Annual health benefit expenses per employee are projected to rise 6.7% year-over-year in 2026, reaching a minimum threshold of $18,500. This forecasted spike represents the largest single-year increase in medical coverage costs for employers in 15 years.
The anticipated 2026 growth rate is more than double the percentage increases recorded during the 2019 and 2022 fiscal periods. This acceleration signals a significant departure from previous cost trends as corporate expenditures for worker insurance continue to climb to record levels.