US Workers’ Health Insurance Costs To Soar Amid Affordability Crisis, Survey Says

The majority of American companies expect to charge more for employee health insurance plans in 2027, according to a new survey.

Two-thirds of large U.S. businesses said they plan to raise monthly premiums for employee health coverage through paycheck deductions in 2027, Bloomberg reported on Thursday, citing data from a Mercer survey of employers. Forty-eight percent of companies said they will also increase deductibles and copays, likely raising employees’ out-of-pocket 🏥Healthcare costs. 

U.S. health insurers are hiking up costs for employers as well, as the cost of group plans is on track to rise by more than 6% for the fourth year in a row, Bloomberg reported. Annual increases were previously roughly 3% for over a decade.

“Employers are under intense pressure to manage another year of elevated health benefit cost growth, but they also know that affordability matters,” U.S. Health Leader at Mercer Simon Camaj told Bloomberg.

Companies project to pay over $18,500 for 🏥Healthcare benefits for each individual employee, according to the survey. This marks a 6.7% rise from 2025 and the largest increase in 15 years.

The survey comes as