Many American workers could soon see higher healthcare costs as employers look for ways to manage rapidly increasing medical expenses. According to a recent Mercer survey, rising healthcare spending, prescription drug costs, and the growing use of expensive specialty medications are prompting many companies to adjust their employee health plans for the coming year.

The survey found that a significant number of large employers expect to increase the amount employees contribute toward their healthcare coverage. These increases may include higher monthly premiums, larger deductibles, increased copayments, or higher out-of-pocket maximums. Employers say these changes are necessary as the average cost of providing health benefits continues to climb, with 2026 expenses projected to exceed $18,500 per employee, or 6.7%, which marks the largest increase in more than a decade.

Biggest Factors in Rising Healthcare Costs

One of the biggest drivers behind these rising costs is prescription drug spending, particularly for GLP-1 medications used to treat diabetes and obesity. These drugs have become increasingly popular but often carry monthly price tags approaching $1,000. As a result, many employers are reevaluating their coverage policies. Six percent of large employers said they dropped coverage entirely in 2026, and 5% said they planned to drop or are actively considering dropping coverage next year.

Rather than relying solely on higher employee cost-sharing, some organizations are also exploring new approaches to controlling healthcare spending with programs like Solidarity HealthShare. These include offering alternative health plans with smaller, high-performance provider networks that emphasize quality and cost efficiency. Such plans aim to encourage employees to receive care from providers that deliver strong outcomes at lower costs, potentially reducing overall healthcare expenditures for both employers and workers.

How Solidarity Can Help

At Solidarity HealthShare, we are committed to giving our Members access to healthcare. To further assist individuals that want healthcare that works with their needs, we offer three programs: Solidarity ONE, Solidarity Savvy, and Solidarity SHIELD.

To keep our costs competitive and affordable, we use a Reference-Based Pricing model based on Medicare reimbursement rates. This approach ensures providers are paid fairly while keeping eligible medical expenses as low as possible. To help our Members save more, we provide a Solidarity Care Card that offers savings on dental and vision care.

We have long been committed to greater price transparency in healthcare. We believe our Members should never be charged outrageous prices for medical care or be forced to choose between getting the care they need and paying essential bills.

For more information about joining the Solidarity community, please contact our Member Care team today at 737-SHARING or check prices online.