Health benefit cost growth typically outpaces inflation

Change in average total health benefit cost per employee (before and after plan changes) vs. CPI

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*Projected.
2021 cost trend was disrupted by pandemic-related fluctuations in utilization

Chart: MercerSource: 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); Bureau of Labor Statistics,