US EditionBlack Holes Collide, World’s First Hijacking, 7 Steps to Better Health: Catch up on the Day’s Stories
UNITED STATES, JUL 16 – A Mercer survey finds 51% of large U.S. employers plan to shift more health care costs to workers in 2026 amid rising prescription drug and overall benefit expenses.
- A majority of major U.S. companies intend to reduce healthcare benefits in 2026 as increasing expenses, particularly from weight-loss and specialty medications, put pressure on their budgets.
- This adjustment follows years of rising prescription drug prices, which jumped 8% last year and continue to drive overall health benefit cost increases forecasted at 5.8% for 2025.
- Employers plan to raise deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums, with 51% indicating likely cost-sharing increases in 2026, while 61% seek alternatives to traditional pharmacy benefit contracts amid regulatory scrutiny.
- Seventy-Seven percent of employers identify GLP-1 weight-loss drugs as a top cost challenge, with these medications costing about $1,000 monthly and some employers reconsidering coverage due to soaring expenses.
- These trends suggest employers will increase employees' financial burden while exploring new strategies to manage rising drug costs and maintain benefit affordability in 2026.
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Many US employers plan to pare health benefits as weight-loss spending soars - Hawaii Tribune-Herald
NEW YORK — More than half of large U.S. employers plan to scale back health care benefits next year as rising costs from weight-loss and specialty drugs squeeze budgets, according to a new survey released by consulting firm Mercer on Wednesday.
Many employers plan to pare health benefits as weight-loss spending soars
More than half of large employers plan to scale back health care benefits next year as rising costs from weight-loss and specialty drugs squeeze budgets, according to a new survey released by consulting firm Mercer on Wednesday.
·Salt Lake City, United States
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources47
Leaning Left2Leaning Right1Center40Last UpdatedBias Distribution93% Center
Bias Distribution
- 93% of the sources are Center
93% Center
C 93%
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