1、Health Trends 2026Balancing cost control with benefits optimizationEmployer-provided health plans face another year of intense pressure.Medical trends are projected to rise in the double digits across most markets through 2026,continuing the course we have seen in recent years.Meanwhile,the underlyi

2、ng drivers of these higher costs including increased utilization from higher incidence of health conditions and more advanced technologies remain firmly in place.Against this backdrop,proactive management of health plan risk has become crucial.Now is the time for employers to adopt strategic measure

3、s that can manage costs and optimize spending to protect plan sustainability.At the same time,coverage continues to lag relative to real-world employee needs.Gaps remain in areas such as mental health,reproductive health,and support for an aging workforce.This years report explores these challenges

4、and opportunities,focusing on how employers and insurers can manage costs while optimizing benefits.The goal is clear:to improve affordability,expand protection,and widen the scope of benefits to better meet employee needs.For our 2026 report,Mercer Marsh Benefits (MMB)surveyed 268 insurers across 6

5、7 markets to explore key trends shaping employer-provided health benefits.The survey was conducted in June and July 2025.Health Trends 2026:Balancing cost control with benefits optimization.Balancing cost control with benefits optimization2TrendWhat it meansKey findingProjected medical trend continu

6、es to be double digits in most markets.Proactive risk management is a requirement for sustainable benefit programs.Benefits coverage for varied needs remains limited.While insurers are adjusting their projections for broader economic uncertainty,underlying claim costs continue to be driven by ever-p