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Healthcare

Anxiety over healthcare costs soars to highest level in two decades

Alan Goforth -
Americans' concerns about healthcare costs have surged. Discover the latest findings on satisfaction and perceptions of healthcare.
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U.S. health systems are forced to overhaul strategy due to declining reimbursements

Natalie Dolce -
With Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements expected to drop, hospitals are already bracing for a 6% to 7% reduction in per-visit payments this year alone.
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Escalating health costs force employers to prioritize cost control

Alan Goforth -
“Amid inflation, economic volatility and shifting social expectations, our survey shows organizations are prioritizing cost control more than ever,” says Chana Bieker, senior vice president at Brown & Brown.
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When employees lack purpose, health risks skyrocket

Michael Popke -
“Having a sense of purpose gives people energy and helps them feel happier and healthier,” Stuart Lustig, national medical executive for behavioral strategy and product design for Cigna Healthcare, said in a statement.
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As healthcare costs continue to rise, sticker shock is hitting American employees

Kristen Smithberg -
"While many Americans are satisfied with their coverage options for 2026, many are facing significant cost increases and less rich benefits,” said Derrick Duke, CEO of eHealth.
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40% of SMBs ‘very likely’ to adopt new health models

Allison Bell -
Many small employers told a survey team that they want to try programs like ICHRAs, even though they know little about the programs.
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2027 Medicare draft rule could ease compliance burdens for plan sponsors

Allison Bell -
The proposed change could save 7,049 HRA and ICHRA sponsors from the notice requirements.
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Stuck-in-the-middle patients blame prior authorization for healthcare burdens

Alan Goforth -
"Other than out-of-pocket costs, I would wager that prior authorization review is the one thing consumers find most burdensome in our current health system,” says Drew Altman, president and CEO of KFF.
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AHIP: Employers now covering more of workers’ health premiums

Allison Bell -
The AHIP's latest state data book also shows health insurance sector job growth.
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Fix your broken wellbeing incentive programs with behavioral science

Jessica Jones and Julie Noblick -
Some employers are concerned about how employees will adapt if they revise or eliminate incentive programs. These authors show how behavioral economics precepts can help ease incentive program transitions.
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Half of Americans give the U.S. health insurance system a ‘C’ grade

Alan Goforth -
However, the same eHealth survey revealed that nearly nine in 10 are satisfied with their own insurance.
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Health insurance costs in 2026: Expect a double-digit increase

Alan Goforth -
A new report from WTW forecasts double-digit increases in health insurance costs. What's driving the spike?
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UnitedHealthcare faces scrutiny over higher payments to Optum providers

Kristen Smithberg -
A new study raises concerns about growing insurer-physician consolidation and suggests practices by some health conglomerates warrant closer scrutiny.
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The healthcare cost crisis is here: How are SMBs surviving it?

Jen Colletta -
Soaring healthcare costs are affecting organizations across industries and sizes—and small to medium-sized businesses are being particularly hard-hit, found a new study. How are they responding?
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Employers scramble to manage exploding costs of GLP-1s

Michael Popke -
The survey also noted that 34% of firms require lifestyle or clinical support programs in order for employees to receive GLP-1 agonists for weight loss.
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Employers ‘hungry for ideas’ to hold down health claims without cutting coverage

Allison Bell -
Medical costs are up 6%, drug costs are up 10%, and there are "no signs this trend will slow," Brown & Brown's CEO says.
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A hidden cost of rising healthcare premiums: broken No Surprises Act arbitration

Kristen Smithberg -
A new report explores how No Surprises Act arbitration contributes to unnecessary costs and disputes in the health insurance landscape.
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What will it take to keep pharmacy benefits sustainable amid rising drug costs?

Mark Campbell -
Careful plan design, managing high-cost categories and leveraging alternative approaches can help employers contain costs while avoiding wholesale disruptions and maintaining overall employee engagement.
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ACA enrollment kicks off with 26% average premium spikes

Allison Bell -
Some say what many small employers are seeing in their renewal notices is scarier than the increases exchange plan shoppers are seeing.
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Families first: The business opportunity of better maternal benefits

Susan Torroella -
This open enrollment season, employers have a real opportunity to lead with new benefits that invest in employees and their families.
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The next big ERISA risk? Hidden fees in out-of-network pricing

Andréa Caballero -
The author looks at why plan reimbursement rates for out-of-network medical claims are so low.
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Reimagining care delivery: Health systems balance AI, workforce, and value-based goals

Alan Goforth -
More than three-quarters of executives plan to expand their primary care footprint by adding more owned practices and employing more primary care providers over the next five to seven years.
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Health premiums keep climbing, fueled by GLP-1s, tariffs

Alan Goforth -
The 2025 increase, which is similar to the 7% hikes in each of the two previous years, continues a steady trend of outpacing the inflation rate.
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ER visits to grow 5% by 2035, driven by sicker patients, care barriers

Alan Goforth -
Emergency visits accounted for two-thirds of all visits from the third quarter of 2024 through the second quarter of 2025.
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Digital health spending stalls as employers’ cost concerns rise

Jen Colletta -
New research finds that employers are hesitant to increase investments in digital health offerings, citing concerns about costs.
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Marsh McLennan CEO sees U.S. economy hampered by healthcare costs

Allison Bell -
John Doyle says high healthcare costs, along with costs from extreme weather and liability insurance, are not helping the U.S. economy.
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80% of Americans fear medical bills could derail their financial goals

Alan Goforth -
Younger generations are especially anxious, with nearly 90% of Gen Z and millennials saying an unplanned medical cost would disrupt their financial plans.
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As chronic illness drives persistent high-cost claims, how HR can strategize

Alan Goforth -
A small share of individuals account for a disproportionate amount of total healthcare use and spending, according to a new report.
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ACA subsidies expiration will cause 114% average premium increase in 2026

Alan Goforth -
Millions of Americans could end up uninsured or having to alter their household finances as a result; the fight over these subsidies in Congress is a major sticking point for Democrats.
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Open enrollment: the new equity strategy

Livia Martini -
Open enrollment is one of the most underutilized opportunities companies have each year to advance workplace equity, this expert writes.
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Cancer in the prime of life: What HR needs to know about changing trends

Kimberlee McFarland and Catherine Olivieri -
As Breast Cancer Awareness Month kicks off, experts explore what HR needs to focus on with cancer incidence rising among younger populations, and the regulatory landscape changing.
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Drug prices still rising: 5 ways employers can reduce costs without cutting care

Alan Goforth -
The 2026 Segal Health Plan Cost Trend Survey reports that "double-digit" increases in the cost of pharmacy benefits are driving up the price of healthcare for employers.
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How large employers are driving a shift in health benefits to control costs

Alan Goforth -
Companies still want to provide best-in-class benefits offerings for their employees, but costs are forcing some new realities.
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Preventive drug list coverage: What HR needs to know to cut costs, improve employee health

Alan Goforth -
Medicines on such lists can reduce out-of-pocket costs, increase medication adherence and decrease the risk of diseases worsening, a new report shows.
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Could return of short-term health insurance provide relief to some employers?

Allison Bell -
A non-enforcement strategy, announced recently by the U.S. Labor Department with two other federal departments, may allow some organizations more flexibility.
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