Health Insurance News Benefit Trend Employers Opt To Give Workers An Allowance For Health Coverage

Employers anticipate 6.7% jump in health benefits costs, finds Mercer

Employers expect that health benefits costs will reach an average of $18,500 per employee, for a 6.7% increase in costs in 2026. That's according to the latest survey from Mercer, which released its ... Read More

Costs for employer-based health insurance outpaces inflation

A new 50-state analysis shows that employee costs for health insurance offered through their job—the primary source of coverage for more than half of all people in the United States—rose sharply and ... Read More

Family Health Insurance Coverage Nears $27,000 a Year

A new employer survey shows premiums for a family climbed in 2025 as companies and their workers pay more for coverage. By Reed Abelson Family health insurance coverage for the vast majority of ... Read More

Employers, workers to face healthcare ‘affordability crunch,’ Mercer warns

The average cost of employer-sponsored health insurance climbed to $17,496 in 2025, up 6% from the year before and in excess of rates of inflation and wage growth, according to Mercer’s recent 2025 ... Read More

Young workers plagued by 'planxiety' during open enrollment

David Feinberg, senior vice president of risk and insurance at Justworks. A new report by HR and payroll platform Justworks and The Harris Poll lays out the struggles of zillennials with "planxiety" ... Read More

Mercer Survey Finds US Employers and Workers Will Face Affordability Crunch as Health Insurance Cost Is Expected to Exceed $18,500 Per Employee in 2026

Mercer Survey Finds US Employers and Workers Will Face Affordability Crunch as Health Insurance Cost Is Expected to Exceed $18,500 Per Employee in 2026 Mercer, a business of Marsh McLennan (NYSE: MMC) ... Read More

Health Benefits In 2025: Family Premiums Rise 6 Percent, Large Employers Increase Coverage Of GLP-1s For Weight Loss

In 2025, the average annual premium for family health coverage reached $26,993, an increase of $1,408 (6 percent) from the previous year. Covered workers contributed an average of 16 percent ($1,440) ... Read More

Private health insurance costs are going up: A complete guide to coverage options

If the enhanced credits currently available to Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace enrollees are allowed to expire for 2026, the Urban Foundation predicts that 7.3 million people will lose their ... Read More

Beyond health benefits: Pet benefits expansion reflects changing culture

One reason so many employees tune out at open enrollment is that their benefits are boring and lack sex appeal, even if it's something as important as selecting the right health insurance coverage. Read More