Employer and worker health plan costs expected to jump in 2027

Updated on: September 4, 2026 / 11:25 AM EDT / CBS News

Employer and worker health plan costs expected to jump in 2027

TL;DR

  • Total health benefit cost per employee is projected to rise by 8.2% in 2027, the steepest increase since 2003.
  • Without cost-saving measures, employer health plan costs would increase by an average of 11%.
  • Factors driving cost increases include higher treatment costs for serious illnesses, reduced provider leverage, and rising prescription drug prices.
  • New GLP-1 drugs for weight loss are contributing significantly to healthcare expenses, leading some employers to alter coverage.
  • Workers are expected to pay more through higher paycheck deductions and increased out-of-pocket costs.
  • 59% of employers plan cost-cutting changes, such as raising deductibles.
  • Approximately two-thirds of large employers anticipate increasing employees' share of premium costs.
  • Workers are projected to spend an average of nearly $5,300 annually on health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket costs.
  • This represents a 7.9% increase from the previous year, the largest percentage rise in a decade.