comprehensive work.”
Open registration this season
For workers, the summary is the expenses: salary discounts for health coverage will fall 6 % to 7 % on average in 2026. This stems from the fact that the employee installment shares usually fit the costs of the total plan. In addition to the highest installments, increased discounts and provinces may increase expenditures outside the pocket, forcing some employees to withstand greater financial stress.
Mercer said that the employees must “weigh carefully in the distinct cost and the provisions for sharing costs” during the open registration, and buding the costs of installments with cost -sharing features to choose the most appropriate plan for their needs. Mercer notes that more than a third of adult employees will offer unconventional and high-performance network plans in 2026-These options can help reduce costs outside the pocket by directing patients towards pre-defined service providers known for quality and low expenses.
(This report was updated with a statement from Mercer spokesman.)
For this story, luck The artificial intelligence is used to help with a preliminary draft. Check an editor of the accuracy of the information before publishing.
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