Employers face 6.5% benefit cost surge in 2026 — how benefit leaders can prepare

• Key Insight: Discover how employers are shifting from cost-shifting to value-based high-cost claims management.  
• What’s at Stake: Rising benefits costs threaten employer budgets, employee affordability and workforce competitiveness.  
• Supporting Data: Mercer projects a 6.5% per-employee health cost rise in 2026; up to 9% without action.  
• Source: Bullets generated by AI with editorial review

Employers are preparing for the steepest rise in health benefit costs in more than a decade.