Employee Benefits Market Check Survey: 2027 EB Strategy

As we close the first quarter of 2026, some employers are turning their focus to 2027 and how they may implement modifications to their health plans to manage rising costs. In our January Market Check Survey, employers told us they were most likely to make plan or funding changes at their next renewal.

Early indications are that the claims trend will remain high in 2027, and price increases will be challenging, prompting an overhaul of some approaches. We sought to better understand employers’ opinions about their current health plan strategy. We conducted a survey on March 19 to gather those answers. The following summarizes the responses.

*Results based on 241 employer respondents.

*Results based on 201 employer respondents.

Key Findings

The medical cost pressures that accelerated throughout 2025 show no signs of slowing in 2026 and are expected to materially influence group health plan pricing into 2027. As a result, 86% of employers anticipate their benefits strategy will face at least some level of pressure over the next two years.

At the same time, there is a clear gap between the level of pressure anticipated and the degree of action employers are currently considering. While the vast majority acknowledge emerging strain, nearly 60% indicate they are only considering minor adjustments, such as changes to copays or deductibles, rather than more substantive plan redesign.

This gap highlights a growing strategic tension. Employers remain understandably cautious, given the impact that more significant changes can have on employee experience and affordability. Yet, incremental adjustments alone may be insufficient to address the underlying cost trajectory.

For many organizations, this may represent an inflection point — one where maintaining the status quo becomes increasingly difficult, and where more innovative, and potentially disruptive, approaches will be required to meaningfully bend the cost curve.

The question for plan sponsors is no longer whether pressure exists but whether their current approach is equipped to respond.

Should you have any questions regarding any of this information or want to discuss your 2027 benefits strategy, please contact your local Assurex Global adviser.