U.S. employer health benefit costs projected to rise 8.2% in 2027, survey finds

The short version

• Total health benefit costs per employee are forecasted to rise by an average of 8.2% in 2027, according to a survey from consulting firm Marsh.
• The projected increase would affect an estimated 165 million non-elderly Americans who rely on employer-sponsored health insurance.
• Cost increases are driven by high-cost treatments for severe conditions like cancer, expensive GLP-1 medications, and provider consolidation.
• Employees are expected to face higher paycheck deductions and higher deductibles as employers seek to manage escalating expenses.

Key facts

• A summer survey by consulting firm Marsh found that total health benefit costs per employee are projected to climb by an average of 8.2% in 2027, marking the largest increase since 2003.[CBS News]
• Without planned cost-cutting measures by employers, such as raising deductibles, Marsh estimated health plan costs would rise by an average of 11%.[CBS News]
• Key factors behind the rising expenses include expensive treatments for illnesses such as cancer, climbing costs for prescription drugs including GLP-1 weight-loss therapies, and hospital network consolidation.[CBS News]
• Roughly 165 million people under age 65 received health insurance through an employer in 2025, according to KFF.[CBS News]
• A separate forecast by consulting firm Aon projected that employees will pay an average of nearly $5,300 in combined premiums and out-of-pocket expenses this year, up 7.9% from the previous year.[CBS News]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• Employer and worker health plan costs expected to jump in 2027CBS News - US