Employers expect health benefit cost per employee to rise 8.2% in 2027 (after making changes to current plans)

Change in total health benefit cost per employee compared to CPI

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Cost increases for 2026 and 2027 are projected; 2027 is based on preliminary results. Note that the cost trend from 2020 to 2022 was disrupted by pandemic-related fluctuations in utilization.

Source: Mercer’s National Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Plans (beginning in 2020 results are based on employers with 50 or more employees); Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index, U.S. City Average of Annual Inflation (September to September) 2013-2025 (July to July) 2026.