Mercer, a business of Marsh McLennan, has released its “Survey on Health and Benefit Strategies for 2026,” highlighting how rising health benefit costs are prompting more employers to consider changes that shift costs to employees. According to the report, 51% of large employers (with 500 or more employees) are likely or very likely to adjust plan designs in 2026, up from 45% in the previous year. These

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changes may include raising deductibles or out-of-pocket maximums. “Employers project average health benefit costs to grow by nearly 6% this year, and 2026 may be even more challenging,” said Ed Lehman, Mercer’s U.S. Health & Benefits Leader. While short-term adjustments are under consideration, Mercer also notes a growing interest in longer-term strategies such as narrow network plans.

The survey shows that 35% of large employers plan to offer non-traditional plans focused on high-value care, such as variable copay plans, which allow employees to compare provider costs upfront. Another rising concern is the expense of GLP-1 drugs, especially those used for weight loss, which 77% of employers cited as a top priority in managing pharmacy benefits. Additionally, over 75% of employers will offer digital stress management tools, while nearly 40% conduct mental health training for managers, an effort linked to addressing workplace stress, which affects 45% of U.S. employees.

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